About
The Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection was donated to the John Hay Library in 1981 by Anne Brown, the creator of the collection. Brown became fascinated with painted lead soldiers in military uniforms during her honeymoon in Europe and bought a small collection of such soldiers. Infatuated, Brown began buying any books and prints that documenting military uniforms from dealers in the United Kingdom in attempts to conserve what she felt were beautiful and valuable depictions of history from the devastation of World War II.
Four Cheyenne Horsemen by Chief Killer. 14th of 16 original pencil sketches in ledger book. Ledger drawing, 1877. Digital Repository.
The United States Marine Corps (28th Regiment, 5th Division) attack on Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima, February 21, 1945. Painting by Richard Baldwin
As Brown became a scholar in the history of military uniforms, she amassed a collection of figures, photographs, propaganda, watercolors, albums, portfolios, sheet music, and, of course, books. The Military Collection is now one of the greatest and most varied collections of military iconography. Under curator Peter Harrington’s stewardship, the collection’s scope has broadened to consider aspects of military life.
Topically, temporally, and materially diverse, the Military Collection documents shifting public perception of the military, the contributions of women in and to the military, depictions of the homefront, and the impact of World War I on daily life: the purchase of objects as mundane as tires and chocolate to the role of religion in wartime. As such, the Military Collection offers insights into the relationship of war and conflict, the military in society, colonialism, international relations, and more within circa 1500 to 1945.
The collection is largely Euro-centric, including materials predominately from France, Germany, Russia, Austria, and Britain. The collection does include, however, Japanese scrolls and material relating to Admiral Perry’s expedition to Japan in the 1850s.
The Cantineer Polka by Langton Williams. Cantinière standing by gabions near battlefield holding cup, soldiers behind manning guns. Lithograph, 1855. Digital Repository.
Current Uses
Today, scholars, publishers, and museums as well as TV and filmmakers around the world request illustrations from the collection. Peter Harrington, the curator, has digitized large portions of the graphics.
Access
Most of the items in the Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection are available on Josiah or in the digital archive. Inquires can be sent to peter_harrington@brown.edu.
A display of some of the 5,000 lead soldiers is on view on the third floor of the John Hay Library and is open to the public.
More information about the Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection