Tania Brown Family Papers
Scope and Contents
The Tania Brown Family Papers contain a Texas Southern Region Hadassah photo album, military correspondence, a regiment roster, a membership card to the Rainbow division veterans, two programs, and a photograph of Rachel and Frank Brown. The materials are in good condition, and range in date from 1940 to 1997. Researchers interested in Hadassah or Jews in the armed services during World War II would find this collection helpful.
Dates
- Creation: 1940 - 1997
Conditions Governing Access
This material is open for research.
Stored offsite at the Library Service Center and require 24-hour notice for retrieval. Please contact the Woodson Research Center at 713-348-2586 or woodson@rice.edu for more information.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish material from the Tania Brown Family papers must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.
The Woodson Research Center use policy is that researchers assume sole responsibility for any infringement of privacy, literary rights, copyrights, or other rights arising from their use of the archival materials. In addition to any restrictions placed by donors, certain kinds of archival materials are restricted for the life of the creator plus 50 years. These materials include, but are not limited to, student grades, transcripts, and any job applications or recommendations.
Biographical / Historical
Donated by Tania Oshman, the Tania Brown Family Papers chiefly concern Tania’s parents, Rachel Mayer Brown and Frank Brown. Rachel was born in 1923, grew up on Hadley Street in Houston, and was deeply involved in the Hadassah movement. Frank was born in 1918, and grew up in St. Louis Missouri. Frank was a member of the 242nd Infantry Regiment during World War II, where he spent time at Camp Hood in Killeen, Texas, working a quartermaster job as a staff sergeant. He was transferred to Camp Gruber in Muskogee, Oklahoma in the middle of 1943, and worked as a Supply Sergeant for over a year before going to Marseille in December of 1944.
The Rainbow Division began in World War I with the combined National Guard units from 26 different states. It was ostensibly named for Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur’s comment that the division “stretches like a rainbow from one end of America to the other.” After the war, the Division formed the Rainbow Division Veterans Association, featured in the collection. The Division was reformed for World War II with new personnel, and joined by Frank Brown during his time in the armed services.
Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, works to improve the health and well-being of Women and its commitment to Jewish values. The organization focuses on connecting and empowering Jewish Women in order to effect change, and build a strong community.
Extent
0.5 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Tania Brown Family Papers feature the wartime record of Frank Brown, shown through correspondence and documents, and Rachel Mayer Brown’s involvement in the Texas Southern Region’s Hadassah Organization through a photo album memorializing her experiences and connections to the larger Jewish Community.
Arrangement
The materials are arranged by date in a single general series.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials were donated by Tania Oshman in April of 2019.
- Title
- Guide to the Tania Brown Family papers, 1940-1997
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Gabby Parker
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA
713-348-2586
woodson@rice.edu