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BROWNS OF CHESTER 1942-55
TC24: 11 boxes
BOX 1: HISTORICAL INFORMATION ON CHESTER USED BY MASS-OBSERVATION AS BACKGROUND MATERIAL FOR PUBLICATION OF BROWNS AND CHESTER (1949)
24/1/A :
A Plan for Redevelopment by Charles Greenwood (City Engineer and Surveyor). Published by Phillipson and Golder Ltd (Chester, 1945). [ptd hardcover illus.]
24/1/B:
The Arms of Chester designed and edited by John NC Lewis. Published by Kelvinator Limited (1949). [ptd hardcover illus.]
24/1/C:
The Handbook to Chester published by Phillipson & Golder Ltd (Chester, no date). [ptd paperback illus.]
24/1/D:
Origins of Chester: notes made by M-O (RL) No source stated. [8 pages typed 12 pages handwritten]
24/1/E:
History of the Rows of Chester: extracts from various guide books and the Chronicle in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Extracts from Chester during the Plantagenet and Tudor Period by R. H. Morris [19 pages typed]
24/1/F-L: Mass-Observation research into aspects of Chester's history extracted from the Chester Chronicle and the Courant as well as from other sources. Topics covered include:
24/1/F: Sport, Leisure and Festivities in Chester
[Typed extracts: 18th and l9th cent.]
24/1/G: Property and Local Development
[Typed extracts: 18th and 19th cent.]
24/1/H: Reports on Political and International Events
Mentions of Napoleon, Nelson, the French Revolution, riots in London etc as reported by Chester press. [Typed extracts: 18th and 19th cent.]
24/1/I: Street Lighting
[Typed extracts: 18th and 19th cent.]
24/1/J:
Forces
Religion
Taxation
Design
The Phenomenon of Nature
Occupations
Guilds
Trade
Travel
[Typed extracts: 18th and l9th cent.]
24/1/K:
Waterworks
Major Events in Chester
Electricity
Education & Library Facilities
Miscellaneous
[Typed extracts: 18th and l9th cent.]
24/1/L: Clothing and Fashion
[Typed extracts: 18th and l9th cent.]
BOX 2: HISTORICAL MATERIAL EXTRACTED FROM THE CHESTER CHRONICLE AND OTHER LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AS WELL AS FROM OTHER SOURCES ON THE BROWN FAMILY MEMBERS
24/2/A: Genealogy of the Brown Family
Assorted notes; family tree; Names of the firm. [Typed & handwritten notes]
24/2/B: History of the Brown Family: 18th & l9th centuries
Biographical information, news and obituaries from local press and other sources (including Council Minutes). [Typed extracts]
24/2/C: History of the Brown/Harris Family: 20th century
Biographical information, news and obituaries from local press and other sources (including Council Minutes). [Typed extracts]
24/2/D: Chronology of fashion innovations in the shop
{Handwritten notes]
24/2/E: Advertisements for Browns 1733 - 1939
Extracted from the Chester Chronicle. [Typed extracts]
24/2/F: Illustrations used for Browns and Chester
Photographic prints with negatives;
Postcard depicting Browns in the 18th & 19th cent. Captions included.
[No negative for the frontispiece]
BOX 3: MASS-OBSERVATION RESEARCH: NOV-DEC 1943
24/3/A: General description
One Observer's impressions of Browns, including a short history of its development. [handwritten, 28 pages]
24/3/B: Description of departments
Details on appearance and functioning of sections: Men's Dept, Lingerie, Staff Quarters, Ladies Cloakroom, Elizabeth Arden Salon, displays, views of the exterior, etc. [ Handwritten and typed notes]
24/3/C: Talks with the staff
Interviews and informal discussions by NA; reminiscences from older staff. [Handwritten; typed duplicate]
24/3/D: Observation in the Ambassadors Restaurant
Description and comment by Mass-Observer. [Typed & handwritten notes]
24/3/E: 'Incidents' and overheard comments
Accounts of customer behaviour inside and outside the shop; counts of customers; General impressions collected on an informal basis. [Typed & handwritten notes]
24/3/F: Notes on the Shops Questionnaire
Report on results of questionnaire put to shoppers in Chester on their opinion and patronage of Browns. [Handwritten]
Analysis sheets.
24/3/G: Replies to Shops Questionnaire
Individual replies (as collected by Observers) to the above QQ [Approx. 250]
24/3/H: Replies to Questionnaire "Women's clothes in Chester", February 1944
Individual replies to above questionnaire
BOX 4: TYPED DRAFTS OF MASS-OBSERVATION'S BOOK BROWNS AND CHESTER
Two copies.
BOX 5: BROWNS PUBLICATIONS
24/5/A: Sales Catalogues from The House of Browns of Chester, 1920s and 1930s
The New Wrap Coat, Autumn 1924
Dainty Frocks, Autumn 1924
Spring Millinery, undated, ?1924
In a Persian Market, Christmas 1925
French Sale, May 1925
French Sale, November 1925
Sale of French Fashions, undated
Stocktaking Sale, December 1928
French Sale, November 1930
Great Christmas Shopping Week, undated
"And now we must clear the remainder..", undated
Flower Show Announcement, June 1939
24/5/B: Sales Catalogues: war and postwar
"Good Things from Browns of Chester"
9 catalogues, ptd and illustrated, undated.
24/5/C: Personal letters: Leonard M Harris
11 bound and printed volumes of memoranda, letters, speeches and other articles by LMH. prepared for the staff of Browns of Chester.
Vols. 2, 3, 4, 5, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21 (1940 - 1960)
BOX 6: CORRESPONDENCE AND RELATED MATERIAL INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATION AND PUBLICATION OF BROWNS AND CHESTER
24/6/A:
Specimen for the treatment of History of Browns, Chester.
M-O synopsis for book, 9.11.44. [7 pages, typed]
Plan for study of Browns
Field of enquiry with notes by Tom Harrisson (M-O), undated. [1 typed sheet]
Proposed further survey by M-O for Browns of Chester (probably 1943)
[8 pages typed, unsigned]
24/6/B: Correspondence: Mass-Observation and Browns of Chester 1943 - 49
Letters between Bob Willcock of M-O (carbon copies) and Leonard Harris, Managing Director of Browns, concerning the planning and research of proposed book.
Additional correspondence with SH Brown and others concerned with specific historical problems. [Typed correspondence]
24/6/C: Correspondence: Bob Willcock and Joan Burley (M-O researcher) 1944
Letters concerning the progress of Miss Burley's work in Chester. [Typed correspondence]
24/6/D: Accounts of M-O's work on Browns of Chester
Publicity handout (?) to mark publication of Browns and Chester, 1947. [ 3 pages typed]
Short article on William and Charles Brown. [16 pages, typed, undated, unsigned]
Miscellaneous short drafts on Browns . [typed & handwritten, undated]
24/6/E: Correspondence: Lindsay Drummond Ltd. and Mass-Observation 1947-48
Letters between LR England (Managing Director of M-O) and PM Synge, Lindsay Drummond and others of Lindsay Drummond Ltd., Publishers, concerning royalties for Browns and Chester. [typed corresp. & financial statements]
24/6/F: Correspondence: Mass-Observation and Everetts Advertising Ltd 1947
Assorted letters on negotiations over material for Browns and Chester and advertising for Browns. [Typed corresp. & proofs of adverts]
24/6/G: Correspondence: Stewarts & Lloyds Ltd. and Mass-Observation 1947
Query re Browns and Chester on gas lighting.
BOX 7: FURNITURE QUESTIONNAIRE 1944
Questionnaire replies collected in Chester, perhaps commissioned by Browns?
Topics include furniture buying and preferences, Hire Purchase, curtain materials, carpets etc.
BOX 8: SHOPPING SURVEY 1950; AUCTIONS AND ESTATE AGENTS 1951
24/8/A: Shopping Survey 1950
Instructions to investigators;
Copies of draft questionnaire;
Notes for investigators.
24/8/B: Shopping Survey 1950
Further detailed notes for individual investigators on areas to be covered by door-to-door interviews in Chester and surrounding areas.
24/8/C: Correspondence 1950
Letters between M-O investigators Pam Vince, Gay Taylor, Ann Sturrock on progress of survey.
24/8/D: Correspondence 1950
Letters between Len England (M-O) and Leonard Harris (Browns), Everetts Advertising Ltd, etc. on progress of study.
24/8/E:
Assorted tabulations and calculations of results of study (M-O Survey No 28)
Includes coding sheets for questionnaires.
24/8/F: Completed questionnaires (M-O Survey No 28)
Approx 600 replies on shopping habits in Chester and surrounding local towns.
24/8/G: Estate Agents 1951
Report of M-O investigators visits in Chester area; comparisons with Browns. Includes agents' handouts on properties.
24/8/H: Auctions 1951
Observation at auction sale rooms in Chester, including Browns, interviews re auctions.
BOX 9: BROWNS OF CHESTER 1955 (M-O SURVEY No 280)
24/9/A:
Instructions to investigators, Nov 1955
Code sheets for analysis of results
Sample questionnaires
Notes of the sample (850 replies)
24/9/B: Correspondence: Browns of Chester and Mass-Observation 1955-56
Letters between Len England (M-O) and LM Harris (Browns) on survey proposals. [Typed correspondence]
24/9/C: Survey results
Tabulation sheets, notes and calculations relating to Browns survey, 1955.
24/9/D: Extracts from questionnaires
Selected quotations from respondents' opinion on Browns. [Handwritten notes]
24/9/E: Checking chart
Calculations on survey results. [Handwritten]
24/9/F and G:
Packages of computer tabulations
BOXES 10 and 11: SURVEY OF BROWNS OF CHESTER 1955
Questionnaire replies (850)
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