| Name |
Grafton Tyler Brown [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] |
| Born |
22 Feb 1841
Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA  [ 1, 3, 4, 5, 6]
|
| Gender |
Male |
| Death |
Minnesota, USA
|
| Ethnicity |
American [5] |
| Race |
Colored [4] |
| Race |
Mulatto [1, 6] |
| Race |
White [5] |
| Name |
Grafin T Brown [5] |
| Name |
Grafton Brown |
| Name |
Grafton T Brown [7] |
| Name |
Graten T Brown [5] |
| Occupation |
Artist: Litographer, Painter, Cartographer, Entrepreneur. [2] |
| Residence |
1850
West Ward, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA [ 1]
– 9 Age: 9; AttendedSchool: Yes |
| Residence |
1858
Sacramento, Sacramento, California, USA [ 2]
|
| Residence |
1858
San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA [ 2]
|
| Residence |
1860
Sacramento Ward 1, Sacramento, Sacramento, California, USA [ 4]
– 19 Age: 19; Porter Occupation: Porter |
| Residence |
1862
San Francisco, California, USA [ 7]
– Draughtsman Occupation: Draughtsman |
| Residence |
1870
San Francisco Ward 6, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA [ 6]
– 29 Age: 29; MaleCitizenOverTwentyone: Yes; PersonalEstateValue: 600; Sitter Frapher Occupation: Sitter Frapher |
| Residence |
1888
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada [ 2]
|
| Residence |
1910
Selby Avenue, St Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota, USA [ 5]
– Age: 69; Occupation: Draughtsman; CanRead: Yes; CanWrite: Yes; EnumerationDistrict: 0099; HomeOwnership: Rent; Industry: Engineer Office; LiveOnFarm: House; NativeLanguageCode: English; OutOfWork: N; WeeksOutOfWork: 0; YearsMarried: 13; Married MaritalStatus: Married; Head RelationToHead: Head |
| Job |
Employer: Wage Earner [5] |
| Died |
2 Mar 1918
St Peter, Nicollet, Minnesota, USA [ 3]
|
| Buried |
Roseville, Ramsey, Minnesota, USA [ 3, 8]
|
| Notes |
- Grafton Tyler Brown: A Trailblazing Artist and Cartographer
Grafton Tyler Brown (February 22, 1841 - March 2, 1918) was an influential American artist and cartographer known for his detailed lithographs and paintings of the American West.
Early Life and Background
Grafton Tyler Brown was born into a large family of avid abolitionists, freedom fighters, artists, and political activists. His early years were spent in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where his family was deeply involved in the fight for equality and justice. Brown was later sent to Philadelphia to apprentice under his brother-in-law, David Bustill Bowser, an accomplished artist and lithographer. This apprenticeship provided Brown with the foundational skills in art and lithography that would shape his career. After a brief period in Philadelphia, Brown moved west and took up residence with other Black artists in San Diego or Santa Cruz, before relocating to San Francisco.
Artistic and Professional Achievements
1. Pioneering Lithographer and Cartographer:
• Bird’s-Eye Views: Brown gained renown for his bird’s-eye view maps, which meticulously captured the rapidly developing cities of the Western United States. His 1861 illustration of Virginia City, Nevada, is celebrated for its detailed depiction of the booming silver-mining town, providing a valuable historical record.
• Commercial Success: Following the acquisition of Charles Kuchel’s lithography business, Brown expanded its operations and built a successful enterprise. His company produced maps, mining stock certificates, advertisements, and illustrations that were highly regarded for their precision and quality.
2. Transition to Painting:
• Landscape Art: In the 1880s, Brown shifted his focus from lithography to painting, creating iconic depictions of the American West’s natural landscapes. His works, including paintings of Mount Rainier, Mount Hood, and Yellowstone National Park, are admired for their beauty and technical skill. These paintings played a significant role in enhancing the appreciation of the region’s natural beauty during a time of rapid expansion and exploration.
3. Innovation in Cartography:
• Technological Evolution: Brown’s later works, such as his 1907 bird’s-eye view of Reno, Nevada, demonstrated his adaptability and innovation in cartography. This map integrated photographs with hand-drawn elements, reflecting the technological advancements of the period.
Legacy and Historical Significance
1. Recognition as a Professional Artist:
• Historical Impact: Brown’s work as a lithographer and painter holds significant historical value, providing detailed records of urban development during the Gold Rush and post-Civil War eras. His contributions offer insights into the growth and transformation of the American West.
• Artistic Merit: Brown’s technical skill and artistic vision place him among the notable artists and cartographers of the 19th century. His ability to capture both the emerging urban landscapes and the pristine natural beauty of the West ensures his lasting legacy.
Personal Life and Community Ties
Throughout his life, Brown maintained strong ties to his family and the Black community. His connections to his abolitionist roots and his involvement with fellow Black artists underscore the importance of community and support networks in his career. These relationships not only grounded him but also provided a sense of continuity and purpose in his work as an artist and cartographer.
Unmarked Grave
Grafton Tyler Brown is buried in an unmarked grave in Minnesota.
Explore Exhibits of Grafton Tyler Brown’s Art and Learn More About His Life:
Harrisburg Telegraph. “Amanda Gray & Cassius Brown Celebrate 50th Anniversary 1915.” October 4, 1915. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84264007/amanda-gray-cassius-brown-celebrate/.
BC Black History Awareness Society. “An Event of National Historic Significance.” Historical. Accessed October 16, 2022. https://bcblackhistory.ca/an-event-of-national-historic-significance/.
---. “Grafton Tyler Brown: 1st Professional Black Artist in the Pacific North West.” Historical. BC Black History Awareness Society (blog). Accessed October 16, 2022. https://bcblackhistory.ca/grafton-tyler-brown/.
“Cassius M Brown Sr. (1844-1921) - Find a Grave…” Accessed October 17, 2022. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/231287114/cassius-m-brown.
“Grafton Tyler Brown.” In Wikipedia, September 10, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grafton_Tyler_Brown&oldid=1109486546.
Grafton Tyler Brown. “Virginia City, Nevada Territory, 1861 / Drawn from Nature by Grafton T. Brown ;” Image. Virginia City, Nevada: C.C. Kuchel, lith., 1861. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA dcu. https://www.loc.gov/item/96511984/.
Jackson Jr., Calobe, Katie Wingert McArdle, and David Pettegrew, eds. One Hundred Voices: Harrisburg’s Historic African American Community, 1850-1920. The Digital Press at the University of North Dakota, 2020. https://doi.org/10.31356/dpb017.
Kaplan, Frances. “Grafton Tyler Brown and the Art of Lithography.” California Historical Society, March 8, 2021. https://californiahistoricalsociety.org/blog/grafton-tyler-brown-and-the-art-of-lithography/.
Penn State University. “Palmer Museum of Art Acquires Rare and Important Work by Grafton Tyler Brown.” Accessed October 17, 2022. https://www.psu.edu/news/arts-and-entertainment/story/palmer-museum-art-acquires-rare-and-important-work-grafton-tyler-brown/.
St. Onge, Tim. “Grafton Tyler Brown, Trailblazing Cartographer of the American West | Worlds Revealed: Geography & Maps at The Library Of Congress.” Webpage, June 28, 2017. //blogs.loc.gov/maps/2017/06/grafton-tyler-brown-trailblazing-cartographer-of-the-american-west/.
Unknown. “Blacks in the Westward Movement,” Anacostia Neighborhood Museum, n.d.
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. “Virginia City, Nevada Territory, 1861 / Drawn from Nature by Grafton T. Brown ; C.C. Kuchel, Lith.” Image. Accessed October 16, 2022. https://www.loc.gov/item/96511984/.
|
| Person ID |
I12651
|
