Joseph Collier Brown

Photographer: J. Brown
136 - 138 Grand Ave. Milwaukee, WI
Nothing on reverse

There were MANY cabinet card photographers named Brown which slowed, even hindered searches for this Wisconsin photographer. Found were imprint examples: Brown, J Brown, J C Brown, J G Brown, H R Brown and R M Brown, to list only a few. The best guess on this cabinet card is Joseph Collier Brown who actually did work at 136 and 138 Grand in Milwaukee, between 1885 and 1888.

Filling out a timeline for this photographer Brown was a challenge. There was more than one J C Brown and oddly, there were two photographers named Joseph Collier Brown. It appears that one of them never left Scotland and the other spent most of his adult life in Milwaukee, WI.

The following timeline reflects the best linked documents on the photographer Joseph Collier Brown, of Milwaukee, WI. Mysteriously, nothing could be found about exactly when, J C Brown died.

Joseph Collier Brown
(Mar 1851 - 24 Aug 1948)

1851 Mar
Austria, Joseph Collier Brown is born

1857-1859
According to US census, 1900, 1910, 1920, Arrival in US
1874
Milwaukee, WI, state records, US Census of 1900, Marriage to Mary Franz
1877, 1878
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown is NOT listed
1879
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as laborer; res 753 Grove
1880
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as lithographer; bds 342 8th; Sons Joseph and Alexander, apparently twins, are born, Milwaukee, WI
1881
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, NOT listed
1882
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as laborer at either 827 2nd or 759 Grove (two listings same name, occupation)
1883
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, as lithographer; res 791 5th
1884
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as president of Milwaukee Photoengraving Co; res 1009 Walnut

1885, 1886
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as photographer at 138 (136) Grand; res 1000 Walnut
1887
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as photographer at 136 Grand av; res 621 10th; Son Edwin Brown born in Milwaukee, WI
1888
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as photographer at 136 Grand; res 2230 Chestnut
1889
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as Brown Photogravure Co; res 913 Vine
1890
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as photographer at 524 Center
1891, 1892
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as Supt Art Gravure & Etching Co 346 Broadway; res 524 Center
1893, 1894
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as Supt at 346 Broadway; res 967 6th
1895
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as supt. at 346 Broadway; res 791 21st; son Joseph Brown at same address

1896, 1897
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as photographer with Brown Brothers (with brother, Frank P Brown) photogravure printers at 246 Broadway; res 832 18th
1898
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as photo engraver; res 832 18th Joseph Brown Jr as draftsman; same address
1899
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as photo-engraver; res 832 18th
1900 Jun 07
Milwaukee, WI, US census & city directory, as photographer at 782 18th ave
1901
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as Engraver; res 782 18th
1902, 1903
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as photographer at 539 12th;; res 1811 Bismarck
1904
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as photographer at 538 12th; res 1811 Bismarck

1905
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as photographer at 529 12th; res 1811 Bismarck (note: 529 is probably a misprint)
1906
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as photographer at 539 12th;; res 1811 Bismarck
1907
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as photographer at 537-538 12th; res 1811 Bismarck
1908
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as photographer at 537 12th
1909
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as photographer at 539 12th ; res 2102 Vine
1910
Milwaukee, WI, US census, J C Brown as photographer at 2102 Vine
1911
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Joseph Brown as commercial photographer 539 12th; res 3803 Lisbon av

1912-1926
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, US census, J C Brown as photographer at 3803 Lisbon; res same
1927
Milwaukee, WI, city directory Jos Brown no occupation shown; 3928 Galena
1928
Milwaukee, WI, city directory, Mary Brown listed as Widow of Jos Brown; after the death of Joseph Collier Brown, wife Mary Brown moves in with son Edward Brown, res 815 55th; Milwaukee, WI; FindAGrave, Joseph Collier Brown died in 1928

Note that photographer David Thoms and J. Brown use the same address at 134 and 136 Grand Avenue, Milwaukee, Wi, but probably not at the same time.

And the studio is very close to Hugo Broich who was at 116-118 Spring (aka Grand) Avenue, Milwaukee, WI. All three were active between 1890-1900.

Milwaukee (WI) Journal -
08 Oct 1913

La Crosse (WI) Tribune -
03 Apr 1948

Photograph by Jos Brown

photographer: J Brown
136 Grand Ave, Milwaukee, WI
example from contributor

Examples below are by J V Brown of Milwaukee, WI.

photographer: J V Brown
136-138 Grand Ave, Milwaukee, WI
example from contributor

photographer: J V Brown
136-138 Grand Ave, Milwaukee, WI
example from contributor

Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. All the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY are listed there.

Cabinet cards typically have the photographer’s name and address printed on the bottom edge or the reverse of the card. 19th century photographers moved around a lot. The basic idea here is to find WHEN a photographer was WHERE, which will help date an unidentified CABINET CARD from your family album.

This is a work always in progress.

Aditional information and New examples are always welcome. Any additional information will help narrow the time that these precious antiques were made.

All submissions should be free of glare and shadows.
Do not crop.
Leave a border around each card. The edges are sometimes an important clue to the age of the card.
Email to the address found in the profile at the bottom of this page.

Some examples on this page have been enhanced or restored for clarity and presentation here.

This page is free for educational and research purposes only but, as always, if the original owner of any of these examples objects to the use on this page, just let me know and they will be immediately removed.