Henry Collins Brown facts for kids

Henry Collins Brown (1862–1961) was a Scottish-born historian, writer, and lecturer who loved New York City. He is most famous for starting the Museum of the City of New York. He came to New York when he was just 13 years old.

After arriving in New York, Henry first worked selling advertisements. This job took him all over the city. Later, he became a journalist for a newspaper called The Sun. He wrote many stories about New York's history and its amazing buildings. Henry also wrote several books about the city's past. He was also the editor of a special publication called Valentine's Manual, which was full of interesting facts about New York.

Henry Collins Brown was married twice. His first wife was Kate Ross, who passed away in 1918. They had four sons and two daughters together, including Kay B. Barrett. He then married Clara Brown Lyman on February 5, 1919. They lived in the New York Biltmore Hotel for a time. He was also known to have lived in Hastings-on-Hudson.

Henry Brown's New York Stories

Henry Collins Brown spent his life sharing the history of New York City with others. He wrote many books that helped people learn about the city's past. His writings covered different parts of New York's story.

Exploring Old New York

Many of Henry Brown's books were about what New York was like in earlier times. He wrote about the city's growth and how it changed over the years. Some of his books focused on specific areas, like Fifth Avenue old and new, 1824-1924. He also wrote about famous places, such as Delmonico's, which was a well-known restaurant.

Capturing City Life

Henry Brown also wrote about the daily life and culture of New York in different periods. For example, he wrote New York in the elegant eighties and In the golden nineties. These books helped readers imagine what it was like to live in the city during those decades. He also wrote about important events, like the building of the subway in The new subway in Manhattan.

Sharing Hidden Gems

He enjoyed sharing lesser-known facts and stories about the city. Books like Walks and talks around New York invited readers to explore the city with him. He even wrote about specific types of buildings, like in Brownstone fronts and Saratoga trunks. His work helped many people discover the rich history hidden in every corner of New York.