*Post written by James Wethington, library assistant of the University Archives and Special Collections.

A Time and A Place: The Photographs of Sonny Brown Promotional Flyer, 2017.

At the Kenneth P. McCutchan Art Center/Palmina F. and Stephen S. Pace Galleries will host two new galleries. One of the newest galleries will highlight the photography of Everett “Sonny” Brown. Inside of the University Archives and Special Collections at Rice Library, has an extensive photography collection during Sonny Brown’s tenure with the Evansville Courier and Press Newspaper. Former USI faculty member, Kristen Wilkins, is presenting A Time and A Place: the Photographs of Sonny Brown from the University Archives and Special Collections and “… a free public lecture on the exhibit … at 6 P.M., Thursday, September 21 in Kleymeyer Hall in the Liberal Arts Center” (Waters, 2017).

Brown was born in Hopkins County, Kentucky on May 25, 1932 to his parents, Norman and Bonnie. He served in the United States Marine Corps. As previously stated, Brown worked as a photographer for the Evansville Courier and Press newspaper. He had two sons and one daughter, Brian, Blaine, and Becky. Brown passed away on March 23, 2015 (Browning, n.d.).

Sonny Brown (left) and actress Ruth Buzzi (right) from Hee-Haw, 1978. Source: University Archives and Special Collections

The University Archives and Special Collections has over 1,200 images from the Sonny Brown collection. They are available online at digitalarchives.usi.edu/digital and click on “Sonny Brown Collection”. His images range from 1900 to 1992 and has photographed numerous historical events, individuals, and buildings around Evansville, Indiana. Some images consist of Bull Island concert, Hee-Haw, Richard Nixon, Karl Kae Knecht, and so many more!

References

Browning genealogy database (n.d.). Brown, Everett C. Retrieved from http://browning.evpl.org/

Waters, K. (14 September 2017). USI to hold double exhibition of photographs, prints. Retrieved from https://www.usi.edu/news/releases/2017/09/usi-to-hold-double-exhibition-of-photographs-prints/