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American Legion Scrapbook

 Collection
Identifier: AC-368

Scope and Contents

This bound scrapbook contains photographs, newspaper clippings, and correspondence related to the election of Beaumonter Perry Brown as the American Legion’s National Commander, the organization’s highest office. The materials date from 1948 to 1949. According to a handwritten note on the first page, the scrapbook was compiled by Arthur Lee for Dale Broussard, who served as chairman of the homecoming committee.

Dates

  • Creation: 1948 - 1949

Conditions Governing Use

The Tyrrell Historical Library holds copyright. The researcher must secure permission to publish. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the Tyrrell Historical Library. The researcher assumes full responsiblity for complying with copyright, literary property rights, and libel laws.

Biographical / Historical

The American Legion is a nonprofit organization operated by and for American veterans. The Legion was established in 1919, and Beaumont’s Post 33 was founded soon after. The scrapbook contains newspaper clippings, photographs, and correspondence related to the homecoming of Perry Brown, member of Beaumont’s American Legion Post 33, after his election as National Commander, the organization’s highest office. Dale Broussard, for whom the scrapbook was made by Arthur Lee, served as the chairman of the homecoming committee.

The homecoming event took place in Beaumont on December 11, 1948 and included a parade and musical entertainments from singer Roy Rogers and his wife Dale Evans, as well as performances from local music groups, as well as a procession of local Boy Scout troops and military members. A newspaper clipping in the scrapbook describes B-29 bombers and “navy fighters” that flew over the homecoming parade. To honor the occasion, Texas Governor Beaufort Jester declared December 11, 1948 as Perry Brown Day.

According to a 1935 article in the Beaumont Enterprise published to announce his election as post commander of the Legion’s Beaumont Post 33, Perry Brown was a graduate of Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana and owned a local construction firm bearing his name. He began his military career in 1917 at Fort Benjamin Harris in Indianapolis. In 1918, he was sent to Beaumont, France, where he commanded a machine gun company and was promoted to Captain. He was wounded and was discharged in 1919. Brown was also involved in the Boy Scouts and the Kiwanis.

Extent

1 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The American Legion is a nonprofit organization operated by and for American veterans. The Legion was established in 1919, and Beaumont’s Post 33 was founded soon after. The scrapbook contains photographs, newspaper clippings, and correspondence from 1948 and 1949 related to the homecoming of Beaumonter Perry Brown on the occasion of his election as the American Legion’s National Commander, the organization’s highest office.

According to a handwritten note on the front page, the scrapbook was put together by Arthur Lee for homecoming committee chairman Dale Broussard.

Arrangement

Series 1: Scrapbooks

Title
American Legion Scrapbook
Author
Katherine Leister, Assistant Archivist
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Tyrrell Historical Library Archives Repository

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