Skip to Content
Brown Family
Search

Looking for something in particular? Search for it here.

Post WWII – Brown Family

In 1953 J. Proctor Brown, a Chicago area advertising artist, decided it was time to find a better job. Hired by Biddle Advertising in Bloomington, he packed up his family and moved to McLean County.

Proctor’s wife Lue quit her teaching job, and their two sons, Jim and Bill, left behind their school, their friends, and the only home they had ever known.

After World War II, U.S. residents were more willing and able to leave their hometowns in order to find their ideal jobs and chase the American dream. Drawn by white collar jobs, they moved their families from within Illinois as well as from across the country.

J. Proctor Brown is a light-skinned man wearing a white collared shirt, a dark tie, and a jacket. His hair is dark and slicked back with a slightly receding hairline. He is is facing left and smiling slightly.

J. Proctor Brown

J. Proctor Brown is a light-skinned man wearing a white collared shirt, a dark tie, and a jacket. His hair is dark and slicked back with a slightly receding hairline. He is is facing left and smiling slightly.
Lue Brown is wearing a white dress and pearls. She has large earrings. She is wearing red lipstick and she is smiling. Lue has dark eyes and dark hair. Her hair is braided and fashioned into an up-do on top of her head. She is facing the right and looking slightly over her shoulder.

Lue Brown.

Lue Brown is wearing a white dress and pearls. She has large earrings. She is wearing red lipstick and she is smiling. Lue has dark eyes and dark hair. Her hair is braided and fashioned into an up-do on top of her head. She is facing the right and looking slightly over her shoulder.
Color photo of a small white house with semi-detached garage and black 1940s-era car in the driveway.

After World War II, homes were relatively cheap. “Starter homes,” many in the Cape Cod style, were part of a 1940s construction boom. Affordable housing and consumer goods were in great demand. 

The Browns bought a cozy little house at 504 Manchester Road in Normal.

Color photo of a small white house with semi-detached garage and black 1940s-era car in the driveway.

Admiral Console Television with turntable, circa 1955

Photo of a console television with its door open. There is dust on the shelf.

View this object in Matterport

The Browns enjoyed playing games, watching an hour or two of television in the evening, and listening to popular music. Their home entertainment system included this console TV with a “Super Cascade Turret Tuner,” and a state-of-the-art turntable for playing records. Favorite shows of the 1950s included Lassie, Dragnet, I Love Lucy, The Jack Benny Program, and the Adventures of Rin-Tin-Tin.

Donated by: James and William Brown
945.6.461.6

Photo of a console television with its door open. There is dust on the shelf.

The Brown family home was much like many middle class homes of the 1950s — comfortable and well furnished with modern technology and conveniences.

Lamp, circa 1955

Photo of a lamp with 3 dark legs, a cord, and a white lampshade that has a thin leather strip weaved around both the top and bottom of the shade.

Lue tried her hands at just about anything, including wiring, welding, and constructing the shade for this lamp. It was used in one of her son’s bedrooms.

Donated by: James and William Brown
932.509

Photo of a lamp with 3 dark legs, a cord, and a white lampshade that has a thin leather strip weaved around both the top and bottom of the shade.

Copper planter, circa 1960

Photo of a decorative wall planter, with copper spheres on a plant-stem inspired rod

The Brown home included this decorative wall planter.

Donated by: James and William Brown
934.518

Photo of a decorative wall planter, with copper spheres on a plant-stem inspired rod

Housedress, circa 1952

Color photo of a dress on a mannequin. The dress has white, light green, orange, and dark green vertical stripes of equal width. The dress has 5 buttons above the waist, a built in belt of the same material around the waist, and short sleeves.

Lue made many of her own clothes, including this dress.

Donated by: James and William Brown
933.538

Color photo of a dress on a mannequin. The dress has white, light green, orange, and dark green vertical stripes of equal width. The dress has 5 buttons above the waist, a built in belt of the same material around the waist, and short sleeves.

Chair, circa 1950

Photo of a wooden chair with a floral fabric seat and back.

Lue took furniture and hat making classes in Bloomington. She made this chair, one of a set, for her dining room.

Donated by: James and William Brown
932.526

Photo of a wooden chair with a floral fabric seat and back.

Bill, the Brown’s youngest son, had a hard time adjusting to his new environment.

Their new backyard in Normal was tiny compared to the one they left behind. Bill missed having more open space in which to run around.

He also had to adjust to a new and larger school, Central School, and to make new friends.

He also missed having his mother close—she had been a teacher at his former school.

Black and white photo of a woman in a dress standing with a young boy. They are standing outside in a yard.

Lou and Bill Brown stand in their backyard.

Black and white photo of a woman in a dress standing with a young boy. They are standing outside in a yard.

The Browns found fun activities for Bill and Jim. Family outings included tobogganing and going to Miller Park. 

Two boys ride a miniature train in a park.

Jim and Bill ride the miniature train at Miller Park.

Two boys ride a miniature train in a park.
Portrait of two children dressed in winter gear, standing in an open field with a toboggan.

Bill (right) and his cousin, Nancy Wolcott, pause from tobogganing at Highland Park long enough for Bill’s dad to snap a picture, circa 1955

Portrait of two children dressed in winter gear, standing in an open field with a toboggan.

Jim got a job as a Pantagraph carrier—and involved himself in activities at his new school, Normal Community High School.

At school Jim participated in wrestling, track, cross country, student council, drama, and Camera Club.

Portrait of Jim Brown, a smilng young white man wearing a a plaid shirt.

Jim Brown in 1958

Portrait of Jim Brown, a smilng young white man wearing a a plaid shirt.
Black and white photo of a group of 22 young men and women in high school, as they pose with cameras.

Jim poses for a yearbook photo with fellow camera club members. Can you find him in the picture?

Black and white photo of a group of 22 young men and women in high school, as they pose with cameras.

Shortly after they arrived, Lue and Proctor were invited to join the Newcomers Club, a social organization for professionals new to Bloomington-Normal.

“This is one of the friendliest places I’ve ever been in.”
— Lue Brown, The Pantagraph, January 19, 1956

Black and white photo of three women in wearing formal dresses at a holiday party. One woman is carrying a glass and the other two women are carrying clutches.

Mrs. Robert Nelson, Carol Perdue, and Lue Brown, admire the Newcomers Club’s holiday decorations.

Black and white photo of three women in wearing formal dresses at a holiday party. One woman is carrying a glass and the other two women are carrying clutches.

Lue, who was not working outside the home, did not have social outlets and welcomed the opportunity to meet and socialize with others.

She enjoyed Newcomers events so much she became president of the club in 1955 in order to meet and help other newcomers to the community.

Black and white photo of Proctor Brown and a couple composed of a tall balding man in a suit and woman with parted hair in a dark dress, conversing at a party.

Arthur and Dorothy Engler, who moved to Bloomington from Fort Wayne, Indiana, chat with Proctor Brown during the December 1954 Newcomers party.

Black and white photo of Proctor Brown and a couple composed of a tall balding man in a suit and woman with parted hair in a dark dress, conversing at a party.

Lue loved to entertain.

In 1957 she and Proctor hosted a luau in their back yard. They served authentic Hawaiian food, and guests arrived in Hawaiian themed clothing.

Two men and two women dressed in floral shirts and wearing leis.

Lue, Proctor (left), Virginia Dunn, and Clifford Sperry pose for a picture during the party.

Two men and two women dressed in floral shirts and wearing leis.

Buford Bass, Anna Farnsworth, Jo Donna Sperry, John Butler, and Helen Holzer enjoy the food.

Life Magazine Flip Book

Previous: Mau Family Next: Maria del Socorro Luna del Real