Description

Admin History:

Anthony Brown, the founder of the company was born in 1829. Aged 31, he moved form Holme upon Spalding Moor to Kingston upon Hull and established a booksellers and publishers at 3 Prospect Street. He was married twice, with a son, John, from his first marriage and six sons and three daughters with his second wife. Anthony Brown died in 1880.

Anthony Brown's eldest son, John, trained with Simpkin, Marshall & Company in London before joining his father in the Hull business. In 1870 the Elementary Education Act (Forster Act) was passed, with John Brown establishing a School Outfitting Department two years later, which quickly developed and expanded.

In 1872 John became a partner in the business, which was now trading as A. Brown & Son. In 1877 new land was purchased to house the expanding business at 26 -27 Saville Street. Walter Brown, Anthony's second son, came into the business in 1877. The business was subsequently renamed A. Brown & Sons in 1880. 1895 saw the addition of 28 -29 Saville Street to the accommodation, with a printing works established at West Street under the name of Brown Brothers. This was later re-housed in better conditions at 1 Dock Street.

Due to the passing of the 1902 Education Act and the abolition of school board as well as the creation of local education authorities, Browns re-organised their School Outfitting Department. This ended the practice of salesmen travelling to individual schools to seek business. In 1905 A. Brown & Sons were founded as a private company under the name of A. Brown & Sons Limited, and in 1906 John Brown became the first chairman of the company. The Directors built a new printing works on land at 15 Dock Street, which backed onto the existing premises at 40 George Street. 1911 saw the creation of the School Stationary Manufacturing Department in purpose built accommodation at 19-21 Dock Street.

In 1928 a new warehouse was built at Perth Street West to deal with the expanding business. The Letterpress Printing Works opened in 1929 with the printing works, stationary manufacturing, school contracts & export department all brought together under one roof. The Saville Street premises were destroyed in an air raid in 1941. In 1960 A. Brown and Sons celebrated its centenary year. However, the early 1980s saw the company having significant financial difficulties with it entering into liquidation in 1982.

Description:

Financial records; Records relating to customer orders; Staff records; Photographs, publications and miscellaneous items