Author talk:Elizabeth Virginia Brown

Evening Star 29 July 1915; page 20 Miss Elizabeth Brown Dead Due to Fall in May Director of Primary Instruction in Washington Public Schools for Years Author of Children's Books, Lecturer and Traveler -- Funeral Probably Saturday Morning Miss Elizabeth V. Brown, educator, author and clubwoman, for more than ten years director of primary instruction in the local public schools, died last night at her home, 1357 Euclid street northwest. Death was due to a nervous breakdown following a fall sustained in May. Time for funeral services have not been decided upon but probably will be held Saturday with interment at Congressional cemetery. The death of Miss Brown came as a shock to hundreds of friends throughout the city, with whom she had been associated in educational social and religious work in a manner which made her a beloved leader in all activities. Miss Brown was the daughter of the late George H. Brown, who was for thirty-nine years landscape gardener of the District. She received her education in the Washington schools, graduating from both high and normal schools, and later received the degree of A.B. from the George Washington University. School Career Soon after her graduation she was appointed method and practice teacher in the Normal school. As director of primary instruction for more than ten years Miss Brown had charge of the work of the first four grades, during which time she brought the primary schools up to the highest standard of efficiency. She held her position during the terms of Superintendents Stuart, Chancellor, Davidson and Thurston. Miss Brown had been very popular as a lecturer on education and its related problems, and had been heard in many of the leading cities in the south, east and middle west. Extensive travels through the various countries of Europe as well as in the United States and Canada gave Miss Brown a breadh of view which was reflected in her lectures and in her educational and social work. Author of Children's Books As the author of a number of books for children Miss Brown won wide recognition. Among her earlier works are "Stories of Woods and Fields," "Stories of Childhood and Nature" and "When the World Was Young." Later she was a co-author of the "Home Readers." Miss Brown was recently unanimously elected to succeed herself as president of the College Women's Club, an organization of 400 women, representing eighty-three colleges and universities. During Miss Brown's term the club reached its banner year, undertaking under her leadership new and successful enterprises. She was the organizer and first president of the Teachers' Branch of the Women's Department of the National Civic Federation. Miss Brown was an active member and earnest worker in the Audubon Society, the Y.W.C.A., the League of American Pen Women, the Twentieth Century Club, he Columbian Women and the Monday Evening Club. Early in life Miss Brown identified herself with the Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. For many years she was a teacher, and afterward assistant superintendent of the Sunday school of that church. Besides her mother, a sister, Mrs. Daniel Webster Prentiss, and two brothers, Capt. Orville G. Brown, U.S.A., and George H. Brown, are living. - The Evening Star 16 January 1913; page 24 In The Channel Isles Miss Elizabeth V. Brown Lectures on Her Experiences "A Pen Woman in the Channel Islands" was the subject of an illustrated lecture by Miss Elizabeth V. Brown, director of primary instruction in the public schools of the District, at the Public Library last evening. The lecture was given under the auspices of the League of American Pen Women. Besides members of the league, many school officials and others were present. Miss Brown was introduced by Capt. James F. Oyster, president of the board of education. On the platform sat Dr. William M. Davidson, superintendent of schools; Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes and Mrs. Edith Kingman Kern, members of the board of education.