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

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.

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.

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

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

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 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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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?

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