Antique 1881 Pittsburgh, PA Mayor JOSEPH J. O. BROWN Signed Letter w/ Letterhead

ANTIQUE, ORIGINAL, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY!

July 29, 1881

Pittsburgh Mayor, J. O. BROWN

Prothonotary of Allegheny County

Hand-Signed Letter w/ Letterhead

Dated July 29, 1881.

Hand-written message reads:

“Dr. F. P. Shields,

Dear Sir, Your favor at hand. In reply will say that under the law you are required to appear personally for registration, as we have a Docket one page of which is devoted to registration of each doctor and he is required to sign said Docket. I herewith enclose you a blank for you to fill out and bring with you as under the act. The one you sent by mail is not full enough. I would like very much to accommodate you by filing your paper but under the law you must appear personally. Hoping that you will call at your earliest convenience.

I remain Truly ye,

J. O. Brown”

Measures 8” x 11”.

Some history and biography:

Joseph Owen Brown (1846 – 1903) was born on January 8, 1846, in what is today East Deer Township, Pennsylvania, just north of Pittsburgh. He served as prothonotary of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania from 1880 until 1887. His first political position in Pittsburgh was director of public safety, a job he obtained in 1887. He served as Mayor of Pittsburgh from November 25, 1901 until he died in office from heart failure March 15, 1903. He was buried at Bull Creek Cemetery, not far away from his hometown, Tarentum, Pennsylvania.

Mayor Joseph Brown's administration battled rampant vice within the city with differing degrees of success. The incompetence of the rank and file law enforcers in the city was displayed for everyone to see when the Biddle Brothers made a daring escape from the Pittsburgh jail. The Frick Building was constructed on Grant Street during the Joseph Brown term.

CONDITION:

Great antique condition. 2 folds. Some discoloration and tears to fold edges. Edge wear. See photos for details.

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