Browne Center Files, 1968-2004

Collection number: UA 17/28
Size: 6 boxes (1.85 cu.ft.)

About Browne Center

The Browne Center is an experiential education campus operated by the University of New Hampshire, which offers team-centered programming to assist organizations and individuals in their quest for excellence. The center is located on a 103-acre wooded sanctuary and includes two meeting facilities: a retreat-like seminar building and a yurt, a large circular structure that offers space for gathering and reflection.

The Browne Center was named for Evelyn Browne (1915-1994), a visionary leader with a drive for excellence and an ability to bring out the best in people.

Evelyn “Ev” Browne had a passion for teaching others the value of living in balance with nature. Her love for the outdoor life brought her to the University of New Hampshire in 1943 to teach horseback riding and riflery. She remained at UNH and taught various skills and topics until her retirement in 1981. Her accomplishments were many. As a beloved teacher and activist, she educated community members and organized a movement that prevented Aristotle Onasis from building an oil refinery in Great Bay. Later in her life, Ev was instrumental in the establishment of the Great Bay National Estuary Research Reserve.

About the Browne Center Files

These files cover the establishment of the Browne Center and some of its programs and operations.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

This collection is open.

Copyright Notice

Copyright is retained by the University of New Hampshire.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Browne Center Files, 1968-2004, UA 17/28, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.

Acquisitions Information

This collection was transferred to the archives from the Browne Center office in 2005

Related Material

Evelyn Browne Papers, 1961-1995. UA 17/18

Separated Material

Maps: Knight Lot, aerial photo and topo map; Bid Package seminare building; nautical chart Great Bay and Browne Center. Located on top of map case D.

Collection Contents

Series 1: Correspondence and Publicity, 1984-2004

Series includes letters and emails that document the inception of an outdoor education center and some of the objections to it. The series also includes brochures and pamphlets that advertise the Browne Center.

Box 1
Box 1, Folder 1	1984-85	Correspondence: Evelyn Browne
Box 1, Folder 2	1994	Correspondence: Evelyn Browne
Box 1, Folder 3	1986-1999	Miscellaneous Documents and Correspondence
Box 1, Folder 4	1993 and 1999	Newspaper Articles
Box 1, Folder 5	1994	Letters and Correspondence (Land proposal, bid package)
Box 1, Folder 6	1995	Correspondence: Dennis Meadows
Box 1, Folder 7	1994-1999	Correspondence: Fish and Games
Box 1, Folder 8	1999	Correspondence: Candace Corvey
Box 1, Folder 9	1997	Letters of appreciation and complaint
Box 1, Folder 10	1997-1998	Yearly Report and Correspondence
Box 1, Folder 11	1998-2004	Emails and Letters amongst co-workers
Box 1, Folder 12	1991	Thank you Letters
Box 1, Folder 13	1992-1993	Articles of Appreciation
Box 1, Folder 14	various	Browne Center Brochures
Box 1, Folder 15	1993-1994	Evelyn Browne Correspondence and Information
Box 1, Folder 16	1982-1987	Articles about Fireside
Box 1, Folder 17	1993-1994	Publications and thank you letters
Box 1, Folder 18	1993-1995	Promotional Materials

Series 2: Finances, 1992-2004

Series includes information about the finances of the Browne Center including but not limited to deed descriptions and quarterly fiscal reports. The series also includes some correspondence concerning the finances of the Browne Center.

Box 2
Box 2, Folder 1	1992-1996	Grant Proposals
Box 2, Folder 2	1993	Outward bound and Action Learning Center problem
Box 2, Folder 3	1993-1994	Deeds and Taxes
Box 2, Folder 4	1993-1997	Browne Center Finances
Box 2, Folder 5	1994-1995	Preliminary Cost Estimate
Box 2, Folder 6	1995	Correspondence in regard to taxes
Box 2, Folder 7	1996	Letters and Correspondence- Brown Center Client/ Income overview
Box 2, Folder 8	1996-2002	Fiscal Year Quarter Reports
Box 2, Folder 9	1997	Yurt Materials and information (including finances)
Box 2, Folder 10	1998-2001	Revenue for the Browne Center Charts
Box 2, Folder 11	2004	4th Quarter Fiscal Report
Box 2, Folder 12	1987	Deed Description for Evelyn Brown and Knight Lot
Box 2, Folder 13	1994	Projected revenues and costs for the proposed in-door ropes facility

Series 3: Easement and Land Expanding Documents, 1968-2000

Series includes documents regarding the various land expansions that have occurred since the opening of the Browne Center, the Easement debate as well as information about the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Box 3
Box 3, Folder 1	1968	State of NH Tax on Transfer of Real Property
Box 3, Folder 2	1987	Legal Paperwork (portion of premises with reference/deed)
Box 3, Folder 3	1988	Letters and Correspondence Conservation Easement Deed
Box 3, Folder 4	1989	Draft: Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan
Box 3, Folder 5	1994-2000	Fish and Game Easement Documents
Box 3, Folder 6	1994-2000	Fish and Game Easement Documents
Box 3, Folder 7	1996-1998	Proposed Road Extension
Box 3, Folder 8	1997	Eight Facts about the Browne Center and the Easement (4 copies)
Box 3, Folder 9	1998	NH Revised Statues Annotated
Box 3, Folder 10	1998-2000	Correspondence regarding Easement
Box 3, Folder 11	1999	Browne Center Contract

Series 4: Buildings, Proposals and Construction, 1984-1996

Series includings building proposals and blueprints of the Browne Center as well as Construction bills and information.

Box 4
Box 4, Folder 1	1984	Reports of proposed outdoor center- Draft Management plan
Box 4, Folder 2	1987,1997,2001	Browne Center Maps
Box 4, Folder 3	1993	Proposals for next step in the development of Center for Action Learning (ALC)
Box 4, Folder 4	1993	Correspondence in regards to Action Learning Center
Box 4, Folder 5	1993-1995	Building Designs
Box 4, Folder 6	1993-1995	Septic System and Composting Toilets- plans and costs
Box 4, Folder 7	1994	Maps, Letters/Correspondence Exhibits
Box 4, Folder 8	1994	Browne Center Opening
Box 4, Folder 9	1994-1995	Yurt blueprints and construction documents
Box 4, Folder 10	1995	Barnett Memorial
Box 4, Folder 11	1995	Propsed High Elements Building Photos
Box 4, Folder 12	1995	Building Addition Information
Box 4, Folder 13	1995-1996	High Element building construction plans
Box 4, Folder 14	1997	Yurt Insulation Information
Box 4, Folder 15	1997	Yurt Article
Box 4, Folder 16	1994, 1997	Browne Center Maps
Box 4, Folder 17	1995-1997	The Yurt Foundation

Series 5: Browne Center Management, Programs and Committees, 1984-2002

Series includes information and correspondence on the different Committees and programs within the Browne Center. Along with Staff manuals, information on ropes course, lists of guests and safety statistics there are multiple folders in regards to the management at the Browne Center.

Box 5
Box 5, Folder 1	1984-1999	Outdoor Education Center and other Committees’ paperwork
Box 5, Folder 2	1986	Draft Interim Report to Gordon Haaland from the Steering Committee
Box 5, Folder 3	1987-1998	Information on UNH Rope course
Box 5, Folder 4	1984-1986	Yurt Guest Log Book
Box 5, Folder 5	1988-1990	Yurt Guest Log Book
Box 5, Folder 6	1992-1993	Teamwork Committee
Box 5, Folder 7	1993	The Browne Center list of Staff and Visitors
Box 5, Folder 8	1993	Agreements; Attachments; Exhibits and appendix
Box 5, Folder 9	1993	Information on Excellence in Outdoor Education
Box 5, Folder 10	1994	Mission, Goals and Strategic plan
Box 5, Folder 11	1994	Action Learning Center Administrative
Box 5, Folder 12	1995-1996	Browne Center Management
Box 5, Folder 13	1997-2001	Browne Center Meeting Notes (Environmental, strategic planning etc.)
Box 5, Folder 14	2000	Staff Manuel
Box 5, Folder 15	2002	Browne Center Information Packet on Programs
Box 5, Folder 16	2001	Safety Statistics
Box 5, Folder 17	1995	Orienteering Maps
Box 6
Box 6, Folder 1	no date	Documents in regards to UNH Outdoor Education Program and Outdoor Learning

Series 6: "From Dream to Reality: Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve with Easement Papers", 1970-1989

These contents of these folders were contained in a box with the title "From Dream to Reality: Great Bay National Estuarine Research" written on the lid. They appear to have been the personal property of Evelyn Brown and document the establishment of the Great Bay The series includes correspondence, newspaper articles and informational packets about the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and the easement.

Box 6
Box 6, Folder 2	1987-1989	Documents about the National Estuarine Reserve Research System
Box 6, Folder 3	1970-1989	Documents about the land easement