Introduction | Biographical Sketch | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

Introduction

The Ray B. Browne Collection is comprised of over 43 cubic feet of correspondence, files, literary manuscripts and printed materials dating from 1950 to 1992. Some earlier and more recent dates are scattered within the correspondence, manuscripts and printed materials. Dr. Browne's research interests within the humanities encompassed the study of English, American literature, folklore, history as well as American culture and popular culture studies.

It was his broad, comprehensive view of human experience and his realization that the seemingly ordinary was a relevant area for academic inquiry that compelled Dr. Browne in 1967 to design, build and cultivate the study of popular culture at Bowling Green State University. This new approach would expand nationally and internationally via a network of Dr. Browne's academic colleagues, the Center for the Study of Popular Culture, the Popular Culture Library (the Ray and Pat Browne Library for Popular Culture Studies since 2003), the Popular Press (and its periodicals) as well as the Popular Culture and American Culture Associations.

Ray Browne began donating segments of his collection to the Browne Popular Culture Library on January 12, 1988. There are no restrictions placed on the use of this collection for scholarly purposes. Researchers are responsible for securing copyright permission when using all unpublished manuscripts and published works whether authored by Ray B. Browne or by other writers whose work may be found in this collection.

This finding aid was prepared by Eric Honneffer in September 2007.

Back to A-Z Listing of Manuscript Collections