Albert E. Brownell Photograph Album

Content Description

Photograph album from about 1870 "in Costa Rica showing villages, bridges, buildings, and people, most unidentified. The album formerly belonged to A.E. Brownell, an engineer believed employed by the United Fruit Company" (from description in Rensselaer's accession record). The people in the photographs include men in suits, women in festive garments, and small children. Albert E. Brownell, 1839-1886, a nephew of Henry Dwight Brownell, Hamilton College Class of 1843, was involved with the Costa Rican Rail Road industry and was a Consular Agent in the same nation. Minor Cooper Keith, who is named in some photos, was born in Brooklyn, NY on 19 January 1848 and died 14 June 1929. He was in the lumber business until 1870, the cattle business for 2 years, then the railroad industry in Costa Rica in 1872. In 1899 Keith organized the United Fruit Company. Keith was involved with the following firms in the course of life: Premier Gold Mining Company (Vice President); St. Andrews Bay Lumber Company; Guatemala Central Railroad Co.; International Railway of Central America; Empire Trust Co. (Director); Royal Geographic Society (Fellow); Museum of American Indian (Trustee); Heye Foundation. (See also Brownell Family Papers at http://archives.hamilton.edu/repositories/5/accessions/1132.)

Acquisition Type

Gift

Provenance

From Institute Archives and Special Collections, Rensselaer Libraries, where it was Acc. 77-18, from Clinton Meneely, The Crossways, East Acres, Troy, New York 12180, accession dated 11/9/76.

Restrictions Apply

No