A Brown study

I was intrigued to learn more about Clarence M. Brown, the professor who incurred the wrath of my great-grandfather Gene for directing a production of "Can't Afford It" at the Ohio State Pharmaceutical Association Convention to be held July 19-23 at Cedar Point, Sandusky*  I became even more interested when I discovered he was one of the two people who had any strychnine "under lock and key."

Marysville Journal-Tribune
Thursday, Feb. 5, 1925

Check Made. 

    Careful check was made yesterday of the supplies of strychnine in the possession of the college of pharmacy. There are seven bottles. Four of these, it was learned, still have upon them the unbroken seals placed there by the manufacturers. One, partly empty, has been in the possession of Dean Clair E. Dye and he says has been under look and key in a room separate from the dispensary. The two others are kept locked in the desk of Clarence M. Brown, assistant professor in the department and, he says, have not been out of his possession.

The (Zanesville, OH) Times Recorder
Friday, Feb. 6, 1925

FORMER ZANESVILLE TEACHER NOW ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN THE COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

    Prof. Brown, assistant in the college of pharmacy and one of the custodians of the stocks of drugs, is a former teacher in the Zanesville high school and is an expert pharmacist, having been employed at a local drug store while a resident of this city and not actively engaged in his work as a teacher. His ability and carefulness will not be questioned for a moment by any who know him. The theory among the student body, and the probable solution of the mystery, is that in the hurry of filling capsules some student made an honest mistake and misread a blurred "strychnine" label as "quinine," being deceived by the similarity in the ending of the terms and like appearance of the powder at first glance.

 

Ohio State Lantern

Monday, Feb. 23, 1925

    Secretary Clarence M. Brown of the Pharmacy College feels confident that the Dispensary is, and has always been conducted to conform with the state laws, and does not believe that the ensuing investigation will result in any conviction of the supervisors, or throw any new light on the poison cases.

Prof. Brown was then mentioned in a letter written to my great-grandfather on June 15, 1926 by Theo. D. Wetterstroem, secretary of The Ohio State Pharmaceutical Association:

It so happened that Mr. McLean personally knew the ability of Dr. Clarence Brown of directing amateur plays from his experience in former years when connected with the Zanesville High School. In this manner Dr. Brown and his class at the O.S.U. was selected and not for any purpose of vindication or reference to what had occurred at the university. As to the selection of the cast this was left to Dr. Brown.

The (Zanesville, Ohio) Times Recorder

Monday, June 26, 1961 

Ex-Teacher Here Dies In Columbus 

    Clarence M. Brown, 74, who taught biology, chemistry and dramatics at Lash High School here from 1912 to 1920 and then became a teacher of pharmacy at Ohio State University, was dead on arrival at 11 p.m. Saturday at University Hospital, Columbus. 

    He had apparently suffered a heart attack at his home at 2425 Arlington road, Upper Arlington, Columbus. 

    A native of Galion, Ohio, he was a member of the Masonic lodge in Zanesville. He was a [1911] graduate of OSU and while teaching here had continued his studies to prepare for the pharmacy profession. 

    He was a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association, three honorary pharmacy fraternities, the OSU Faculty Club, and was secretary of the School of Pharmacy until his retirement in 1953. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Columbus. 

    Surviving are his widow, Helen: a son, Dr. Gordon C. Brown of Ann Arbor, Mich., and two grandchildren. 

    The body is at the Deyo Funeral Home at 1578 West First avenue in Grandview Columbus, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Burial will be at Columbus Union cemetery.

Ohio State University Monthly, September 1961

Prof. Brown Dies

Professor Brown

Prof. Clarence M. Brown, associate professor and secretary of the College of Pharmacy for more than 30 years, died June 24 in University Hospital at the age of 74.

    He received his bachelor's degree in pharmacy from the University in 1911 and his master's degree in 1935. He had been a member of the faculty since 1920 and retired in 1953.

    Prof. Brown, who was born in Galion, O., became a high school teacher after receiving his degree from Ohio State. He taught at Logan High School from 1912 to 1913 and at Lash (Zanesville) High School from 1913 to 1920.

    He was an honorary member of Phi Delta Chi and a member of Rho Chi, a national honorary pharmaceutical fraternity. He was the author of numerous articles and textbooks in his field.

 

I was astonished to see he taught at Logan High School from 1912-13. I do not believe there was ever a LHS in Logan County, so he could have taught in my hometown. I wonder if great-grandpa Gene knew him?

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