Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts and Archives Department

JOHN T. BRUSH
COLLECTION, 1912-1975

Collection #:
M 0033

Table of Contents

Collection Information
Historical Background
Scope and Content Note
Box and Folder Listing
Cataloging Information

Processed By:
Paul Brockman
15 May 1995

COLLECTION INFORMATION

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

John Tomilinson Brush (1845-1912) was born in Clintonville, New York. He lost both parents by the age of four, and lived with his grandfather in Hopkinton, New York until he was seventeen. He then attended Eastman's Business College in Poughkeepsie, New York. After serving with the 1st New York Artillery during the Civil War, he went to Troy, New York, where became a member of the Owen, Pixley, and Company. Brush moved to Indianapolis in 1875 where he founded the When Clothing Company. To help promote the city and his business, Brush became involved with Indianapolis' entry in the Western League baseball team in 1885. Two years later, he was the driving force in the city's acquisition of a franchise in the National League. After three uneventful seasons, the team folded, however, Brush maintained his interest in baseball team ownership, and in 1892, he acquired the Cincinnati Red Legs. He sold his interest in the Reds in 1902 and acquired control of the New York Giants, which he owned until his death in 1912. Brush continued to reside and operate his clothing store in Indianapolis despite ownership of baseball teams in other parts of the country. He also was majority owner of the Indianapolis entry in the Western League from 1894-1896 and helped this team win the pennant in 1895 when he "loaned" them several of his Cincinnati players. The National League frowned on this practice and forced Brush to relinquish his control of the Indianapolis team in 1896.

Sources: Information in Collection
Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, p. 362

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The collection contains information about Brush's death. Included in the collection are newspaper obituaries and elaborate memoriams from the National and American Leagues as well as the New York Giants. There also are later newspaper articles about Brush from the 1920s-1975, and photographs of Brush and his Indianapolis residence. A masonic badge, 23 September 1884, presented to John T. Brush is stored with Artifacts as artifact number R 468.

BOX AND FOLDER LISTING

CATALOGING INFORMATION

For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:

1. Go to the Indiana Historical Society's online catalog
2. Click on the "Local Catalog" icon.
3. Search for the collection by its call number, using the letter or letters designation and four digits (e.g., M 0715, SC 2234).
4. When you find the collection, go to the "Holdings" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.

END