Brandau Papers 1936-1983, MS. 2842

Descriptive Summary

Brandau Papers, 1936-1983

MS 2842

Maryland Historical Society

Baltimore MD 21201-4674

by David DuPuy

April 29, 1993

Biographical Sketch

Clement Rider Brandau Jr. was born on July 15, 1929 to Clement Rider Brandau Sr. (from Chester County Pennsylvania) and Katherine K. Brandau. He attended elementary school no. 211 in Baltimore and graduated from Polytechnic Evening High School at North Ave. and Calvert St. in 1951. From 1950 to 1954 he was in the Navy although apparently not in active service. He attended Baltimore Junior College and the University of Baltimore, graduating in 1955. He then studied law also at the University of Baltimore and he was admitted to the bar around 1958. In 1952 he married Jean Kolb and they had four sons: Rider, Charles, Thomas, and James. He became involved in politics and remained so throughout the sixties. He was also involved in the organization of several annual oyster roasts (large Democratic festivities) in the sixties and seventies. In early January, 1970 his father died and in July of 1974, he and Jean divorced.

During the period covered by the collection, Mr. Brandau moved several times. From sometime before 1947 to 1953, he lived at 5511 Pilgrim Road. In 1953 he and Jean moved to 1219 Gittings Ave, and in 1966 they moved to 3503 Crossland Ave.

Jean Kolb was born in 1933. In 1952 she married Clement Rider Brandau Jr. In addition to raising their four sons (mentioned above), she was employed at several firms. From 1959 to 1967 she worked as a paralegal for her husband. From 1968 to 1974 she worked in a medical office and from 1974 to 1977 she was a secretary at Legal Aid. In 1973 she attended the Community College of Baltimore. She was employed at the United Way of Central Maryland from 1976-77. Also in 1977 she applied for a position as a legal assistant, but she was also plagued by ill health and underwent surgery that same year. It appears that the illness was brief since she resumed correspondence shortly afterwards.

Scope and Content

The Brandau papers contain personal correspondence, report cards, postcards, holiday cards, certificates, business correspondence, receipts, and stock records, dating from 1936 to 1983.

Most of the collection focuses on Clement Rider Brandau Jr.--his schooling, military career, legal career, and political involvement. This part of the collection contains information beginning with his elementary school days and continues through his activity in the Navy (1950-54), his extensive correspondence to Jean Kolb Brandau (his future wife), his law school career at the University of Baltimore, his law career, and his involvement in state and local politics. It also includes his involvement in the organization of oyster roasts (Democratic festivities) in the sixties and seventies. It also includes various receipts, financial papers, bills, and office expenses.

A smaller portion of the collection is centered around Jean Kolb Brandau, who married Clement Rider Brandau in 1952. It includes a wide variety of items including much personal correspondence and documents concerning their home, automobile, children, one dog, Wolf von Reuter and one cat, Bewitched. It also includes her and Clement Rider Brandau Jr's. decree of divorce (July 1974), as well as papers relating to her schooling at the Community College of Baltimore (1973), and her career with the United Way of Central Maryland (1976-77).

Series Description

The Brandau papers consist of two major series. The first is the business and personal papers of Clement Rider Brandau Jr. (box 1 and 2). The second is the personal papers and correspondence of Jean Kolb Brandau (box 3). Items in the folders are arranged chronologically. Undated documents follow the dated ones.

Box 1 and 2

Series I Clement Rider Brandau Jr. Papers, (2 boxes) 1936-71. This series contains school papers, military papers, law career papers, financial papers, insurance papers, and papers concerning the death of his father (Clement Rider Brandau Sr.) in 1970. It also includes papers relating to his political activity, and his legal career. In addition there is much correspondence with Jean Kolb, whom he married in 1952.

Subseries I Personal papers, (7 folders) 1936-70. This subseries is divided into school papers (1 folder), military papers (1 folder), law career papers (1 folder), financial papers (1 folder), insurance papers (1 folder), Clement Rider Brandau Sr. papers (1 folder), and letters to Jean Kolb Brandau (1 folder). Documents included are report cards, high school diploma, honorable discharge, stock records, will and Social Security card of C. Rider Brandau Sr., insurance policy, and application to the Bar.

Subseries II Political papers, (6 folders) 1962-70. This subseries is divided into papers pertaining to the oyster roasts, which were Democratic festivities (5 folders), and the Democratic Convention of 1962 (1 folder). This contains mostly various documents pertaining to the oyster roasts. These include: tickets, advertisement contracts, programs, seating charts, lists of who has paid for tickets, and correspondence.

Subseries III Business papers, (3 folders) 1957-83. This subseries is divided into legal files (1 folder), bills and office expenses (1 folder), and Maryland District Court (1 folder).

Box 3

Series II Jean Kolb Brandau papers, (1 box) 1957-83. This series is comprised of: Divorce and receipts (1 folder), correspondence (1 folder), papers pertaining to the children and pets (one folder), automobile records (1 folder), papers relating to school and home, United Way employment papers (1 folder), and miscellaneous papers (1 folder). Documents include decree of divorce, medical receipts, letters, and postcards.

Container List

Box 1

SCHOOL PAPERS 1936-1952

Certificate of perfect attendance

Report cards

High school diploma

Letter from the Department of Education

MILITARY PAPERS 1950-54

Notice of classification

Honorable Discharge

Request for information

LAW CAREER PAPERS 1958-1961 N.D.

Letters concerning admission to the bar

Annual dues receipt

Application for registration as a law student

Report forms from The Title Guarantee Company

FINANCIAL PAPERS 1951-56

Stock records

Receipts

Shriver, George G. and Co. Inc.

Union Trust Company

INSURANCE PAPERS 1957-1962

Letters

Policy (Metropolitan Life)

Insurance License

C. RIDER BRANDAU SR. PAPERS 1936-1970 N.D.

Will

Funeral arrangements

Letters

Social Security card

Random notes

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION 1962 and MISC. POLITICS

Letters

Address of Thomas D'Alesandro

Democratic Platform

Democratic Newsletter

Memo from J. Millard Tawes

Letter from Louis L. Goldstein

Box 2

OYSTER ROAST 1964 TO 1970 N.D.

Tickets

Advertisement contract

Programs

Seating charts

Lists of who has paid (and not paid) for tickets

Correspondence, mostly from Frank Cannizzaro

Letters

BILLS AND OFFICE EXPENSES 1962

Pay stubs (Rasmussen, Walter J.)

Phone bills (C. and P. Telephone)

Title Co. bills

Title Guarantee Co.

Daily Record Company

Postage receipts

Law book Co. receipt

Office supply receipts

Modern Stationary Co.

Nationwide Typewriter Co.

Misc. office supply receipts

Letters pertaining to office

LEGAL FILES AND LETTERS 1967-69

Court appeals of MD (list of cases)

Letters pertaining to cases

Mortgage loan form

Apartment Lease

Bills

Request for hearing

Two letters from John F. Kennedy

Letters and notes

DISTRICT COURT OF MARYLAND 1971

Court summons

Receipts

Letters

LETTERS TO JEAN KOLB 1949-50

Box 3

DIVORCE AND MISC. RECEIPTS 1975 TO 1981

Letters

Decree of Divorce

Medical receipts

GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE 1947 TO 1976

Letters, Postcards, and Cards from:

Brandau, Charles

Brandau, Jack

Brandau, Scott

Curran, Joe and Barbara

Dekker, Pat

GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE 1977-83 N.D.

Letters, Postcards, Cards from:

Brandau, Jack

Brandau, Rider

Brandau, Scott

Johnson, Annie

CHILDREN AND PETS 1975-78

Grade transcript request

Progress report for James (son)

Pay stub for Rider Brandau (son)

School theatre program

Report card for James (son)

American Kennel Club record of transfer

A.K.C. registration application

Pedigree

Rabies vaccination certificate for the cat, Bewitched

AUTOMOBILE 1961-76

Muffler guarantee from Midas

Receipts

Insurance papers

Citations

Record of moving violations from the Maryland Dept. of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Administration

SCHOOL AND HOME 1962-79

Jean Brandau school papers

Jean Brandau Report card

Home owner policy

Property tax bills

Title Co. Letter

JEAN BRANDAU: EMPLOYMENT 1976-77

Pay stubs

Evaluation

Group insurance plan from Legal Aid

Brochure from Legal Aid

MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS 1957-1981 N.D.

Ticket to Yankee Stadium

Bicycle registration application

Letters concerning the Cork and Bottle Restaurant

Party invitation

Neighborhood directory

Educational opportunity grant

Magazine article on hyperkinesis

Music store receipt

Candy receipt

Campaign card of Gordon H. Witherspoon