Rayson Brown, 1920s Nature Photographer

G. Rayson Brown (1898-1974) was fascinated by the wonders of nature. He combined that love of the outdoors with his photography hobby in the early 1920s after moving to Los Angeles, California. Rayson was my husband's Great Uncle. Warren, Rayson's only child, inherited the collection. Warren didn't have children and when he passed, my husband and I became the keepers of the collection.

Rayson photographed people, always outdoors, as well as majestic scenery, plants, animals and insects. Some of his close-up plant, animal and insect photos were sold to magazines and published. He took great pride in carefully documenting and cataloging his collection. Out of the hundreds of photos, I chose a few of my favorites to share.

Rayson married Edythe Grace Sisson in 1923, soon after arriving in Los Angeles. Edythe and her family are in many of Rayson's photographs.

Edythe and Mrs. Holden at Camp Baldy, 1924

Edythe and her mother in Stoddard Canyon, 1924

In the photo below, from left to right, are Edythe's father Charles Sisson, Edythe, her Uncle Herbert Bragg and Aunt Mae (Duffield) Bragg, her mother Edith (Duffield) Sisson, her sister Vera (Sisson) Armstrong and brother-in-law Bill Armstrong.

Sissons, Braggs, Armstrongs & Brown picnic, Stoddard Canyon, 1924

"Yours truly" [Rayson] & wife, 1926

Edythe and Aunt Nellie Nettleingham at Seal Beach, 1927

Edythe's Aunt Mae and Uncle Herb lived in Long Beach. The family took many trips there to visit and enjoy the beach.

Long Beach Pier, 1923

Long Beach Waterfront, 1923

Rayson and Edythe, usually with her sister Vera and brother-in-law Bill Armstrong, explored as much of the state as they could when not working. Rayson always had his camera and tripod on hand to document their travels.

Lighthouse at end of San Pedro Calif. breakwater, 1923

Road around Catalina Island looking East, 1923

Glass Bottom Boat Catalina, 1923

Scene from Busch Gardens, 1924

There are dozens of photos of the aftermath of a 1925 earthquake in Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara Earthquake ruins, 1925

Yachts in Race to Honolulu, 1926

Rayson must have truly loved photographing and documenting the plants, animals, and insects found in nature. There are hundreds of photos and boxes and boxes of slides. Getting clear, close-up photos is a challenge for photographers today but was even more so in the 1920s.

Tarantula and it's abode, 1923

Carpenter bees, 1925

Butterfly, 1925

Sow Bug, 1925

Spotted Anthomya fly (Gray), 1925

Elderbug, Black, white and red, 1925

Buffalo tree hopper (Green), 1925

Milliped (Brown), 1925

1925

Crane fly, 1927

Alligator in Los Angeles alligator farm, 1923

Lizzard, 1924

Burrowing owl, 1925

Geranium seed (magnified), 1926

A Birthday, Wedding, Christmas and a baby

Edythe Grace Sisson (1897-1978) and George Rayson Brown (1898-1974) were my husband's great Aunt and Uncle. Edythe, nicknamed Edy in the family, helped raise my mother-in-law (who called her "Mom" and Rayson "Daddy"). My husband called Edy "Grandma Aunt Edy". They remember her with such fondness. 

When I discovered the letters that Rayson had saved, I knew I wanted to preserve them for my husband and mother-in-law. Though the letters have ended, Edythe and Rayson had a good many years ahead of them together. They had two children, a daughter who was stillborn, and a son, Warren, who passed a few years ago. Warren didn't have children, so there are no direct descendants. 

A card from Edythe to Rayson for his birthday in August of 1923

Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Sisson 

announce the marriage of their daughter

Edythe Grace

to 

Mr. G. Rayson Brown

on Wednesday, October the tenth

One thousand, nine hundred twenty-three

Los Angeles, California

A Christmas card from Rayson to Edythe, 1923

Son Warren's birth announcement, September of 1930

October 30, 1922 - The last letter to Chicago

Addressed to:

Mr. G. Rayson Brown.

1468 East 67th St.,

Chicago,

Illinois.

5009 Whittier Blvd,

Los Angeles, Calif.

From E. G. Sisson.

5009 Whittier Blvd.,

Los Angeles, Calif.

Loftus Land Co.

Los Angeles, Cal.,

October 30 - 1922

Dearest Rayson:

I wanted to write to you yesterday dear, but we had company all day and so I will write this morning. This is a beautiful morning, the sun is shining brightly and so warm and nice.

Friday we had our first rain and it turned so cold. It always does when it rains here and the next morning we could see snow on the mountain tops, fifty miles away. Thats close enough, too I think.

Saturday the gas company laid the pipes for the gas on our street and they will soon start digging. It begins to look as though we might have paving yet before the real rains commence. We will live in hopes anyway.

Yesterday Father and Billy finished the new house all except putting on the plaster board, and Father will do that this week.

We were just getting dinner when the McCaffreys and Mr & Mrs Dick Pyle came. They were on their way to Sante Fe Springs. Mr Pyle has some oil stock invested there. They didn't stay long.

Later in the afternoon the Noack family came and stayed all afternoon. We had just remarked afther they left that we thought everyone we knew had called when who should drive in but the Yost girls and their uncle and cousin. Poor Evelyn was so glad to see us, she is so lonesome and homesick out here.

We told Aunt Mae we would be over one day last week. We planned to go Friday but could not on account of the rain and so we just picked up and went Saturday. We had a nice visit with her but had to leave early in order to get home before dark as we had no tail light. We did some speeding too, made the trip in an hour and five minutes, thats the best we have done yet.

I will look for your mail dearest at the land office and so don't worry at all about that. I imagine there is mail there now as Father didn't call for it Saturday.

I am so sorry dear for the poor fellow at the hospital. It is hard to leave anyone like that too. He will look forward to receiving your letters now for that is all he will have. Yes dear it would be fine of you to write to him, it will only take a few minutes and will make him happy.

Vera and I will go to town this afternoon. She is going to buy dishes for the new house. There is a sale on them at the fifth street store today. We are getting as bad as the Yosts' for running to bargain sales. Sometimes it pays.

The Yosts's sold their place accross the street from ours on Marcy St., to a young couple from Michigan. That young couple will find out later how badly they were taken in.

You remember dear the 'funny hat' I wore home? Well I have improved it a little by putting a little color on it. Two Henna colored pheasant feathers and some yarn to match. Also the hat I wore to the little church on the corner that night, I have managed to make look quite good again. Don't know when I'll wear them though as I just cannot get used to wearing a har. They give me a terrible headache.

Has there been anything more heard from Mr Rice? He seems to keep his distance doesn't he dear? I wish that he would soon put in his appearance for I am so lonesome for you dear and wish that you were here with me.

Chris is laying here on the rug, just had a bowl of milk and has gone to sleep. Thats the best thing he does is sleep. He and the cat next door go tearing across lots and break off the geraniums. It makes Mrs Slowinski wild.

Well dearest lover Vera is hurrying me to get ready and so will close for this time. Mother sends her love to you and hopes you will soon be coming.

Goodbye for this time, write soon dear and take good care of yourself. With all my love for you and you only, I remain,

Lovingly yours,

Edythe.

For links to all the letters in this collection, go to https://ordinaryancestors.blogspot.com/p/edythe-and-rayson-love-letters.html where they are organized by date written.

October 25, 1922 - Addressed to Chicago, but forwarded to LA

Addressed to:

Mr. G. Rayson Brown.

1468 East 67th St.,

5009 Whittier Bldg.

Chicago, Illinois.

Los Angeles

Calif

From 5009 Whittier Blv'd.

Los Angeles, Calif.

c/o Loftus Land Co.

Los Angeles, Cal.,

October, 25 - 1922

My Dearest Rayson:

I received another long letter from you today dear, it seems like I get one every day. They cannot come any too quickly for me though as I am always more than anxious to hear from you. They make me so happy for it seems when I am reading that you are very close to me, you write just as you speak.

Father & Billy have gone down to the new house to finish wiring. Mother, Vera, Mrs Slowinski and I  went down to inspect the place this morning and to put up the street number. It is going to be a nice little place and will do them very nicely for a while.

Vera is doing a little knitting and Mother is teasing the cat. Vera says to tell you the cats name is Chris. He is surely a pretty animal and very well behaved but for all I have changed my mind about wanting one.

Today we cleaned the whole house and scrubbed all the floors. It is so dusty out here in Belvidere Heights, we could clean every day.

We haven't had a drop of rain so far although it time for them to start. For the last three days the sun has risen bright and early without a sign of fog. It seems like we are back east again. Won't you be glad dear to try something a little different from ice and snow for a change? I am rather anxious to see what a winter here is like.

Mother and Vera went down town shopping Monday but I stayed home and did a little mending. Also we didn't any of us go to Aunt Mae's so far this week. The tire carrier broke off of the car taking the rear light with and we are afraid we would be after dark coming home and get picked up.

Dearest, this is a hello and good bye letter for I haven't a bit of news. Write soon again and tell me all about yourself. With all my love, dear heart for you and a kiss on every word, I remain as ever, Yours lovingly

Edythe.

For links to all the letters in this collection, go to https://ordinaryancestors.blogspot.com/p/edythe-and-rayson-love-letters.html where they are organized by date written.

October 22, 1922 - Mother asks Rayson to help with the flowers

Addressed to:

Mr G. Rayson Brown.

1468. E 67 St.

Chicago. Ill

From

Mrs Chas Sisson.

5009 Whittier Blvd.

Los Angeles Calif.

c/o. Loftus Land Co.

1.

Los Angeles, Calif.

Oct 22 - 1922.

My dear Boy:-

Your very dear letter was received yester-day, and I surely was happy to hear from you. for I do get lonesome at times when I think of you and the rest of the folk's back home, but when you come Rayson every thing will be different.

My dear boy you said in your letter that you had found a real home and some one that cares for you! We surely do, and when you come we want you to feel right at home, and we

2.

are all looking foreward to you coming and hope it will not be long.

Rayson I just wish you could have been here this morning it was just beautiful. There was an awful fogg last evening but it was clear this morning, and when I arose I looked out of the window and saw the sun shining on the mountains and it certainly was wonderful. We were over to Aunt Mae's again last week she had some flowers for me to put out in the ground. My dear Son I have some work all ready for you to do when you come, and 

3.

it is this, to help me with the flower's. I have a row of red geranium's from the house out to the street. Rayson the flower's and palm's out here are beautiful, ever one are busy setting out plants and bulb's to blossom this winter.

Now my dear boy I will have to close this letter and write one to Aunt Eva. Take good care of your-self. and with love and a great big kiss. I am as ever your

Loveing Mother