ANNA WUERFEL BROWN

(March 29, 1867 – March 31, 1935)

She was a prolific designer primarily in Crochet, but also published tatting patterns in several books. I've found a few reproductions, and only a small handful of the original publications so far. I keep living in hope. She was a lovely designer. She published during a time period(1910's and '20's) when there was a lot of competition from other great designers like Adeline Cordet, Emma Farnes, Mary E. Fitch, Sophie LaCroix, Virginia Snow, Anna Valeire, and the very well known and still popular Anne Orr - all self-published and master designers of several needlearts.

I've included some books I found that predated Ms. Brown's run of books, that she co-authored with Hugo and Cora Kirchmaier. They are filet crochet and embroidery.

Also, she published many of her patterns in the pages of "Modern Priscilla." I will include a listing of those articles when I have completed cataloging what I have the issues...

Becky Clark has done some sleuthing and come up with these biographic details:
Anna L. Wuerfel was born in Toledo, Ohio, the eldest of seven children who survived childhood. Raised with a sister and five brothers, she was the child of parents who emigrated from Germany about 1852 and married in Ohio in 1865. Her father was a retail grocer in her childhood and retired as manager of Toledo Foundry & Machine Co., a company he founded.

In 1888 Anna married Fred Allen Brown. They lived in Toledo with their two daughters Ruth, born 1892, and Hazel, born 1894. A son, Vernard, died in infancy. Fred Brown was the general secretary of the Toledo YMCA, sold life insurance, and was president of the foundry started by his father-in-law.

Anna’s books on crochet and tatting first appeared in 1912, when her daughters would have been grown, and continued through 1916. Her patterns in Modern Priscilla and Home Needlework Magazine also appeared during that time starting a bit earlier by 1910. Her profession did not appear on any of her census entries.

When Anna died in 1935 in Toledo, she was survived by Fred; Ruth, a social worker; Hazel, a commercial artist; and Hazel’s son Lawrence Vernard Urgelles.

Her Obituary:
Mrs. Anna Brown’s Services Tuesday

Funeral for Mrs. Anna Wuerfel Brown, 68 of 2537 Robinwood avenue, who died Sunday, will be held in the home Tuesday at 2 P. M. Burial will be in Forest cemetery. Mrs. Brown had been ill for several months. She was the wife of Fred A. Brown, president of the Toledo Foundry & Machine Co., and had lived in Toledo all of her life. She was a member of First Congregational church for 42 years and was active in the Women’s Working band. She was a member of the 1909 Study club.

Besides her husband, she is survived by daughters, Ruth A. Brown, Dayton; Mrs. Hazel Urgelles, Chicago, and a grandson, Lawrence Urgelles.

Brown—Anna Wuerfel, age 68 years, wife of Fred A. Brown, at her residence 2537 Robinwood Ave., Sunday, March 31. Besides her husband she is survived by two daughters, Ruth A. Brown of Dayton, Hazel Urgelles, Chicago, one grandson Lawrence Urgelles, Chicago. Friends may call at the above residence where services will be held Tuesday, April 2, at 2 P. M. Interment Forest.

— Toledo Blade, 1 Apr 1935, p. 22


Here is a partial listing of articles Mrs Brown wrote for various ladies' magazines of the time period. The listing is not comprehensive, as I do not currently have access to all the magazines of the time period. I will fill in the list as I acquire more magazine issues.

  • MODERN PRISCILLA
    • "Flower Jabot in Irish Crochet"
      ISSUE: February 1910 (Vol. 23:12)
    • "Some Pretty Novelties in Irish Crochet"
      ISSUE: March 1910 (Vol. 24:1)
    • "A Beautiful Opera Bag in Irish Crochet"
      ISSUE: June 1910 (Vol. 24:4)
    • "Pin Set in Irish Crochet"
      ISSUE: October 1910 (Vol. 24:8)
    • "Some Pretty Christmas Gifts"
      ISSUE: November 1910 (Vol. 24:9)
    • "Hatpins in Irish Crochet"
      ISSUE: June 1911 (Vol. 25:4)
    • "Butterfly and Rose Opera Bag"
      ISSUE: July 1911 (Vol. 25:5)
    • "Irish Crochet Coat"
      ISSUE: November 1911 (Vol. 25:9)
    • "Embroidered Waists with Inserts of Irish Crochet"
      ISSUE: February 1912 (Vol. 25:12)
    • "Crocheted Frames - Something New in Irish Crochet Lace Work"
      ISSUE: March 1912 (Vol. 26:1)
    • "Pretty Things in Gold Thread for Theatre Use"
      ISSUE: August 1912 (Vol. 26:6)
    • "Floral Protectors for Crochet Hooks"
      ISSUE: August 1912 (Vol. 26:6)
    • "Macrame Crochet"
      ISSUE: Sept. 1912 (Vol. 26:7)
    • "Crocheted Bedspread and Scarf"
      ISSUE: October 1912 (Vol. 26:8)
    • "Sailor Collar in Irish Crochet"
      ISSUE: December 1912 (Vol. 26:10)
    • "Collar and Cuff Set in Macramé Crochet"
      ISSUE: December 1912 (Vol. 26:10)
    • "Coat Set, Bag and Trimming Band in Macramé Crochet"
      ISSUE: February 1913 (Vol. 26:12)
    • ""
      ISSUE: (Vol. )
  • NEEDLECRAFT: HOME ARTS
    • ""
      ISSUE: (Vol. )
    • ""
      ISSUE: (Vol. )

Pix

Bibliography Entries

FILET CROCHET, Book No. 1, by Cora & Hugo Kirchmaier, Anna Wuerfel Brown (TPB:1912) Book Review Popup Window
Notes: 37 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Cora Kirchmaier, Toledo, OH; ISBN: None;

FILET CROCHET, Book No. 2, by Cora & Hugo Kirchmaier, Anna Wuerfel Brown (TPB:1913) Book Review Popup Window
Notes: 36 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Cora Kirchmaier, Toledo, OH; ISBN: None;

Book of Cross-Stitch and Crochet in Color, Book No. 3, by Cora & Hugo Kirchmaier (TPB:1915)
Notes: 36 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Cora Kirchmaier, Toledo, OH; ISBN: None;

FILET CROCHET, Book No. 4, by Cora & Hugo Kirchmaier (TPB:1915) Book Review Popup Window
Notes: 36 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Cora Kirchmaier, Toledo, OH; ISBN: None;

Gift Novelties in Filet Crochet, Book No. 5, by Cora & Hugo Kirchmaier (TPB:1915,1979reprint) Book Review Popup Window
Notes: 36 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Cora Kirchmaier, Toledo, OH; ISBN: None;
House of White Birches reprinted this as Book 3...

AWB Crochet Book, No. 1, by Anna Wuerfel Brown (TPB:1914)
Notes: 20? pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Self, Toledo, OH; ISBN: None;

AWB No. 2, by Anna Wuerfel Brown (TPB:1914) Book Review Popup Window
Notes: 16 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Self, Toledo, OH; ISBN: None;

AWB Book No. 3: Insertions and Edgings in Crochet, by Anna Wuerfel Brown (TPB:1914)
Notes: 20? pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Self, Toledo, OH; ISBN: None;

AWB Book No. 4: Lingerie Special, by Anna Wuerfel Brown (TPB:1915) Book Review Popup Window
Notes: 26 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Self, Toledo, OH; ISBN: None;

AWB Book No. 5: Dainty Gifts and Favors, Tatting & Crochet, by Anna Wuerfel Brown (TPB:1914) Book Review Popup Window
Notes: 20 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Self, Toledo, OH; ISBN: None;

AWB Book No. 6: Gift Novelties in Tatting, by Anna Wuerfel Brown (TPB:1916) Book Review Popup Window
Notes: 20 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Self, Toledo, OH; ISBN: None;
I was so excited to win an auction for this one - then discovered it was a reprint done in 1981. It's still the first copy of this booklet I've come across, and was happy to find it...

AWB Book No. 7: New Yokes and Collars Crochet and Tatting, by Anna Wuerfel Brown (TPB:1916) Book Review Popup Window
Notes: 20 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Self, Toledo, OH; ISBN: None;

AWB Book No. 8: For Wearing Apparel For Household Linens, Tatting & Crochet, by Anna Wuerfel Brown (TPB:1916) Book Review Popup Window
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Self, Toledo, OH; ISBN: None;

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