T. Nelson Downs collection Downs (T. Nelson) collection 1905-1938

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T. Nelson Downs collection Downs (T. Nelson) collection 1905-1938

http://library.brown.edu/riamco/render.php?eadid=US-RPB-ms2010.013&view=title

Thomas Nelson Downs was a self-taught magician, specializing in coin tricks, who over the course of his career, performed in vaudeville acts all over the country, owned a vaudeville house, sold magic supplies, and wrote several books of magic instruction. This collection contains his correspondence with fellow magician Edward "Tex" McGuire, documentation of tricks or "effects", patents, advertisements, news clippings, photographs, and show programs.

1.1 linear feet

eng,

Brown University Library, Special Collections

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SNAC Resource ID: 6358594

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Downs, T. Nelson (Thomas Nelson), 1868-1938

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6305fp0 (person)

Thomas Nelson Downs was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, the youngest of six children. Downs never had any formal training in magic, but by the age of 12, he had become an expert in card and coin manipulation. In September 1895, Downs quit his job as a railway telegrapher and launched a career in magic. At the peak of his career, Downs traveled frequently, and performed at royal courts. While performing his tricks, he could palm up to 60 coins at a time. One of h...