"Fifty Years To-day" is a poem written by Solomon G. Brown commemorating his 50 years of continual service at the Smithsonian Institution. Brown, the first African American employee of the Smithsonian and quite likely the first Smithsonian employee to complete 50 years of service, had served under the first three Secretaries of the Smithsonian. A ceremony was held on February 15th, 1902, honoring Brown. The poem was published in a pamphlet made possible by "contributions of his friends at the Smithsonian Institution" in 1903.
"Fifty Years To-day" is a poem written by Solomon G. Brown commemorating his 50 years of continual service at the Smithsonian Institution. Brown, the first African American employee of the Smithsonian and quite likely the first Smithsonian employee to complete 50 years of service, had served under the first three Secretaries of the Smithsonian. A ceremony was held on February 15th, 1902, honoring Brown. The poem was published in a pamphlet made possible by "contributions of his friends at the Smithsonian Institution" in 1903.