Tom Brown

Tom Brown was the partner of William (Bill) Petrie. They lived on the farm in Grant Co. Kentucky. Bill died in 1995 and Tom continued to live on the farm until he passed away in 2021. Tom is from Louisville, Kentucky and went to Western Kentucky University to study theatre. He worked from 1969 to 1974 in New York (where he went on a date with Harvey Milk). He moved onto the farm in 1974.

After Tom’s passing on June 17, 2021, FMA received more of Tom and Bills photos, papers, correspondence, paintings, and a green toolbox that Bill used for painting. Before his passing, Tom had previously donated material to the archive in 2015 and 2017.

You can learn more in the documentary, “In Dreams Awake,” directed by Tom about Bill’s life and art.