Interested in theories of the earth’s hollowness—and a fringe member of the community of Forteans.
Francis Dillon Brownley was born 20 September 1916 in New York to Howard D. Brownley and the former Margaret May. He had an elder brother named James. In 1920, the family lived in Washington, D.C., with Howard’s widowed father and a 16 year-old servant. Howard was the only one in the family working, as a government clerk.; he had earlier served in World War I. Ten years later, the nuclear family—Howard and May, James and Francis—were in Howard’s natal home state of Maryland, where he worked for the Coast Guard.
Some time in the 1930s, the family relocated to the other side of the country, settling in Alameda, California around 1935. The 1940 census has Howard working as a marine engineer at an engine company—probably related to the shipyards outside of Oakland. James had moved out. Francis, now 24, was categorized as a “new worker” and having been unemployed for 12 weeks. He seems to have quit school after his junior year of high school. He went by the name Frank now, using it on official forms, such as his social security application.
Francis Dillon Brownley was born 20 September 1916 in New York to Howard D. Brownley and the former Margaret May. He had an elder brother named James. In 1920, the family lived in Washington, D.C., with Howard’s widowed father and a 16 year-old servant. Howard was the only one in the family working, as a government clerk.; he had earlier served in World War I. Ten years later, the nuclear family—Howard and May, James and Francis—were in Howard’s natal home state of Maryland, where he worked for the Coast Guard.
Some time in the 1930s, the family relocated to the other side of the country, settling in Alameda, California around 1935. The 1940 census has Howard working as a marine engineer at an engine company—probably related to the shipyards outside of Oakland. James had moved out. Francis, now 24, was categorized as a “new worker” and having been unemployed for 12 weeks. He seems to have quit school after his junior year of high school. He went by the name Frank now, using it on official forms, such as his social security application.