By Nicole Milano and Johnamarie Macias
Title: James H. Brewster Collection, 1938-2010
Predominant Dates:1942-1945
ID: RG2/009
Creator: Brewster, James H. (James Henry) (1922-)
Extent: 0.36 Cubic Feet. More info below.
Arrangement: The folders are arranged alphabetically by topic.
Date Acquired: 00/00/2010
Languages: English
James Henry Brewster was an American Field Service (AFS) ambulance driver during World War II. The James H. Brewster Collection consists of wartime correspondence, hand-written letters, clippings, song lyrics significant to the C Platoon of AFS 567 Company, as well as a compilation of poems written by Brewster that were inspired by his service during World War II.
The James H. Brewster Collection consists of wartime and post-war material related to his service with the American Field Service (AFS), including correspondence from staff at (AFS) headquarters in New York to his parents. The bulk of the collection consists of the handwritten letters, clippings, and photographs Brewster sent to his parents during the war. The letters document his service from 1943 to 1945, and do not contain his political views on the war but instead detail many of the ways the ambulance drivers took advantage of their free time during the war. Some of the letters contain sections that were censored (either blacked or cut out) by the platoon lieutenant, who removed specific references to places, military units, or military operations.
The collection also contains material produced after the war, including a typed transcript of Brewster’s original handwritten World War II letters (with the addition of a preface, travel log, and a “key” to the dates and events mentioned in letters) and a typed booklet of song lyrics (complied by Brewster in 2010) which were significant to the C Platoon of 567 Company entitled “Oh Say Can You C” (including an electronic copy on compact disc.) Also present in the collection are compilations of poems by Brewster, including a pamphlet printed by Brewster in 1973 and distributed to his friends entitled “Altars of the Sun,” and a compilation entitled “Get You the Sons,” which contains more poems inspired by his service, political views, and response to the actions of AFS during the war.
Alternate Extent Statement: 1 box
Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research. Cotton gloves are required for the handling of all photographic material.
Use Restrictions: Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be submitted in writing to the AFS Archives. In the event that this research becomes a source for publication, a credit line indicating the Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs is required. Any copyright vested in James H. Brewster has passed to AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc., with the exception of his intellectual copyright and ownership of the compilation of poems entitled “Get You the Sons.” Researchers are responsible for determining any additional copyright questions.
Acquisition Method: The James H. Brewster Collection was donated to the Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs by James H. Brewster on November 16, 2010.
Appraisal Information: No items were deaccessioned, separated, or removed from the collection.
Preferred Citation: [Identification of item], [Date]; James H. Brewster Collection; Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs, New York, NY.
Processing Information: This collection was processed by Nicole Milano in 2010. Preliminary finding aid written by Johnamarie Macias and Nicole Milano in March 2011 and encoded in EAD by Nicole Milano in April 2011 under the scope of the 2010-2011 Basic Processing grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
