James H. Brewster Collection, 1938-2010 | Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs

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.