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Braxton (Maceo, Jr.) family photograph album
7109
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Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: Maceo Braxton, Jr. family photograph album
Creator:
Braxton, Maceo, Jr.
Creator:
Braxton, Bernice Maiflorence Tuggle
Identifier/Call Number: 7109
Physical Description:
0.88 Linear Feet
1 box
Date (bulk): 1974
Date: 1944
Date: 1980
Abstract: An album of family portraits and other material assembled at the time of Maceo Braxton, Jr.'s graduation from West Point in
1974. The more than 40 photographs in the album prominently feature Braxton (1953-2008)--a Black physician and military officer--as
well as his parents, Maceo Braxton, Sr. (1922-1997) and Bernice Maiflorence Braxton (1924-2013), and his four siblings in
their Los Angeles home. Many of the portraits feature Braxton's mother, Bernice, who worked at the University of Southern
California as a reference librarian at the time.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: 1
Maceo ("Mace") Braxton, Jr., M.D. (1953-2008) served in the U.S. Army and pursued a career in medicine. Born April 7, 1953
in Los Angeles, CA to Maceo Braxton, Sr. (1922-1997) and Bernice Maiflorence (Tuggle) Braxton (1924-2013), Braxton attended
West Point and graduated in 1974. Braxton went on to attend the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Medical
School and continued to serve in the military until 1998, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. With his wife Shirley and their
three children, Braxton settled in Salina, Kansas where he pioneered the heart surgery program and served as a cardiothoracic
surgeon at the Salina Regional Health Center.
Bernice Maiflorence Braxton, Braxton Jr.'s mother, earned a Bachelor's Degree in Biology at Philander Smith College and a
Master's Degree in Library Science at the University of Michigan, before taking a position at Tuskegee Institute Airfield
during World War II and working part time in the library where she often assisted George Washington Carver with his research.
Later, while working as a medical school librarian at Howard University, she was reunited with her high school sweetheart,
Maceo Braxton, Sr. (1922-1997), whom she married in 1949. Following the Braxtons' move to Los Angeles, Bernice was hired as
a reference librarian at the University of Southern California--the second Black reference librarian at USC--and later emerged
as a leader in the African American art movement in Southern California.
Adapted from seller's description
An album of family portraits and other material assembled at the time of Maceo Braxton, Jr.'s graduation from West Point in
1974. The more than 40 photographs in the album prominently feature Braxton (1953-2008), as well as his parents, Maceo Braxton,
Sr. (1922-1997) and Bernice Maiflorence Braxton (1924-2013), and his four siblings in their Los Angeles home.
Most of the black-and-white photographs measure 7.5" x 9.5" and bear an ink stamp ("W. White, Comm, Arts Academy, Dec. 72")
on the verso. Included is a worn photograph of Bernice in 1944 and a later polaroid of Braxton, Jr. and his wife, Shirley.
In addition to the photographs, the album contains a program to the 1974 West Point Society of Los Angeles Military Ball,
which is signed on the front by General Omar N. Bradley, whom the Society honored at the event. All of the materials are housed
in acetate sleeves that are bound in a brown buckram album.
Advance notice required for access.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
[Box/folder no. or item name], Maceo Braxton, Jr. family photograph album, Collection no. 7109, Regional History Collection,
Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Johnson Rare Books and Archives, May 19, 2020
Subjects and Indexing Terms
African American families -- California -- Los Angeles -- 20th century -- Photographs
African American physicians -- United States -- Archival resources
African American surgeons -- United States -- Archival resources
African American women -- 20th century -- Archival resources
African Americans -- California -- Los Angeles -- History -- 20th century -- Archival resources
California, Southern -- Photographs
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Photographs
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Social life and customs -- Photographs
Photographs -- 20th century -- Archival resources
United States -- Armed Forces -- African American officers -- Photographs
Photograph albums
Photographs
Braxton, Bernice Maiflorence Tuggle -- Photographs
Braxton, Maceo, Jr. -- Archives -- Photographs
Braxton, Maceo, Sr. -- Photographs
United States Military Academy -- Archives