Guide to the Sherman E. Brazil Photograph Collection
Special Collections & Archives
University Library
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8326
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Sherman E. Brazil Photograph Collection
Identifier/Call Number: OCH.SEB
Physical Description:
.42 linear feet
Date (inclusive): ca. 1937-1940
Abstract: The Sherman E.
Brazil Photograph Collection contains images taken by Brazil during his time as a China
Marine in the 1930s. Before his death he passed these photographs to his friend Hugh B.
Carnes, Jr. Carnes made duplicates of the photographs as part of a book project. The images
often include scenery, people, and brutal images of war destruction.
Language of Material:
English.
Biographical / Historical
Sherman E. Brazil was born in Tennessee in 1914 and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He
enlisted in 1937 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and served as a Private in Shanghai
and Beijing (Peking). He returned to the U.S. in 1940 and was at Mare Island Naval Hospital
in Vallejo, California. Brazil passed away in 1998.
Scope and Contents
The Sherman E. Brazil Photograph Collection contains images taken by Brazil during his time
as a China Marine in the 1930s. Before his death he passed these photographs to his friend
Hugh B. Carnes, Jr. Carnes made duplicates of the photographs as part of a book project.
Book Project prints for Books 1 and 2 are primarily buildings, city scenes, and landscapes,
including rickshaws, markets, and theaters. Book 3 includes portraits of both men in
military uniform, as well as people in civilian clothing. These folders also include
notations about printing/developing adjustments. Although there are written references to
negatives, all photographs in the collection are prints. Notes about groupings of
photographs, likely arranged by Hugh B. Carnes, Jr., are retained in the folders with the
print groupings.
Some prints were grouped in photo envelopes, but don't appear to have any meaningful
arrangement related to the Book Project. These snapshots of daily life include images of
playing baseball and card games, beach trips, drinking, parties, and several images of
closets and nightstands that capture daily life in the military. Most photographs depict
Brazil's life while stationed in Beijing or Shanghai, but some images may be from his time
at Mare Island Naval Hospital in Vallejo, California.
Photographs depicting combat and war may have been purchased rather than taken by Brazil.
These images depict ground and aerial combat, and include images of deceased people. Folders
are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge.
Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials
protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires
the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
Preferred Citation
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual,
or see the
Citing Archival Materials
guide.
Box 1, Folder 1
Book Project Prints,
ca. 1937-1940
Box 1, Folder 2
Book Project Prints, Book 1,
ca. 1937-1940
Box 1, Folder 3
Book Project Prints, Book 2,
ca. 1937-1940
Box 1, Folder 4
Book Project Prints, Book 2,
ca. 1937-1940
Box 1, Folder 5
Book Project Prints, Book 3,
ca. 1937-1940
Box 1, Folder 6
Buildings, Statues, and Portraits,
ca. 1937-1940
Box 1, Folder 7
Daily Life Snapshots,
ca. 1937-1940
Box 1, Folder 8
Landscapes,
ca. 1937-1940
Box 1, Folder 10
Portraits and Daily Life Snapshots,
ca. 1937-1940
Box 1, Folder 11
Portraits and Daily Life Snapshots,
ca. 1937-1940
Box 1, Folder 12
Portraits and Daily Life Snapshots,
ca. 1937-1940
Box 1, Folder 13
War and Combat,
ca. 1937-1940