Guide to the Sherman E. Brazil Photograph Collection

Special Collections & Archives
University Library
California State University, Northridge
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Northridge, CA 91330-8326
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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 9

Pin-ups, 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