Guide to the John Edward Brooks Papers

Sean Heyliger
African American Museum & Library at Oakland
659 14th Street
Oakland, California 94612
Phone: (510) 637-0198
Fax: (510) 637-0204
Email: aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org
URL: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/african-american-museum-library-oakland
© 2013
African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.

Guide to the John Edward Brooks Papers

Collection number: MS 34

African American Museum & Library at Oakland

Oakland, California
Processed by:
Sean Heyliger
Date Completed:
05/10/2013
Encoded by:
Sean Heyliger
© 2013 African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: John Edward Brooks papers
Dates: circa 1924-1988
Collection number: MS 34
Creator: Brooks, John Edward.
Collection Size: 1 linear foot (2 boxes)
Repository: African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
Oakland, CA 94612
Abstract: The John Edward Brooks papers includes correspondence, certificates, photographs, printed material, employment records related Brooks military service, employment as a police officer, and disability and equal employment claims.
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.

Access Restrictions

Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.

Publication Rights

Permission to publish from the John Edward Brooks Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.

Preferred Citation

John Edward Brooks papers, MS 34, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Processing Information

Sean Heyliger, 05/10/2013.

Scope and Content of Collection

The John Edward Brooks papers includes correspondence, certificates, photographs, printed material, employment records related to Brooks' military service, employment as a police officer, and disability and equal employment claims. The papers are arranged into four series: biographical, employment records, printed material, and photographs. The bulk of the papers documents Brooks’ employment history, including his military service at Fort Lewis and in Germany, and also includes his applications for disability and equal employment claims. The biographical material includes a short biographical outline of Brooks’ life, a family history, and report cards, yearbooks, and assorted items related to his attendance at Alameda High School and Contra Costa Community College. Most of the photographs in the collection document Brooks’ friends and family and his time serving in the military at Fort Lewis and in Germany.

Arrangement

Series I. Biographical Series II. Employment records Series III. Printed material Series IV. Photographs

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Alameda High School (Alameda, Calif.)
African Americans--Military service--1940-1960.


 

Biographical

Physical Description: 8 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes Brooks' personal correspondence, report cards from high school and college, assorted certificates, and a short narrative on his personal and family histories.

Arrangement

Arranged by format.
Box 1:1

Bio-sketch and family history circa 1990s

 

Personal correspondence

Box 1:2

General 1948-1978

Box 1:3

Holiday cards 1948 and undated

Box 1:4

Tyler Barber College 1946-1949

Box 1:5

Certificates 1952-1967

 

Education

Box 1:6

High school 1945-1950

Box 1:7

College 1950-1954

 

Employment records

Physical Description: 8 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes Brooks' employment records when he was employed with the U.S. military, Richmond Police Department, and as a student supervisor and also his disability and equal employment claim.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by employer.
Box 1:9

Disability claim 1956-1980

Box 1:10

Equal employment complaint 1967

Box 1:11

Foster care provider 1986-1988

Box 2:1

Military service 1948-1967

Box 2:2

Richmond Police Department 1963-1965

Box 2:3

State of California, Department of Employment 1948

Box 2:4

Student supervisor 1969-1970, 1975

Box 2:5

U.S. Post Office 1954

 

Printed material

Physical Description: 1 folder

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes a flyer for a Huey Newton May Day rally, The Voice of Watts newsletter, an employee handbook, and a Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railway Company postcard book.
Box 2:6

American Barber College brochure undated

Box 2:6

Women—Huey’s Fight is Our Fight flyer undated

Box 2:6

The Voice of Watts newsletter August 1969

Box 2:6

Western Area Military Traffic Management & Terminal Service employee handbook 1960

Box 2:6

Lake Michigan to Puget Sound electrically operated through the Rocky, Bitter Root, and Cascade Mountains circa 1924

 

Photographs

Physical Description: 23 photograph

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes photographs of Brooks' family and friends and his military service at Fort Lewis and in Germany.

Arrangement

Arranged by photograph identification number.
Box 2:7

Portrait of Beverly Douglass [001] undated

Box 2:7

John Brooks in uniform with building in the background [002] circa 1950s

Box 2:7

Two men standing outside: reverse: ‘Johnny and Brooks Jr.’ [003] 1972

Box 2:7

Four soldiers in uniform, reverse: ‘Johnny Brooks Germany’ [004] 1952

Box 2:7

Johnny Brooks and Roscoe [-] sitting on truck in military uniforms [005] 1952

Box 2:7

Two men in military uniforms aboard a ship [006] circa 1950s

Box 2:7

John Brooks standing with man and woman in Alameda High School band and majorette uniforms [007] 1948

Box 2:7

Johnny Brooks, Charles Robinson, and Eddie Coleman [008] 1949

Box 2:7

Soldiers eating at picnic table at Fort Lewis, Washington [009] 1951

Box 2:7

Woman standing in front of house, reverse: ‘Lula Charles’ [010] 1933

Box 2:7

John Brooks’ Alameda High School portrait [011-012] 1949

Box 2:7

Portrait of John Brooks [013] undated

Box 2:7

John Brooks Richmond Police Department portrait [014] 1964

Box 2:7

Charles H. Brooks driving a car [015] 1934

Box 2:8

John Brooks standing outside of building at Fort Lewis, Washington [016] 1951

Box 2:8

Sandra Brooks standing outside of house [017] 1978

Box 2:8

John Brooks wrapping boxes at Oakland Army Base [018] 1965

Box 2:8

Soldiers handing paperwork to man seated behind typewriter, reverse: ‘719th Anti-Aircraft Gun Battalion’ [019] 1950

Box 2:8

John Brooks standing on steps as students walk by [020] undated

Box 2:8

John and Sandra Brooks standing next to Christmas tree [021] undated

Box 2:8

John and Sandra Brooks seated at table [022] undated

Box 2:8

John and Sandra Brooks standing in front of Christmas tree [023] undated