Russell Brines papers, 1908-1984

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Brines, Russell
Title
Russell Brines papers
Dates
1908-1984 (inclusive)
Quantity
22.25 cubic feet (34 boxes)
Collection Number
08894
Summary
Correspondence, research files, photographs, and other materials from the career of Russell Brines, a journalist and author who researched and wrote about worldwide political philosophy and conflict from the late 1930s through the early 1980s.
Repository
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions
Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Additional Reference Guides
Additional Information

Finding aid available in repository.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Russell Brines (1911-1982) was a journalist who covered worldwide political philosophy and conflict, including World War II in the Philippines and Japan, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the rise and influence of the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union, and the antecedents and spread of communism. He began his journalism career in 1933 at the Hilo Tribune Herald and later at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in Hawaii before joining the Associated Press in 1939. While reporting the Japanese invasion of Manila in 1941, Brines was arrested by Japanese soldiers and interned in a camp at Santo Tomas near Manila. He was freed by American forces under General Douglas MacArthur in 1943. Brines worked for the Associated Press until 1955; he was chief of AP's Japan-Korea Bureau from 1949-1951. In 1951, he joined AP's Washington Bureau. During his years with AP, he covered important events such as the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay, the attempted suicide of Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, the first year's fighting in Korea, and General Douglas MacArthur's dismissal by President Harry Truman. He left AP to organize and head The Copley News Service, for which he was a columnist and roving correspondent. After organizing The Copley News Service, Brines made extensive news-gathering tours of Latin America, the Far East, Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. He was one of 24 newsmen authorized by the U.S. State Department to enter China. In 1961, he became a freelance correspondent and journalist, covering Vietnam periodically from 1965 to 1975. Brines moved with his wife Barbara to Gainesville, Florida in 1976 and he became a journalism professor from 1979 to 1981 at the University of Florida at Gainesville. Brines was also a professional lecturer. He was an expert on Japanese and Asian affairs and author of the books, Until They Eat Stones (1944), MacArthur's Japan (1948), and The Indo-Pakistani Conflict (1968).

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Collection contains biographical materials and personal and professional correspondence (1924-1983); research files on topics related to worldwide conflict and communism (1942-1984); photographs related to Brines' worldwide travel and of Brines and friends and family (1911-1982); 1 scrapbook of Brines' news articles (1940s); 1 audiocassette tape of a memorial for Brines in Japan (1982); 1 map with the route of Vice President Richard Nixon's 1953 world tour; and miscellaneous memorabilia.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Related Materials

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Russell Brines at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

The collection materials were donated by Barbara B. Brines in 1985.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The material was processed by Leslie Waggener in September 2015.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. Biographical materialsReturn to Top

Series I contains biographies of Russell Brines, personal and professional correspondence, his articles (published and unpublished), notes for books and articles, flyers and lecture text pertaining to his lecture circuit, a small amount of material related to his teaching career at the University of Florida at Gainesville, reviews for books by Brines as well as books that mention Brines' journalistic career, materials related to reunions attended by Brines, travel documents, school yearbooks, personal documents such as school grade reports and birth certificate, and memorabilia gathered by Brines during his world travels.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Biographical sketches and obituaries for Russell Brines
1941-1982 and undated
1
Memorial service for Russell Brines by the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan
1982
1
Russell Brines' lecture circuit
1954-1962
1
The Gondolier yearbook for Venice High School, Venice, California
1926
1
The Gondolier yearbook for Venice High School, Venice, California
1928
1, 6
The Metate yearbook for Pomona College, Claremont, California
1931 and 1932
2
University of Florida at Gainesville teaching career
1978-1979 and undated
2, 16, 19
Articles by Russell Brines published in national newspapers and magazines
1935-1975
2
Notes for articles and books
undated
2
Notes and partial manuscripts
undated
2
Articles and book ideas rejected by publishers
1960, 1974
3
Partial manuscript and notes for book about occupation and post-occupation of Japan
ca. 1960
3
Notes and research materials for MacArthur's Japan
undated
3
Book reviews and dust jacket for MacArthur's Japan
1948-1949 and undated
3
Book reviews and dust jacket for Until They Eat Stones
1944-1945 and undated
3
Notes, correspondence and book reviews for The Indo-Pakistani Conflict
1945-1970 and undated
3
Internee reunion, 35th anniversary of Santo Tomas and other Philippine internment camps
1980
3
Korean War correspondents reunion
ca. 1980
3
Correspondence between Russell Brines and his mother, Edna Brines
1924-1965 and undated
3, 34
Professional and personal correspondence
1943-1983 and undated
2
Request for Brines to review book The Siegfried Line Campaign
1963
4
Russell Brines' press notebooks
1940s - 1980s
4
Russell Brines' handwritten notes on communism and aggression
undated
4
Russell Brines' traveling itinerary (traveling under the name "Floyd B. Ganso")
1969
5
Passports and travel documents
1949-1985
5
Press passes
1944-1980 and undated
5
Membership and souvenir cards
1945-1969 and undated
5
Identification cards and documents
1943-1969
5
Personal cards (library cards, gas cards, etc)
1959-1981 and undated
5
Russell Brines's business and calling cards
undated
5
Business cards for Russell Brines' associates
undated
5
Diplomas and certifications for Russell Brines
1911-1977 and undated
5
Expenses and reimbursements
1965-1977
5
Souvenir postcards and stationery
undated
5
Stamps and foreign currency from various countries
undated
5
Two sheets from The Manila Times newspaper
October 26, 1898
5
Miscellaneous
undated
6
Books that mention Russell Brines' news reporting
1942-1978
30-32
Artifacts collected by Russell Brines during his world travels
undated

Series II. Research Files and BooksReturn to Top

Series II contains research files and books accumulated by Russell Brines as reference for his news articles and other publications. A common topic throughout the research materials is the worldwide influence of communism and responses to that political system. A large portion of the research files relate to the Vietnam War. The files are mostly newspaper clippings with some published and unpublished pamphlets, news releases, and thought pieces by various authors. The books are also be various authors and contain supplemental materials and notes taken by Brines for research.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
7
Occupation of Japan
1945-1951
7
Japan
1960-1980
8, 9
"Judgment: International Military Tribunal for the Far East"
1948
10
U.S. Government publications and news releases, Vietnam War
1962-1972
10
"White House Facts Sheets on Vietnam"
1973 and undated
10
Viet-nam Documents and Research Notes newsletter
1967-1969
10
Data and statistics documents related to Vietnam
1965-1969
10
Thought pieces, Vietnam War
1959-1969 and undated
10
Bibliographies, Vietnam War
1967-1973
10
Vietnam War protest
1965-1968
11, 16
Newspaper clippings, Vietnam War
1965-1982
11
Magazine articles, Vietnam War
1962-1979
11
Hanoi VNA International News Briefs, Vietnam War
1964-1972
11
Mekong Features newsletter, Vietnam War
undated
11
Congressional Records entries, Vietnam and Vietnam War
1967-1974
11
Documents authorized by South Vietnam government
1967, 1969O
11
Documents authorized by North Vietnam government
1950, 1969, and undated
12
Soviet Union, policy and world relations
1961-1982
12
Soviet World Outlook report
1976, 1977, 1984
12
Soviet Union dissidents
1968-19781
12
Sino-Soviet relations
1962-1982 and undated
12
China, communism, and foreign policy
1962-1982
13
Peking Review magazine
1962-1964
13
Peking NCNA National News Service in English
1963-1964, 1971
13
AP World magazine
1982-1984
13
AIM Report newsletter
1977
14
House Committee on Un-American Activities and "McCarthyism"
1967-1968
14
India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan
1963-1982
14
Poverty and unemployment
1968, 1970
14
Communism in general
1961, 1962, 1977, and undated
14
United States intelligence agency activities
1976-1982
14
Cold War
1962-1973
15
Korea and Korean War
1946-1982
15
Cambodia
1970-1975
15
Indonesia
1957
15
Southeast Asia
1966-1980 and undated
15
Latin America
1963-1982
15
Middle East
1968-1982 and undated
15
Rioting and revolt
1965-1970
15
Watergate scandal
1974, 1982
16
Political cartoons
1956 and undated
16
Kennedy assasinations
1968
16
African-American civil rights
1967-1975
16
Student protests, worldwide
1968-1971
16
General topics
1945-1982 and undated
17
Maps and guides, various countries
1962-1976 and undated
20-29
Books
1908-1982

Series III. Photographs and other Visual MaterialsReturn to Top

Series III contains photographs of Russell Brines and his family, friends, business associates, and people and places related to his news articles and books. Also, watercolors depicting the Liberation of Manila in 1945 and a map with the route of Vice President Richard Nixon's 1953 world tour.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
18
Russell Brines as a child
1911-1932 and undated
18
Russell Brines
1940s-1970s
18
Russell Brines with family and friends
1911-1930s
18
Russell Brines with University of Florida at Gainesville journalism students
ca. 1980
18
Barbara Brines?
undated
18
Clinic and schools, Calamba, Laguna
1940s
18
Tokyo and Tokyo Press Club
1946-1951 and undated
18, 33, 34
Trip to India during Vice-President Richard Nixon world tour
1953
18
Trip to Latin America with Vice-President Richard Nixon
1958
18
Vietnam
1960s
18
Trip from Seoul, South Korea to Canton, China
ca 1970s
18
General Douglas MacArthur
1945-1950 and undated
18
Lt. General Robert L. Eichelberger
1948 and undated
18
Autographed photographs of military officers
undated
18
Unidentified
undated
19
Attempted suicide of Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo
1945
19
Mount Fujiyama in Japan as seen from the USS South Dakota
1945
19
Liberation of Manila photographs
1945-1948
19
Watercolors depicting the Liberation of Manila
1945
19
"Instrument of Surrender" (terms of Japanese surrender)
1945
19
Korean War
1947-1951 and undated
19
Untitled gift print given to Russell and Barbara Brines by Erica Berger
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Communism -- Asia.
  • Communism and international relations.
  • Korean War, 1950-1953.
  • Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Journalists.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Journalists -- Japan.

Corporate Names

  • Associated Press -- Managing editors

Geographical Names

  • Japan -- History -- 1912-1945.
  • Japan -- History -- 1945-
  • Japan -- History -- Allied occupation, 1945-1952.
  • Korea -- History -- 1945-
  • Soviet Union politics and government -- 1945-1991.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographs.

Occupations

  • Authors.
  • Journalists.

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Brines, Russell, 1911-1982 -- MacArthur's Japan.
    • Brines, Russell, 1911-1982 -- The Indo-Pakistani conflict.
    • Brines, Russell, 1911-1982 -- Until they eat stones.
    • MacArthur, Douglas, 1880-1964.