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K. Brooke Anderson papers

 Collection
Identifier: Y.USA.27

SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION

Anderson's papers contain correspondence relating to his prisoner of war work after World War I in Egypt, Syria and Palestine. Most of the correspondence is with friends and colleagues, particularly with Archie Harte, who was YMCA secretary in Jerusalem and under whom Anderson worked. A manuscript about Harte written by Anderson can be found in this collection.

Also included is a set of diaries Anderson kept during his time in the Gaza Strip, in which he recorded the general weather conditions, activities, personal health and impressions of people. His desk diaries contain YMCA appointments, purchasing and budget information and records of inter-agency meetings and coordination efforts.

Dates

  • 1919-1980
  • Majority of material found within ( 1949-1959).

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Use of Materials:

This collection is protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright, ownership, and to obtain all the necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials.

BIOGRAPHY OF K. BROOKE ANDERSON

Karl Brooke Anderson was born on August 31, 1892 in Goochland County, Virginia. A high school drop-out, he conditionally entered the University of Richmond and graduated in 1916. He attended graduate school at Cornell, but left in 1917 and enlisted and served for two years during World War I with the French Army Ambulance Service, for which he was awarded the Silver Star.

Anderson then joined the YMCA to work with prisoners in France. With the British YMCA, he went to the Middle East in 1919 and worked in prisoner of war camps in Syria, Palestine and Egypt. In 1921, he contracted malaria and had to return to the U.S. He entered Yale Divinity School and graduated in 1924. After graduation he became the executive secretary of the University of Virginia YMCA, a post he held for four years. In 1928, he departed for Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island and became executive secretary at the student YMCA, where he remained until his retirement in 1957.

In December of 1949, he took a five month leave from Brown to work with the American Friends Service Committee distributing aid to Palestinian refugees on the Gaza Strip. After his retirement in the fall of 1957, Anderson returned to Gaza to work with refugees under the auspices of the Near East Council for Refugee Work, which was affiliated with the Church World Service.

Extent

1.0 Cubic Feet (3 boxes)

Abstract

Papers of K. Brooke Anderson documenting his relief work in the Middle East, first with YMCA prisoner of war work and later representing other church organizations with refugees in the Gaza Strip.

RELATED MATERIALS

The following related materials are catalogued separately in the Kautz Family YMCA Archives:

Material describing the YMCA's work with prisoners of war can be found in the Armed Services World War I-Related Records, 1910-1970.

Processing Information:

Material in this collection was formerly cataloged as part of the YMCA Biographical Files.

Processed by: Chan Harries, February 2005.

Catalog Record ID number: 4513068

Title
K. BROOKE ANDERSON:
Subtitle
An Inventory of His Papers
Author
Finding aid prepared by Chan Harries.
Date
2005
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Collecting Area Details

Contact The Kautz Family YMCA Archives Collecting Area

Contact:

612-625-3445