Processed by
Wilma L. Gibbs
22 February 2001
Revised 3 July 2002
Updated 9 March 2004
Manuscripts and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269
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VOLUME OF |
2 manuscript boxes; 2 visual boxes; 3 oversize folders |
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COLLECTION |
ca. 1930–2000 (bulk 1970–1978) |
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PROVENANCE: |
Major General Harry W. Brooks (US Army, Retired) |
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RESTRICTIONS: |
None |
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COPYRIGHT: |
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REPRODUCTION |
Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society. |
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ALTERNATE |
None |
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RELATED |
None |
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ACCESSION |
2001.0058 |
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NOTES: |
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Harry William Brooks, Jr. (17 May 1928- ) was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, the son of Harry William, Sr. and Nora Elaine Bailey Brooks. He attended public school in Indianapolis, graduating from Crispus Attucks High School in 1947. He enlisted as a private in the United States Army at age 19. He retired as a Major General in 1976, completing 29 years of a successful military career.
Brooks went to Basic Training in 1947. He married Doris Elizabeth Greene (17 March 1930 - 29 October 1979) in 1948. Four children were born to this union: Harry W. III (1949-), Larry (8 August 1950 - 28 October 1952), Wayne (1953 - ), and Craig (1963 - ). Brooks later married June C. Hezakiah.
Brooks graduated from Officer Training School in 1949. He received a B.S. degree from the University of Omaha in 1962 and a Masters from the University of Oklahoma in 1973. Brooks attended the Army Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. He also completed the Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive program.
Brooks served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. His military career included the following assignments: United States Army Reserves, Syracuse, New York, 1962-65; student officer Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 1965-66; Vietnam, 1966-67; staff officer Office of Assistant Chief of Staff, Washington, D.C., 1967-69; student officer Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 1969-70; Commander, 72nd Field Artillery Group, Wertheim, Germany, 1970-72; Army Director of Equal Opportunity Programs, Pentagon, 1972; assistant commander of 2nd Division, Korea, 1973-74. From 1974 to 1976, he was the commanding general of the Army's famed 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii.
Highly decorated, Brooks became a major general in 1974. During his military service, he received the Distinguished Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, two Legion of Merit Medals, two Bronze Star Medals, and seven Air Medals. He was also recognized for his bravery by two foreign governments. The Republic of Vietnam awarded him the Cross of Gallantry and the Republic of Korea decorated him with the Cheon-Su Medal (Order of National Security Merit).
After retiring from the military, Brooks joined Amfac, Inc. of Hawaii. When he left Amfac, Inc. in 1984, he was Executive Vice President of the company. Later that year, Brooks and his colleagues started Advanced Consumer Marketing Corporation. A very successful enterprise, the company was named the 1989 Department of Commerce Minority Business Enterprise of the Year and the 1990 Black Enterprise Company of the Year. He is currently chairman of Brooks, International.
His civilian volunteer work and awards rival his military service and decorations. An able speaker, Brooks has been called upon to address many audiences. He is the recipient of the Kiwanis International Award, the NAACP Meritorious Service and Freedom Awards, Pittsburgh Courier Top Hat Award, and a Public Relations New Gold Key Award. He was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash, Indiana's highest civilian award. His bust is on permanent display at the World War Memorial in Indianapolis.
Brooks is a trustee of The Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan, international foundation dedicated to free press, speech, and freedom for all people. Some of its operating programs include the Newseum at the Freedom Forum World Center headquarters in Arlington, Va., the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University, and the Media Studies Center in New York City. He is also a member of the Rotarians and the Masons. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Urban League, San Francisco Opera, Hawaii State Chamber of Commerce, First Amendment Center, and the National Minority Supplier Development Council.
Sources: Telephone interviews with Harry W. Brooks, Jr. during January 2001 and materials in the collection.
This collection is contained in two manuscript boxes, two visual boxes, and three oversize folders. The collection materials reflect the career of a United States Army officer.
Harry W. Brooks, Jr. enlisted as a private in the United States Army in 1947. He retired as a major general in 1976. Biographical materials and correspondence are contained in box 1, folders 1 - 5. His military orders and award and citation recommendations and announcements are in box 1, folders 6 - 21. During and after his miltary career, Brooks was called upon regularly to make speeches. A sampling of his speeches are in box1, folders 18-23. While attending the United States Army War College, Brooks coauthored a report entitled "The Gathering Storm: An Analysis of Racial Instability within the Army." A copy of the report is in box 1, folder 29. While he commanded the 25th Infantry in Hawaii, Brooks wrote a column, “Taking Care of Business” for the division’s newsletter. Copies of the columns, dated from 1974 to 1976 are in box 1, folder 31. Brooks has participated in several programs, often as a speaker or master of ceremonies. Program booklets for these civilian and military affairs are in box 2, folders 1 - 11.
Brooks has been the subject of several magazine and newspaper articles. The articles are arranged chronologically in box 2, folders 15 - 23. Harry W. Brooks, Jr. was one of the individuals highlighted in The Heart of Success, by Dan G. Tripp. The chapter pertaining to him is in box 2, folder 22.
There are numerous photographs within the collection, mostly of Brooks with known individuals or in various locales. Box 3 contains black and white photographs; box 4 contains color photographs. The oldest item in the collection (box 3, folder 1) is a photograph of Brooks at age two. There is a photograph of Brooks and his wife, Doris, at their wedding reception in 1948. Individual photographs of Brooks date from ca. 1930 through 1998. There is photodocumentation of much of Brooks's military career from basic training in 1947 to his last tour of duty ending in 1976. There are images of Brooks in uniform in Germany, New York, Vietnam, South Carolina, Indianapolis, Korea, New Zealand, and Hawaii. There are photographs of several politicians and prominent individuals in the collection. They include Indianapolis mayor Richard Lugar (later U. S. Senator), Indiana governor Edgar Whitcomb, Judge Leon Higgenbottom, President and Mrs. Gerald Ford, entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr., U. S. Congressmen Charles Rangel and Tom Lantos, Honolulu mayor Frank Fasi, and NAACP executive directors Roy Wilkins and Benjamin Hooks.
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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Biographical Information |
Box 1, Folder 1 |
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Birth Certificate, 1928 |
Box 1, Folder 2 |
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Certificate of Baptism, 1984 |
Box 1, Folder 3 |
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College Transcripts |
Box 1, Folder 4 |
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Correspondence, 1960 - 2000 |
Box 1, Folder 5 |
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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Award and Citation Recommendations and Announcements, 1965 - 1976 |
Box 1, Folder 7 |
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Officer Candidate School Certificate, 1949 |
Box 1, Folder 8 |
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Prince Hall Military Lodge Citation |
Box 1, Folder 9 |
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United States Army Signal School, 1963 |
Box 1, Folder 10 |
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The Air Medal, 1967 |
Box 1, Folder 11 |
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Citation: Gallantry Cross, 1967 |
Box 1, Folder 12 |
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Legion of Merit Citation, 1967 |
Box 1, Folder 13 |
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Certificate for Doris Brooks, 1967 |
Box 1, Folder 14 |
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Honorable Order of St. Barbara, 1971 |
Box 1, Folder 15 |
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Major General (Temporary Appointment), 1972 |
Box 1, Folder 16 |
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Hawaii Senate Resolution #4, 1975 |
Box 1, Folder 17 |
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Certificate of Achievement, 1976 |
Box 1, Folder 18 |
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Distinguished Service Medal, 1976 |
Box 1, Folder 19 |
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Congressional Record Tribute, 17 July 1978 |
Box 1, Folder 20 |
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Blistered Bunion Award (South Korea), n.d. |
Box 1, Folder 21 |
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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Speeches-- CONARC Race Relations Conference, 1972 |
Box 1, Folder 22 |
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Speeches-- Commencement Address, Chaminade University, 1977 |
Box 1, Folder 23 |
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Speeches-- VII U.S. Army Corps Black History Month, 1981 |
Box 1, Folder 24 |
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Speeches-- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Speech, 25th Infantry Division, 1983 |
Box 1, Folder 25 |
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Speeches-- Tribute Dinner for Harry W. Brooks, Jr., 1984 |
Box 1, Folder 26 |
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Speeches--Minority Enterprise Development Week, 1991 |
Box 1, Folder 27 |
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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"History of the 2nd Battalion, 40th Artillery" |
Box 1, Folder 28 |
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"The Gathering Storm: An Analysis of Racial Instability within the Army," 1970 |
Box 1, Folder 29 |
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"Race Relations: Main Battle is Still Ahead," 1972 |
Box 1, Folder 30 |
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"Taking Care of Business" columns, 1974-1976 |
Box 1, Folder 31 |
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"The General Meets IBM," 1989 |
Box 1, Folder 32 |
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"Profit Through Partnership" (Advertising Section, Fortune 500, 22 April 1991 issue) |
Box 1, Folder 33 |
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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Program--Military Symposium (Pittsburgh, PA), 1973 |
Box 2, Folder 1 |
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Program--Prince Hall Masons Council of Deliberation (Honolulu), 1976 |
Box 2, Folder 2 |
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Program--Hawaii Olympics State Meet, 1976 |
Box 2, Folder 3 |
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Program--Farewell Dinner at Schofield Barracks, 1976 |
Box 2, Folder 4 |
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Program--Farewell Dinner at Schofield Barracks, 1976 |
Box 2, Folder 5 |
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Program--Aloha Council Scouters Recognition Dinner, 1977 |
Box 2, Folder 6 |
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Program--Gannett Foundation 1981 Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award |
Box 2, Folder 7 |
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Program--The Rocks, Inc. Spring Formal & Awards Banquet, 1993 |
Box 2, Folder 8 |
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Program--San Francisco Black Chamber of Commerce, 22nd Annual Award Dinner, 1995 |
Box 2, Folder 9 |
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Program--100 Black Men 10th Annual Scholarship Gala, 1998 |
Box 2, Folder 10 |
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Program--A Salute to the General, 1999 |
Box 2, Folder 11 |
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Calendar: 1994 Historical Military Calendar |
Box 2, Folder 12 |
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Calendar: Minority Entrepreneurship, 1991 |
Box 2, Folder 13 |
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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Freedom Forum Annual Report, 1998 |
Box 2, Folder 14 |
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Articles about Brooks, 1960s |
Box 2, Folder 15 |
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Articles about Brooks, 1970-1975 |
Box 2, Folder 16 |
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Articles about Brooks, 1976-1979 |
Box 2, Folder17 |
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Articles about Brooks, 1980s |
Box 2, Folder 18 |
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Articles about Brooks, 1990s |
Box 2, Folder 19 |
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Articles about Brooks, 2000 |
Box 2, Folder 20 |
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Articles about Brooks, n.d. |
Box 2, Folder 21 |
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Chapter: The Heart of Success, by Don G. Tripps |
Box 2, Folder 22 |
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Patriots, February 1990 |
Box 2, Folder 23 |
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Patriots, February 1994 |
Box 2, Folder 24 |
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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Harry W. Brooks, ca. 1930 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 1 |
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Brooks Wedding Reception, 1948 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 2 |
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Harry W. Brooks, Jr., 1947-1974, n.d. (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 3 |
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Harry W. Brooks, Jr., 1976 (color) |
Box 4, Folder 1 |
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Brooks in Sports Scenes, 1948-1974, n.d. (b&w, color) |
Box 3, Folder 4; Box 4, Folder 2 |
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Officer Brooks with Family Members, 1970, n.d. (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 5 |
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Brooks with Battery C, 553FA, 1957 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 6 |
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Brooks in Germany, 1959 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 7 |
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Brooks in New York, 1954 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 8 |
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Brooks in Vietnam, 1966-1967 (b&w, color) |
Box 3, Folder 9; Box 4, Folder 3 |
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Brooks with 2nd Infantry Division, 1967-1973 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 10 |
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Meritorious Service Medal, 1969 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 11 |
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Change of Command of 72nd FA Group, 1976 (color) |
Box 4, Folder 4 |
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Brooks in Germany, 1970-1971 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 12 |
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Brooks visiting South Carolina, 1972 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 13 |
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Brooks with Indianapolis Mayor Richard Lugar, 1972 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 14 |
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Brooks family with Indiana Governor E. Whitcomb, 1972 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 15 |
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Brooks with Roy Wilkins, et al., 1972 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 16 |
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Brooks in Korea, 1973 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 17 |
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Brooks with Judge Leon Higgenbottom in Korea, 1973 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 18 |
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Brooks with 25th Infantry Division (Hawaii), 1974-1976, n.d. (b&w, color) |
Box 3, Folder 19; Box 4, Folder 5 |
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Brooks in New Zealand, 1975 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 20 |
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Brooks Family with the Gerald Fords, 1975 (color) |
Box 4, Folder 6 |
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Sammy Davis, Jr. at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, 1975 (color) |
Box 4, Folder 7 |
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Quarters at Schofield Barracks, 1975, n.d. (color) |
Box 4, Folder 8 |
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Brooks in Hawaii (Ft. Shafter), 1976 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 21 |
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Brooks, et al., n.d. (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 22 |
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Brooks with Charles Rangell (U.S. Representative, New York-D), 1978 (color) |
Box 4, Folder 9 |
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Brooks with Western Computer Group, 1990 (color) |
Box 4, Folder 10 |
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Brooks with U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos, 1991 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 23 |
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Brooks with Lionel Wilson, Oakland Mayor et al., 1993 (color) |
Box 4, Folder 11 |
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Brooks with Fiji Prime Minister, et al., n.d. (color) |
Box 4, Folder 12 |
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Nelson Foi, Lt. Governor of Hawaii, n.d. (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 24 |
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Brooks with Benjamin Hooks, et al., n.d. (color) |
Box 4, Folder 13 |
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Brooks with mayor Frank Fasi (Honolulu), n.d. (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 25 |
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Brooks with Los Angeles mayor Richard Riorden, n.d. (color) |
Box 4, Folder 14 |
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Ancient Egyptians A.O.N.M.S., Inc., 1972 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 26 |
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Special Olympics, 1975 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 27 |
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Speech to the Boy Scouts, 1978 (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 28 |
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The Freedom Forum, 1991-2000 (color) |
Box 4, Folder 15 |
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Gannett Media Center, n.d. (b&w) |
Box 3, Folder 29 |
For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:
1. Go to the Indiana Historical Society's online catalog: http://157.91.92.2/
2. Click on the "Basic Search" icon.
3. Select "Call Number" from the "Search In:" box.
4. Search for the collection by its basic call number (in this case, M 0753).
5. When you find the collection, go to the "Full Record" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.