Dr. Robert T. Brumfield was born in Brookneal, VA in 1912. He graduated from Hampden-Sydney College, and then received a Master’s degree from the University of Virginia and his Ph.D. from Yale University. After separation from the army in 1945 he was hired as a professor of Biology at Longwood University. During his time at Longwood he conducted an Atomic Energy Commission study to research the effects of radiation on living cell growth. Dr. Brumfield was also the chair of the Longwood Natural Science Department for nine years. He retired around 1972.

Provenance

The Longwood Archives obtained this collection at two different times, and from two different donors. Dr. Marvin Scott donated the collection of films to the library. He stated that Dr. Brumfield had left them in the Science Department when he retired. Dr. Scott then stored them at his home after his retirement finally donating them to the Longwood archives in spring of 2018. The provenance of the slides was not as closely documented, but from notes taken at the time, Dr. Don Merkle donated the slides in the 1990s. Dr. Merkle found them in the Sciences Department and the photos were originally attributed to him. Upon further research and discussion with Dr. Scott, the photos have now been credited to Dr. Brumfield.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of photographic slides taken from 1950-1960, and 8mm and 16mm video film reels, depicting campus events around the same time. Photographs and film contain student and classroom activities. The film reels are titled as they were labeled.

Size

This collection consists of 866 slides in 2 photographic binder (.70 linear feet). Slides are housed in slide sleeves. The collection also contains 11 reels of film, each reel is boxed in its own film container and the collection is housed in a film kit box (.11 linear feet)

Notes

There are no restriction to access or use for research purposes.

Schlegel Slide Collection, LU -120 contains slides with similar dates and activities; some may provide different angles of the same events.

View the full finding aid here: Robert T. Brumfield Collection, LU-257