Gerald R. Brown’s Shilo Social History Scrapbooks
In 2017, the RCA Museum received four 3” binders full of photos, correspondence, and newspaper clippings, some dating back to the 1940s. Gerald R. Brown, retired librarian and former teacher, meticulously put together and donated this personal collection known as the “Shilo Social History Scrapbooks.”
Born in Rossburn, Manitoba and living in Winnipeg, Mr. Brown’s resume is impressive, highlighting his work as a mentor, graduate student, historian, volunteer, and choir director. He taught in rural communities for about a decade, notably in CFB Shilo, from 1959 to 1965. While in Camp Shilo, he taught middle years at Princess Elizabeth School and Greenwood School (formerly part of O’Kelly School), and was a key player in establishing Greenwood School’s first library.
Mr. Brown developed meaningful relationships with his colleagues and students while working on the military base. He kept in touch with many of them, collecting mementos from their lives. He organized his scrapbooks alphabetically, dedicating a few pages to each person who contributed to this project by adding their keepsakes. The albums offer an intimate glimpse into the lives of Mr. Brown’s kindred, from their wedding photo and baby announcements to their family vacation pictures and social events souvenirs, and in some cases, their obituaries.
Mr. Gerald Brown and his Grade 6 Students from Princess Elizabeth School, early 1960s.
The Shilo scrapbooks also feature many old class photos of Camp Shilo schools from as far back as the 1950s. After so many years, it is easy to forget the names of students and teachers featured in the pictures. Determined to identify the nameless faces, Mr. Brown enlisted the help of an online community affectionately named “ShiloBrats.” ShiloBrats provides a space to share memories and connect with long-lost peers, no matter which part of the world they find themselves in now. The community also organizes periodical in-person reunions for its members, a few of which Mr. Brown attended in the 2000s. During the April 2017 ShiloBrats reunion, held in Winnipeg, the attendees could view the scrapbooks, pouring over fond memories of their time in Camp Shilo.
These social history scrapbooks reflect Mr. Brown’s passion for human connection. While reading through the various correspondence inside, it is easy to see how many lives the octogenarian has touched. Equally important, this collection of memories offers us insight into the resilient character of Camp Shilo, which drew its strength from its sense of tight-knit community. Over half a century later, the base remains strong as a steadfast collective of support and kinship.
ShiloBrats Teacher & Student Reunion, 2005.