James Rice Spinks collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 16.0021

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of 278 photographs taken by an American Seabee in the Pacific during World War II. Many of the photographs document native life on the islands of New Caledonia, the Russell Islands, and Okinawa. There are images of native communities and homes, religious items, burial sites, workers, and other aspects of native life. They also document the operations of the 20th Naval Construction Battalion and various other US military units and operations. This includes photographs of construction, stevedoring, camp life, and American servicemen.

Dates

Created: 1942-1945
Other: Date acquired: 08/10/2016

Creator

Spinks, James R., 1909-2001 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

James Rice Spinks was born in Greensboro, Georgia on August 17, 1909. Prior to the war he lived in Atlanta with his wife and worked for the Sloan Paper Company. He enlisted in the US Navy on April 22, 1942, and became a member of the 20th Naval Construction Battalion photographic unit during the war. As a Seabee, he served two tours of duty in the Pacific helping to construct naval bases on various Pacific islands. He was discharged on October 7, 1945, and returned to his home state of Georgia. He passed away on November 3, 2001, and was buried in Greensboro, Georgia.