The papers of Carleton L. Brosius are divided into four series: Military, Olympics, Physical Training, and Photographs.
Military (1904-1947) consists mostly of official papers regarding the Army service of Brosius around the time of World War I. The “By-gones” scrapbook, the richest source of information in this series, contains newspaper clippings about Brosius's service in the Army. Other newspaper clippings give information on Brosius's father, George, a renowned physical trainer who founded the first Turner Society school in Milwaukee. The scrapbook also contains various Army special orders regarding Brosius, some correspondence, and photographs of Brosius in uniform. This series also contains general and specific orders from the War Department and other various Army departments; these show Brosius being moved around the country to establish and oversee physical training programs at different Army bases, and also convey a sense of the esteem with which the Army held Brosius as a physical trainer. The enlistment records and certificates document Brosius's involvement in the Army during the World War I era, as well as the promotions that he received. Also of interest in this series is the sheet music to a march song composed by Brosius, “March of the Maccabees,” as well as schedules for physical training routines and notes for instructors of physical training in the Army. This series lacks information that documents Brosius's service in the Spanish-American War and Mexican Border War.
Olympics (1920) documents Brosius's participation in the Seventh Olympiad, which took place in Antwerp, Belgium in 1920. Brosius's role as a fencer and the captain of the United States tug o' war team are highlighted in the Olympic games scrapbook. The scrapbook contains many photographs of the trans-Atlantic voyage, Belgian forts and troops, American troops in Europe, Brosius at Olympic Stadium, the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, and various actions shots of fencing matches and warm-up exercises. It also has ephemera from Brosius's trip to Belgium, such as ticket stubs, receipts, stamps, and postcards from various European locations. Newspaper clippings about the Olympic games and Brosius can also be found in the scrapbook. Also included in this series is correspondence that deals with Brosius's preparations for the Olympics, as well as a roster of the United States tug o' war team.
Physical Training (1918-1976) contains materials relating to Brosius's post-Army life as a professional physical trainer. The Green Scrapbook contains newspaper clippings about Brosius, his father George, and their connections to the field of physical training. The scrapbook also contains advertisements for Brosius Gymnasium, Inc., which Carl directed in the 1930's. Also included in the scrapbook are the obituary of George Brosius, photographs of a 1932 parade in Milwaukee, which honored General Charles King (Brosius was King's aide for the parade), and several essays that Brosius wrote about fencing. This series also contains a booklet and scrapbook of letters of attestation that various military officers and acquaintances of Brosius wrote on his behalf. All of the letters stress Brosius's skill as a physical trainer, and many of the letters were quoted in the advertisements for Brosius Gymnasium, Inc. Also included in this series is some correspondence regarding Brosius's time as a trainer at St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin and papers concerning the dedication of the Carl L. Brosius Memorial Museum at the Grand Army Home in King, Wisconsin.
Photographs (1910-1955) consists of five portrait style photographs of Carleton L. Brosius that were taken at various stages of his life. A signed photo taken in 1910 shows a youthful Brosius in fencing gear, saluting with his weapon. Another photo, which was signed in 1953 but was probably taken in the 1930's, is a bust view of a middle aged Brosius in Army uniform. The last three photos all show Brosius at the Grand Army Home in King. The first depicts him sitting in a chair while reading a magazine and smoking a pipe. The last two are versions of the same photo, with one being a little enlarged. Both show Brosius at the dedication of the Carl. L. Brosius Memorial Museum at the Grand Army Home in King, March 23, 1955. He is standing and holding a dedication plaque to his left side.
