1; Central Mt. Range Perak/Pahang

This photograph collection documents the work and travels of John H. Brandt (JHB) among Orang Asli groups, primarily Negrito or Semang, in the southern extension (the peninsular region) of Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia in the early 1960′s. JHB served as a career government officer in the early years of United States involvement in Southeast Asia during a time when the independent Federation of Malaya became the Federation of Malaysia (1963). There are three series of photographs in the collection. Series I consists of 125 black and white prints that record JHB’s travels among the Negrito, Temuan and Jahai groups of Orang Asli peoples in the peninsular region of Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia. The prints are not dated but were most likely taken between 1961 and 1965. Series II is a group of 46 color slides of Negrito peoples of the peninsular region of Thailand that were taken between 1961 and 1964. Series III is a black and white slide presentation, created by JHB, called The Negrito of South Thailand. Most of the 38 slides are copies of images from Series I with the addition of a paragraph of narration for each slide. This work was prepared in 1965 for the Agency for International Development, United States, Operation Mission in Thailand, Division of Social Development.