Lowell Jackson Thomas papers
Collection
Identifier: ACCN 2591
Scope and Contents
The Lowell Jackson Thomas papers consist of correspondence and articles by Terrell Dougan and others, biographical materials, and news clippings.
Dates
- 1916-2010
Creator
- Thomas, Lowell, 1892-1981 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Conditions Governing Use
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Biographical Sketch
Lowell Jackson Thomas was born 6 April 1892 in Woodington, Ohio, to Harry and Harriet Wagner Thomas. When Lowell was eight, the family moved to Victor, Colorado. Later, at the age of fifteen, the family moved back to Ohio. After graduating from High School, he obtained B.S. degree from Valparaiso University. He went on to obtain both B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Denver and started working and writing for the Chicago Journal until 1914. While in Chicago, he was a professor at the Chicago-Kent College of Law, teaching oratory. He began studying at Princeton University, where he also taught oratory, to obtain another M.A. degree.
In 1915 he traveled to Alaska and began a travelogue which led the U.S. Government to commission him to film and record World War I events. As a war correspondent, Thomas met T.E. Lawrence, a captain in the British Army, in Jerusalem. Thomas shot footage of Lawrence which later led to the book With Lawrence in Arabia. During 1930–76 he was a radio newscaster, but he managed to travel to exotic places around the world, narrate Movietone newsreels (1935–52) and travelogues for Twentieth Century-Fox, and write many books. He broadcast from many combat zones during World War II, and in 1949 he was invited to Tibet by the Dalai Lama. He profiled outstanding historical figures on Public Broadcasting System's Lowell Thomas Remembers(1976–1979), and published a two-part autobiography, Good Evening Everybody (1977) and So Long Until Tomorrow (1978). He also wrote Beyond Khyber Pass about Afghanistan and The First World Flight.
Thomas died 29 August 1981 in Pawling, New York.
In 1915 he traveled to Alaska and began a travelogue which led the U.S. Government to commission him to film and record World War I events. As a war correspondent, Thomas met T.E. Lawrence, a captain in the British Army, in Jerusalem. Thomas shot footage of Lawrence which later led to the book With Lawrence in Arabia. During 1930–76 he was a radio newscaster, but he managed to travel to exotic places around the world, narrate Movietone newsreels (1935–52) and travelogues for Twentieth Century-Fox, and write many books. He broadcast from many combat zones during World War II, and in 1949 he was invited to Tibet by the Dalai Lama. He profiled outstanding historical figures on Public Broadcasting System's Lowell Thomas Remembers(1976–1979), and published a two-part autobiography, Good Evening Everybody (1977) and So Long Until Tomorrow (1978). He also wrote Beyond Khyber Pass about Afghanistan and The First World Flight.
Thomas died 29 August 1981 in Pawling, New York.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Lowell Jackson Thomas papers (1916-2010) consist of correspondence and articles by Terrell Dougan and others, biographical materials, and news clippings. Thomas was a radio and television broadcaster, author, and world traveler.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Terrell Dougan in 2010.
Separated Materials
Photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.
Processing Information
Processed by Betsey Welland in 2011.
Creator
- Thomas, Lowell, 1892-1981 (Person)
- Title
- Inventory of the Lowell Jackson Thomas papers
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Betsey Welland.
- Date
- 2011 (last modified: 2020)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu