Thomas, Lowell, 1892-1981

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American author, journalist, and world traveller.

From the description of Letters, 1961-1981. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122553309

Newscaster, foreign correspondent, and explorer.

From the description of Papers, [ca. 1890]-1981. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155531746

Thomas was a radio and television broadcaster, author, and world traveler.

From the description of The Lowell Jackson Thomas papers. 1916-2010. (University of Utah). WorldCat record id: 701904298

Traveler, lecturer, radio commentator, author.

From the description of Letter to [Lola] Kovner, 1936 April 9. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 55057647

From the description of Letter to [Lola] Kovner [sic] [manuscript], 1936 April 9. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647978159

Lowell Jackson Thomas (1892 - 1981) became one of the most recognizable figures of his day as he led a life of world traveler, broadcaster, and communications pioneer. The Lowell Thomas Papers document Thomas's life and career in textual materials, graphic materials, objects, sound recordings, and moving images.

From the description of Lowell Thomas Papers (Marist College). WorldCat record id: 457207722

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.

From the guide to the Lowell Jackson Thomas papers, 1916-2010, (J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Miscellaneous manuscript collection, 1761-1964. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Records, 1897-1984. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Miscellaneous documents, 1844-[ca. 1975] New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Records of the Panama Canal. 1848 - 1999. Moving Images Relating to the Panama Canal. 1979 - 1999. Highway of Water National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paulson, Arvid. Papers, 1912-1974 (inclusive). 1940-1960 (bulk). Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Nicholson, Reginald Fairfax, 1852-1939. Papers of Reginald Fairfax Nicholson, 1873-1939. Library of Congress
referencedIn Reinsch, Paul Samuel, 1869-1923. Papers, 1835-1924, 1963. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf AV 778, Tanner, Nathan Eldon 1898-1982. N. Eldon Tanner audio recordings collection 1958-1980 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church History Library
referencedIn Flagg, Mildred Buchanan, 1886-1980. Papers, 1876-1955 (inclusive), 1900-1955 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Roba, William Henry. Correspondence, 1978. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Photograph collection, 1889-1976. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Pew family. Papers, 1817-1965. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Carl Tilden Keller collection concerning Sir Aurel Stein, 1922-1945. Houghton Library
referencedIn William Ernest Hocking papers Houghton Library
referencedIn Paul Revere Reynolds Papers, 1899-1980. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Papers, 1911-1974. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Overseas Press Club of America. Miscellaneous papers, 1919-1970. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Davis, Edward, Colonel. The Edward Davis papers, 1902-1929. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
creatorOf Thomas, Lowell, 1892-1981. Letters, 1961-1981. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Pew, J. Howard (John Howard), 1882-1971. Papers 1902-1971. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Lee, Mabel Barbee, 1884-1979. Papers, 1946-1967. Colorado College, Tutt Library
creatorOf Spingarn, Joel E, 1875-1939. Papers, 1934-1938. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf Papers, [ca. 1890]-1981. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Thomas, Lowell, 1892-1981. Up Pikes Peak via the Cog Railway, . Colorado College, Tutt Library
referencedIn Grosvenor Family Papers, 1827-1981, (bulk 1872-1964) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Records of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture. 1794 - 2003. Public Information and Training Motion Picture and Television Productions. 1990 - 1995. Avalanches to Order National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Sprague, Marshall. Papers, 1825-1994 (bulk 1930s-1980s). Pikes Peak Library District
referencedIn Rochford, Daniel, 1900-1989. Papers, 1925-1983. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Alexander Griswold Cummins papers, 1865-1947 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Roy Dikeman Chapin Papers, 1886-1945, 1910-1936 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Thomas, Lowell, 1892-1981. Lowell Thomas Papers Marist College, James A. Cannavino Library
referencedIn Souvenir programs of contemporary personalities, 1880-1993. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Manny, Frank Addison, 1868-1954. Papers, 1890-1955 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Michael A. Gorman papers, 1920-1958 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Sherman, Jean. Letters received concerning Spanish Civil War writers auction, 1936-1949 (bulk 1938-1939). Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Reynolds, Paul Revere, 1864-1944. Records, 1899-1980. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn New York Times Company records. A.M. Rosenthal papers, 1955-1994, 1967-1986 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Fox Movietone newsreel collection - World War II paper records, 1922-1946, (bulk 1941-1946) Library of Congress. Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division
creatorOf Thomas, Lowell, 1892-1981. Letter to Francis Gardner Clough. New York, NY. 1962 Jan. 18. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Thomas, Lowell, 1892-1981. Letter to [Lola] Kovner [sic] [manuscript], 1936 April 9. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Mass Communications History Center recordings, 1955-1958. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Thomas, Lowell, 1892-1981. The Lowell Jackson Thomas papers. 1916-2010. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott Library
creatorOf Houghton Mifflin Company. Houghton Mifflin Company correspondence and records, 1832-1944. Houghton Library
referencedIn Charles Habib Malik Papers, 1888-1994, (bulk 1930-1982) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company contracts, 1831-1979 (inclusive) 1880-1940 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Pew, Joseph N. (Joseph Newton), 1886-1963. Papers, 1917-1963. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Robert H. Davis papers, 1871-1946, 1908-1942 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Lowell Thomas correspondence with Henry Waltemade (MS 141), 1966 University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Special Collections Dept.
creatorOf Thomas, Lowell, 1892-1981. Letter to [Lola] Kovner, 1936 April 9. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Joel E. Spingarn Papers, 1934-1938. Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary
creatorOf Allen, Jay, 1900-. Letters, 1935-1964. New Hampshire Newspaper Project
referencedIn Hicks, Mildred, 1880-1961. Mildred and Mary Hicks papers, 1917-1945. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Dewey, Thomas E. (Thomas Edmund), 1902-1971,. Ralph Lawrence Carr : [collection] : 1897-1951. History Colorado
creatorOf Mills, Emma, d. 1956. Emma Mills correspondence, 1920-1946. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Norman Vincent Peale Papers, 1920-1965 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Lowell Jackson Thomas papers, 1916-2010 J. Willard Marriott Library. University of Utah Manuscripts Division
referencedIn Woodson, Urey, 1859-1939. Urey Woodson papers, 1898-1939, 1929-1939 (bulk dates). University of Kentucky Libraries
referencedIn Frank Farrell Papers, 1897-1988, (bulk 1945-1975) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn George Creel Papers, 1857-1953, (bulk 1896-1953) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Cummins, Alexander Griswold, 1869-1946. Alexander Griswold Cummins papers, 1865-1947 (inclusive), 1913-1947 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn Kaj Klitgaard Papers, 1914-1966 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Ruth S. Peale Papers, 1950-1965 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Cushing, George William, 1888-1968. George Cushing sound recordings, 1942-1955. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn De Seversky, Alexander P. (Alexander Procofieff), 1894-1974. Alexander P. De Seversky papers, 1939-1941. Library of Congress
referencedIn George William Cushing papers and sound recordings, 1942-1955 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn F. Trubee Davison papers, 1882-1961 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Frank A. Armstrong Jr. Papers, 1927-1969, 1999, 2001 East Carolina University. J.Y. Joyner Library
creatorOf American Red Cross. Correspondence with Theodore and Helen Dreiser, 1930-1944. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn George Creel Papers, 1857-1953, (bulk 1896-1953) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Wozniak, John C., 1912-1999. Oral history interview with John C. Wozniak, [sound recording], 1994. Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center
referencedIn Clark, Robert Sterling, 1877-1956. Sterling and Francine Clark Papers: Reading Library, 1707-1961. Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, The Clark
referencedIn Kaltenborn, H. v. (Hans), 1878-1965. Papers, 1883-1964. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Thomas, Lowell, 1892-1981. Correspondence, 1917. Denver Public Library, Central Library
referencedIn Papers, 1909-1958. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Thomas S. Power Papers, 1928-1970 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Page, Arthur W. (Arthur Wilson), 1883-1960. Papers, 1908-1960. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn New Directions Publishing records Houghton Library
referencedIn Thomas J. Watson, Jr., papers Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Thomas D. White Papers, 1945-1961 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Boulder Daily Camera. Clip art portraits T-Z. Boulder Public Library
referencedIn Harvard Law School Forums Records Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974. Charles Augustus Lindbergh papers, 1830-1987 (inclusive), 1911-1974 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn John Kieran Papers, 1917-1985 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Emma Mills correspondence, 1920-1946 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Thomas, Lowell 1892-1981. Letter to Grace Ziegler. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
referencedIn Mabel Vernon Papers, 1933-1947 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Lawrence, T. E. (Thomas Edward), 1888-1935. Papers of T.E. Lawrence, 1894-2006 (bulk 1911-2000). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Rosamond B. Loring collection of printed endpapers, 1900-1950 (inclusive), 1920-1941 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Angela Morgan Papers, 1893-1957 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Walters, Thorstina Jackson, 1887-1959. Papers, 1918-1958. North Dakota State University Library
referencedIn Learned Hand papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
creatorOf AV 2534, Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Mormon Tabernacle Choir special programs and recordings 1955-2007 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church History Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Allenby, Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby, Viscount, 1861-1936. person
associatedWith Allen, Jay, 1900- person
associatedWith American-Irish Historical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith American Red Cross. corporateBody
associatedWith Armstrong, Frank A. (Frank Alton), 1902-1969. person
associatedWith Black, Edith O'Dell. person
associatedWith Boulder Daily Camera. corporateBody
associatedWith Chapin, Roy D. (Roy Dikeman), 1880-1936 person
associatedWith Chase, Harry. person
associatedWith Clark, Robert Sterling, 1877-1956. person
associatedWith Clough, Francis Gardner, 1895-1966, person
correspondedWith Creel, George, 1876-1953. person
associatedWith Cummins, Alexander Griswold, 1869-1946. person
associatedWith Cushing, George William, 1888-1968. person
associatedWith Davis, Edward, Colonel. person
associatedWith Davison, Frederick Trubee, 1896-1974. person
associatedWith Davis, Robert H. (Robert Hobart), 1869-1942 person
correspondedWith De Seversky, Alexander P. (Alexander Procofieff), 1894-1974. person
associatedWith Dougan, Terrell. person
associatedWith Explorers Club corporateBody
correspondedWith Farrell, Frank, 1912-1983. person
associatedWith Flagg, Mildred Buchanan, 1886-1980. person
associatedWith Gorman, Michael A. (Michael Arthur), 1892-1958 person
associatedWith Grosvenor family family
associatedWith Hand, Learned, 1872-1961 person
correspondedWith Harvard Law School Forum corporateBody
associatedWith Hicks, Mildred, 1880-1961. person
associatedWith Historical Society of Quaker Hill and Pawling (Pawling, N.Y.). John Kane-Lowell Thomas Center. corporateBody
associatedWith Historical Society of Quaker Hill and Pawling (Pawling, N.Y.). John Kane-Lowell Thomas Center. person
correspondedWith Hocking, William Ernest, 1873-1966 person
associatedWith Houghton Mifflin Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Kaltenborn, H. v. (Hans), 1878-1965. person
correspondedWith Keller, Carl Tilden, 1872-1955 person
correspondedWith Kieran, John, 1892-1981. person
associatedWith Klitgaard, Kaj. person
associatedWith Lawrence, T. E. (Thomas Edward), 1888-1935. person
associatedWith Lee, Mabel Barbee, 1884-1979. person
associatedWith Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974. person
associatedWith Loring, Rosamund B. (Rosamond Bowditch), 1889-1950 person
associatedWith Lowell Thomas and Henry Waltemade person
correspondedWith Malik, Charles Habib, 1906-1987. person
associatedWith Manny, Frank Addison, 1868-1954 person
associatedWith McClure, S. S. (Samuel Sidney), 1857-1949, person
associatedWith Miller, Hack. person
associatedWith Mills, Emma, d. 1956. person
associatedWith Morgan, Angela, 1874-1957 person
associatedWith Mormon Tabernacle Choir corporateBody
correspondedWith New Directions Publishing Corp. corporateBody
associatedWith Nicholson, Reginald Fairfax, 1852-1939. person
associatedWith O'Brien, Seumas, 1880- person
associatedWith Overseas Press Club of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Page, Arthur W. (Arthur Wilson), 1883-1960. person
associatedWith Paulson, Arvid. person
associatedWith Peale, Norman Vincent, 1898-1993 person
associatedWith Peale, Ruth Stafford, 1906-2008 person
associatedWith Pew family. family
associatedWith Pew, J. Howard (John Howard), 1882-1971. person
associatedWith Pew, Joseph N. (Joseph Newton), 1886-1963. person
associatedWith Power, Thomas S. (Thomas Sarsfield), 1905- person
associatedWith Reinsch, Paul Samuel, 1869-1923. person
associatedWith Reynolds, Paul Revere, 1864-1944. person
associatedWith Roba, William Henry. person
associatedWith Roberson Travelogues. corporateBody
associatedWith Rochford, Daniel, 1900-1989. person
associatedWith Rosenthal, A. M. (Abraham Michael), 1922-2006 person
associatedWith Sherman, Jean. person
associatedWith Spingarn, Joel E, 1875-1939. person
associatedWith Sprague, Marshall. person
associatedWith State Historical Society of Wisconsin. corporateBody
associatedWith Tanner, Nathan Eldon 1898-1982 person
associatedWith Thomas, Frances Ryan, 1894-1975. person
associatedWith Thomas, Lowell, 1923- person
associatedWith Thomas Travelogues. corporateBody
associatedWith Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Utah. Libraries. Manuscripts Division. corporateBody
associatedWith Vernon, Mabel. person
correspondedWith Walters, Thorstina Jackson, 1887-1959. person
associatedWith Wappingers Historical Society (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Watson, Thomas J., 1914-1993. person
associatedWith White, Thomas D. (Thomas Dresser), 1901-1965 person
associatedWith Woodson, Urey, 1859-1939. person
associatedWith Wozniak, John C., 1912-1999 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Dutchess County (N.Y.)
Tibet Autonomous Region (China)
Palestine
United States
Dutchess County (N.Y.)
Germany
Middle East
New Guinea (Territory)
United States
Alps
United States
Victor (Colo.)
Cripple Creek (Colo.)
Italy
Pawling (N.Y.)
Tibet Autonomous Region (China)
Subject
Actors
Aeronautics
Authors, American
Anthropology
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Athletes
Baseball
Boxing
Broadcasters
Broadcasters
Broadcast journalism
Capitals (Cities)
Dalai lamas
Explorers
Golf
Heads of state
Journalism
Journalists
Motion pictures
Pikes Peak Cog Railway
Politicians
Recreation
Skis and skiing
Sports
Television broadcasting of news
Television programs
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Broadcasters
Explorers
Journalists
Activity

Person

Birth 1892-04-06

Death 1981-08-29

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w62n54qz

SNAC ID: 33220238