Emil Porter Thomas Letters
Scope and Content
The Emil Porter Thomas letters span from April 1923 to July 1929 and depict EPT's daily life the United States Marine Corps stationed in Nicaragua. The letters include descriptions of a military funeral, kitchen police duty, band outings and practice, marine training, sick wards, sea travel, rules and regulations, and day-to-day social interactions. There is brief information concerning Sandino, the election of General Jose Maria Moncade (an Independent candidate), the US Marine positions in the Nicaragua election, and what his general experience was like. There is information concerning the dating norms, family roles and relationships, prejudices, ideals for females, and many others. There is also much to be learned about the general life of the common person, respectfully, such as forms and accessibility of travel, extra curricular activities, what books were read and what movies were watched, and what some common goals for the standards of living were.
Dates
- Creation: April 1923-July 1929
Language of Materials
The records are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Ohio University Libraries.
Conditions Governing Use
Ohio University retains all property rights to the collection.
Ohio University retains all copyrights unless retained by the donor, other correspondents, or other artists.
Biography of Emil Thomas
Emil Thomas was born on April 23, 1906. He has two sisters in which he calls Minnie and Lill. His father remarried during his years in service and he gained a stepsister and stepmother. He entered the Marine Corps on June 11, 1925 and was discharged on July 30, 1929. During his service, he was stationed in: Paris Island, South Carolina; Quantico, Virginia; Hampton Roads, Virginia; Leon, Nicaragua; Ocatal, Nicaragua; Telepaneca, Nicaragua; and League Island, Pennsylvania. Porter, as he was called, was a very musical person. He played trombone, tenor banjo, violin, mandolin, and the clarinet. His favorite and most specialized instrument was the clarinet.
Extent
1.3 cubic feet
Abstract
The Emil Porter Thomas letters span from April 1923 to July 1929 and dipict EPT's daily life in the United States Marine Corps stationed in Nicaragua.
Statement of Arrangement
Organized chronologically.
Other Finding Aid
A paper copy of the folder list is available.
Acquisition Information
The Ohio University Archives received the collection in spring of 1998, from Professor Tom Walker.
Existence and Location of Copies
Ohio University will entertain requests to photocopy reasonable amounts of material from the collection for the convenience of individual researchers.
Description Note
Original, legacy collection inventories may contain inaccuracies or be incomplete. Collection descriptions may change or be updated as they are verified. Please contact Mahn Center staff if you note any errors or discrepancies.
Subject
- Thomas, Emil Porter (Person)
- United States. Marine Corps -- 20th century (Organization)
- Title
- Finding aid for the Emil Porter Thomas Letters
- Author
- Caitlin Borbely processed the collection in April 2001.
- Date
- 2020
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
- Sponsor
- The finding aid was converted into EAD with funding support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Revision Statements
- 5 January 2024: Subjects and other notes added from ALICE MARC records and Mahn Center Microsoft Office finding aids by Ohio University Libraries Metadata Services Department Python scripts.
Repository Details
Part of the Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections Repository
