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Milton Halsey Thomas diaries

Call Number

MS 0621

Date

1915-1977, inclusive

Creator

Thomas, Milton Halsey, 1903-1977

Extent

6 Linear feet in 6 record cartons.

Language of Materials

The documents in the collection are in English.

Abstract

This collection consists of the diaries of archivist and librarian Milton Halsey Thomas (1903-1977), covering the period 1915-1977. It also includes a 3-volume partial name index (1915-1971) and 20 volumes of travel journals (1963-1977), as well as a brief autobiography.

Biographical / Historical

Milton Halsey Thomas (1903-1977) was a librarian, archivist, editor and bibliographer. He was born to Elijah and Elea Thomas on February 3, 1903 in Troy, N.Y. Thomas studied at Tufts University before matriculating at Columbia University in 1926, where he earned his undergraduate degree while working as a librarian at the Butler Library of Philosophy. In 1929, Thomas became the curator of the Columbiana Collection, the institutional archives of Columbia University, a position he held for thirty years. In 1959, Princeton University hired Thomas as their first-ever archivist, tasked with consolidating and organizing their institutional archives.

Thomas was the co-editor of A Bibliography of John Dewey (1929) and the Diary of George Templeton Strong (1952). He was the editor the Diary of Samuel Sewall (1973). After leaving Princeton in 1969, Thomas became a consulting editor for the Papers of Woodrow Wilson, a position he held until his death in 1977.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by type of material, in chronological sequence.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the diaries of archivist and librarian Milton Halsey Thomas (1903-1977), covering the period 1915-1977. It also includes a 3-volume partial name index (1915-1971) and 20 volumes of travel journals (1963-1977), as well as a brief autobiography.

The diaries detail the development of Thomas's professional, intellectual, social, and sexual life. He writes about his relationships and social activities with his family, colleagues, friends, and girlfriends. Thomas describes events and personalities at Columbia and Princeton Universities, his work in the libraries and archives, and people and events in New York City and Princeton, N.J. He includes comments on books and films, and observations on current national and international events. Travel diaries record his vacations to the Caribbean and Europe, including cruises.

Many entries reveal his ideas about social class, sex, religion, race, ethnicity, gender roles, education, and status. A recurring theme throughout the diaries is Thomas' relations with women, particularly with potential girlfriends and with the women who work with him. Thomas discusses the circumstances in which he meets women, and his interactions and activities with them. He includes detailed descriptions and judgments about the women he meets, often in the context of his conflicting feelings about marriage and the qualities he would require in his ideal life partner. Taken as a whole, Thomas' diaries provide insight into the experiences of an academic navigating life in the Greater New York area in the mid-20th century.

At the end of each volume, Thomas lists his most important dates of the year; these correspond with diary entries, and could provide a guide or starting point for researchers. The partial name index and brief autobiography may also help researchers navigate the diaries. The catalog record for this collection, found here: N-YHS on Bobcat, includes a longer list of subject names from the diaries.

Access Restrictions

Open to qualified researchers. Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please contact reference@nyhistory.org prior to your research visit to coordinate access. Keep in mind that it will take between two (2) and five (5) business days for collections to arrive, and you should plan your research accordingly.

Use Restrictions

Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff. Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.

Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions

Preferred Citation

The collection should be cited as: Milton Halsey Thomas Diaries, MS 0621, New-York Historical Society.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of the Estate of M. Halsey Thomas, 1978.

Collection processed by

Marybeth Kavanagh

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:48:06 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Finding aid written in English

Processing Information

This collection was processed by archivist Marybeth Kavanagh.

Repository

New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024