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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterEarl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections
Special Collections Staff.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Preferred Citation:
Thomas C. Douglass Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
Purchase.
Biographical Information:
Thomas C. Douglass was a physician from Wilmette, Illinois who served during WWII in both domestic and foreign locations including Colorado, Chicago, Michigan, North Carolina and Guadalcanal. They had a son, Tommy, who was born during wartime. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .
Scope and Contents
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass, 1941-1946, relating to World War II. Letters to his wife Suzanne Lyon Wallace Douglass (1922-1999) concern family issues and war news and include descriptions of his medical practices and financial dealings.
Arrangement of Materials:
This collection has been arranged chronologically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Correspondence
- World War, 1939-1945
- World War, 1939-1945--Medical and sanitary affairs.
Container List
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id171345
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to Suzanne Lyon from Colorado Springs, Colorado1941 September-NovemberScope and Contents
Personal letters to Suzanne Lyon. Professes his love. News of his dying father. Discusses possible future plans.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id171346
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from Chicago, Nevada, and 48th Station Hospital, Fort Ord, California1942 August-SeptemberScope and Contents
Instructions on life insurance policies. Medical advice on Suzanne's pregnancy. Descriptions of daily routine. Request for popular books. Words of concern and love for the unborn child and the mother.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id171347
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from 12th General Hospital, Camp Custer, Michigan1942 February-MarchScope and Contents
Complains of assignment to septic surgery instead of abdominal section. Expresses gratitude for Suzanne's visit.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id171348
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from 48th Station General Hospital, San Francisco, California1942 October-NovemberScope and Contents
Advice on pregnancy care and delivery. Promises to return home to see the baby soon.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5 id171349
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from an undisclosed location in the South Pacific1942 DecemberScope and Contents
Separately celebrates the 9th month of marriage. Requests for a camera to photograph surgical specimens and patients. Friend Burns and his wife Marion had a daughter. Requests Suzanne to look for a home to buy. Advises on letter censorship and requests not to spoil the newborn, Tommy.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6 id171350
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from an undisclosed location in the South Pacific1943 January-FebruaryScope and Contents
Fixes anesthetic apparatus. Tommy turns four months old of February 19, 1943. Discusses Suzanne's desire to move. Receives the requested camera.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id171351
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from an undisclosed location in the South Pacific1943 March-AprilScope and Contents
Suzanne moves from Wilmette to Chicago, Illinois. Thomas C. Douglass in charge of surgery and a large ward. Schedules a complicated hand surgery. Estimates the war to end in three years.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8 id171352
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from an undisclosed location in the South Pacific1943 May-JuneScope and Contents
Suzanne gets a dog. Sister sells the house. Mention of coal strike in the news. Holds the Congress responsible for unstable economy. Thomas C. Douglass's bronchitis develops into a small cold.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id171353
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from an undisclosed location in the South Pacific1943 July-AugustScope and Contents
News of new landing of troops on Vella Lavella, expects Italy to drive out the Nazis. Expects to be home in about 1946. All the fish in the aquarium die.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10 id171354
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from an undisclosed location in the South Pacific1943 September-OctoberScope and Contents
Tommy gets more teeth. Operates on an elbow to prevent hand paralysis. Expects to serve in the war until 1945 or 1946. News of Russia fighting Germans on the borders. Worries the possible extension of the war.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 11 id171356
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from an undisclosed location in the South Pacific1943 November-DecemberScope and Contents
Suzanne joins Women's Faculty Club. Advises Suzanne to refrain from traveling and purchasing a house during wartime. Anticipates the victorious battles in Europe will speed up the war.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 12 id171357
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from an undisclosed location in the South Pacific1944 January-FebruaryScope and Contents
Victory in Europe slow. Military considers two-year rotation policy - possibility of a leave in one year.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 13 id171358
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from an undisclosed location1944 March-AprilScope and Contents
Celebrates the second wedding anniversary overseas. Operates on several cases of appendix. News of Russians near Chekoslovakia. New hospital opens. Two-year rotation policy still unclear. Anniversary of 18th month overseas.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 14 id171359
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzzane from an undisclosed location1944 May-JuneScope and Contents
Encouraging news of the European invasion. Gives advice on finance and on Tommy's behavior.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 15 id171360
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from Guadalcanal1944 July-AugustScope and Contents
Rumors of the war in Europe ending. Russians fight Germans in the East. Still uses APO, but the military permits disclosure of the location. Operates amputation surgeries and treats few cases of severe burns.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 16 id171361
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from Guadalcanal1944 September-OctoberScope and Contents
Rumors of the ending of the European war in two months. Possible addition of two more doctors to the hospital. Tommy has a birthday. News of successful United States landing in the central Phillipines. Second anniversary of being overseas.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 17 id171362
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from Guadacanal1944 November-DecemberScope and Contents
Operates on the biggest abdominal case and few cases of hernias. The western front in Europe a slow progress. German offensive in Europe withdraws.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 18 id171363
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from Guadalcanal1945 January-FebruaryScope and Contents
Expects to come home before the year end. Russian advances on the eastern front in Europe. Suzanne moves to 226 Washington Avenue, Glenview, Illinois.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 19 id171364
Letters1945 March-AprilScope and Contents
Arrives at new base. President Roosevelt dies. Decides to take the leave over the chance of rotation - the assignment to domestic location.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 20 id171365
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from Guadalcanal1945 MayScope and Contents
Grants a 45-day leave. The German war practically over.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 21 id171366
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from Moore General Hospital, Swananoa, North Carolina and Denver, Colorado1946 April-MayScope and Contents
Suzanne has a mild health problem with her breasts. Expects to be home in four months. Suzanne fixes up the house in Wilmette. The President's address signals the possible ending of the war. Arranges for Suzanne's visit.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 22 id171367
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver, Colorado1946 June-JulyScope and Contents
Thomas C. Douglass's x-rays come back negative. Requests his publications sent to Dr. Davis.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 23 id171368
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne from Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver, Colorado1946 August-SeptemberScope and Contents
Advice on finance. Progress on house remodeling. Arrangements for G.I. loan. Plans Suzanne's visit.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 24 id171369
Letters of Thomas C. Douglass to his son Tommy1943 January 29Scope and Contents
Words of love to Tommy and his mother.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 25 id171370
Folder 251941-1944 undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 25 id171373
Letter of Adele to Suzanne from Italy1944 June 23Scope and Contents
Praises the new house and talks about Italian atmosphere.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 25 id171374
Telegram of Thomas C. Douglass to his wife Suzanne1941 November 3Scope and Contents
Informing of arrival.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 25 id171376
Unsigned New Year card from Thomas C. Douglassundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 25 id171378
Burns's letter to Suzanne, informing Tom's condition.undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 25 id171373