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Jeffrey Gordon Thomas was born on November 29, 1936, the only son of Gordon W. and Bertha M. (Singer) Thomas. He had two younger sisters, Cynthia and Raymah, both named for schooners. His father, Gordon W. Thomas, was the author of Fast & Able, the seminal book on Gloucester’s fishing fleet in the days of sail, and his namesake and grandfather, Capt. Jeff Thomas, was master of the iconic Gloucester fishing schooner Adventure. Jeff was immensely proud of both of these men and their accomplishments.

Jeff married Janet Pablo of the Dominican Republic on October 13, 1959, and the couple had four children: Jeffrey Jr., Brock, Carmen, and Eileen.

After serving in the Navy for twenty-two years Jeff joined the Veterans’ Administration, working at a hospital in Bedford, MA, for a further thirty-four years. He loved the outdoors, interacting with people, and talking about Gloucester’s maritime history. In his retirement, he made daily trips to the Fishermen’s Memorial on Stacy Boulevard in Gloucester where he fascinated locals and visitors with the stories behind the more than 5,000 names inscribed on the bronze plaques.

Jeff died March 11, 2017, survived by his wife and children.

Gift of Janet Thomas, wife of Jeff Thomas

Brief description: Scripts for Gordon Thomas Oral History tapes, misc. clippings, papers, photos, correspondence, maps.

Miscellaneous collection of correspondence, photographs, and newspaper and magazine articles mostly pertaining to Jeff Thomas’ father Gordon Thomas, local maritime historian.

Box 1

Folder 1 Gordon W. Thomas Oral History Scripts

Taping Sessions Appointments Oral Histories and Historical Remembrances of the “Gloucestermen” 1-8

Taping Sessions Appointments Oral Histories and Historical Remembrances of the “Gloucestermen” 1-7

Gordon W. Thomas- An Oral History Script Outline

Gordon W. Thomas- An Oral History Tape #1 Script Outline

Gordon W. Thomas- An Oral History Tape #1A Script Outline (Marshall Bourinot)

Gordon W. Thomas- An Oral History Tape #2 Script Outline

Gordon W. Thomas- An Oral History Tape #3 Script Outline

Gordon W. Thomas- An Oral History Tape #4 Script Outline

Gordon W. Thomas- An Oral History Tape #5 Continued Script Outline

Gordon W. Thomas- An Oral History Tape #11 Script Outline (Harry Eustis)

Gordon W. Thomas- An Oral History Tape #12 Script Outline (Capt. Angus Tanner)

Gordon W. Thomas- An Oral History Tape #12 Part 1 Script Outline

Gordon W. Thomas- An Oral History Tape #20 Script Outline (Harry Eustis)

Original Copy of Questions For “The Gloucestermen” p. 1-11

Questions for “The Gloucestermen” 8-41

Gordon W. Thomas (Mr. Schooner) Oral History Tape 2 Notes on A – 2 p.

Gordon W. Thomas (Mr. Schooner) Oral History Tape 4 Notes on B – 3 p.

Gordon W. Thomas (Mr. Schooner) Oral History Tape ? Notes on C – 5 p.

Gordon W. Thomas (Mr. Schooner) Oral History Tape 9 Notes on D – 4 p.

Folder 2 Gordon W. Thomas Misc. Papers

Gordon W. Thomas Tributes

Statement of Captain Joseph P. Mesquita of The Schooner Francis J. O’Hara Jr., Regarding The Loss of That Vessel August 20. ‘18

“The Rape of the Boston Fishing Industry” Letter

Questions For The Gloucestermen, 8-41

Gordon W. Thomas Memorial Service Pamphlet

Card: Gloucester Fishermen’s Institute- Life Membership Gordon Thomas

Card: Gloucester High School Athletic Association Football Season 1921

“He was my mate, my pilot.” Gordon W. Thomas

“On the Waterfront,” Gordon Thomas Honored by Sean Murphy

Gordon W. Thomas, 1979s (partial)

“Thomas photos preserved” by Sean Murphy

Waterfront of old profiled in new book of early photos by Tim Sullivan

Gordon Thomas’ new book: “Wharf and Fleet”

“City of Gloucester will honor Ipswich’s Gordon Thomas” at a dinner held at the Gloucester Tavern

“City salutes fishermen’s historian” GDT, 1979

“Gordon Thomas, 76, expert on schooners” by Sean Murphy

“Gordon W. Thomas,” Master Mariners Assoc., 1952

“Gloucester Harbor’s Most Famous Guest” by Gordon Thomas

Gordon W. Thomas, maritime historian continued (part 2 only)

Letter South Street Seaport Museum To Ship Committee CC Gordon Thomas Subject: Identity of the Schooner Caviare

Cast of Play “Miss Civilization”

Gordon Thomas Autographing

More than a family affair by Peter Anastas

“Echoes from the Past,” Marshall J. Bourinot, 1983

Folder 3 Miscellaneous Booklets and MSS

Fishing notes

Data on numbers of men lost at sea

Brochure - Fisheries and Maritime Collections- Cape Ann Historical Association

Cape Ann Historical Association Newsletter, 1983 (New Fisheries Exhibit)

Brochure - Helen Miller Gould, Catherine, Theodore Roosevelt, Annie M. Parker, Oriole

Gloucester Master Mariners’ Association Year Book, 1953

Magazine Ad: Gloucester- A Coastal Journal

“The Last Schoonerman,” Joe Russell, advertising notes

Misc. Photocopies of photographs

“Proud Pete” Welcome Aboard USS Peterson (DD969)

Moby Duck Script

Folder 4 Items in manila envelope labeled Nantucket Material

Our Island Treasures- Nantucket Donations for 75th Anniversary

Handwritten note re: hotels

Summer Schedule Summer Season 1962 Nantucket Steamship Authority

Nantucket Travel Guide

Postcards of Nantucket (8) Nantucket Island 37 Color Views of Where to Go Booklet

Island Queen Pamphlet

Nantucket Boat Basin Reservation Request Form

Sea Cliff Inn Pamphlet

Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Car/Passenger Ships Pamphlet

Booklet: Listing of the Membership of the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce

Nantucket Martha’s Vineyard Excursion Ship Pamphlet – Catherine Tek (2 copies)

Martha’s Vineyard Island Tourist Map

Letter to Gordon from Charles F. Sayle

Charles Sayle painting the billet head, 1961

2 Photographs of Sloop Argonaut, 1953, 1956

Photo of shanty & sailing dory 1961

Photo of Charles Jr’s Boat 1961

Martha’s Vineyard Your Vacation Port Pamphlet

Photo card of a Great Point Light

Wedding Announcement of Charles Sayle and Kathleen Mary Tangula

Nantucket Cruises- The Siasconset Cruise Ship Pamphlet

Town of Nantucket Map

Argonaut (Capt. Charlie Sayle)

Booklet: The Nantucket Whaling Museum by W. Ripley Nelson

Clippings:

“Beard and Ship Models—That’s Charlie Sayles”

“Charles Sayle, modelmaker” National Geographic Magazine

“Young Charley Sayle is the last full-time fishermen” (partial)

“State Humane Society Medal is Awarded to Charles Sayle Jr.” 1959

“Nantucket Has Bravest Boy”

“Nantucket’s Charles Sayle, Jr. Nominated State’s ‘Bravest Boy’”

“Waterfront News” by Charles F. Sayle

“Sea Cliff Inn being dismantled” News Picture 1972

Folder 5 Gordon W. Thomas Correspondence

Letter To Gordon Thomas From Lunenburg Reception Committee, 1955

InterNational Dory Race Program Letter To Gordon Thomas From Johnson Crescent, 1972

Letter To Gordon Thomas From The Edison Corp. re: Eugenia J., 1953 Cape Anne Historical Association

Letter To Martin J. Horgan CC. Gordon Thomas From Martha Oaks

Letter To Gordon Thomas From CAHA (Martha Oaks), 1983

Letter To Gordon Thomas From Lunenburg Fisherman’s Mutual Relief Association, 1955

Letter To Gordon W. Thomas From G.A. Macinnis, 1953

Letter To Gordon Thomas From Bob Powers Veteran’s Admin., 1983

Letter To G.W. From R.M. Smith, 1956 U.S.S. Boston Plan of the Day (partial), 1958

Letter To Gordon Thomas From Micky Sears, Building Center, 1983

Letter To Pierre Trudeau, 1979

Letter To Gordon W. Thomas. Re: song “Lonely Fisherman,” 1954

Letter to CAHA from L.R. Nickerson, 1961

Letter To CAHA from Charles H. Jenrich, 1961

Letter to Gordon Thomas & Charles H. Jenrich from Gloucester Chamber of Commerce to Commerce re: Schooner Races, 1961

Letter To Gordon Thomas From Dunham Brothers Co. re: Chester Lawrence

Letter to Gordon Thomas From Gloucester Chamber of Commerce & North Star Books re: photos for books by Mary Ellen Chase, 1960

Empty Envelope To Gordon Thomas From Thomas M. Hoyne Letter To Gordon Thomas re: deadline, 1956

Letter To Gordon Thomas From J. W. Fletches Library re: T. Hoyne print, 1985

Letter To Gordon Thomas From Mrs. E.J. Morovka re: Gertrude S. Thebaud, 1952 4

Letters To Gordon Thomas From National Revenue Canada re: Fate of Vessels, 1948- 1952

Folder 6 Donations and Paper Work

Gift Agreement DesBrisay Museum Jeff Thomas, 1983

Donation Note To Gordon Thomas From the Peabody Museum, 1956

Donation Note To Gordon Thomas From Western Counties Regional Library, 2000

Letter Cape Ann Historical Association Letter To Jeff Thomas From Martha OaksInventory of donations since 1983 (original & copy)

Essex Shipbuilding Museum To Jeff Thomas From The Board re: Donation CAHA To Jeff Thomas From Stephanie Buck re: Donations, 2006

The Gloucester Adventure To Jeff Thomas From Ileen Graham re: Donation, 1993

The President and Trustees of the Peabody Museum of Salem To Jeff Thomas From Peter (Fitihdo?) Donations, 1984

Trust Agreement Between Gloucester Celebration Corporation and City of Gloucester (unsigned), 2002

P.J. deRonde Granite Company Recipe for Memorial, 2002

Gloucester Fishermen’s Memorial Cenotaph Trust Fund (Mission Statement)

Essex Shipbuilding Museum To Jeff Thomas From J. Witham re: Donation

Essex Shipbuilding Museum To Jeff Thomas re: Donation

Notes re: Gift of Life Saving Medal, 1984

CAHA Accession Sheet #2370

Appraisal Peabody Museum- from Gregory A. Gibson, 1987

p.2 Mystic Seaport Donor Jeff Thomas, Books, 2002

Gift Agreement Shelburne Museum and Jeff Thomas, 1983

Letter CAHA To Jeff Thomas From Martha Oaks- Inventory of Gifts, 1984

Ten Pound Island Book Company To Jeff Thomas Appraisal of material, 1987

Gordon Thomas Collection, Books Shelburne County Museum To Jeff Thomas From Finn Bower, 1983

Cape Ann Historical Association To Jeff Thomas From James Craig, 2006 re: Donation

Accession Sheet, Documentary artifacts 4 items #2006.13.01.04

Folder 7 Miscellaneous Photos

Patsy and Joan MacInnis

Amos Bristow & wife

Three Photo Negatives

Photograph of Framed Boat Painting

Photograph of USS Boston, 1960

Photograph of Rocks on the Ocean, Martha H. Harvey

Unidentified Sch. Oct 65 (2 copies)

Envelope To Gordon Thomas with photo of T. Hoyne’s painting “On Station.”

Folder 8 Misc. copies of Newspaper & Magazine Articles

“Sailors love turkey, too”

“The Birthplace of Capt. Jeff” by Jeff Thomas, 1982

“People we meet” by Harold Shea, 1983

“Any Breeze Will Do” by Jeff Thomas, 1982

“A deep sense of peace” by Jeff Thomas, 1982

“Andrea Gail presumed lost” by Richard Salit

“Native son shares local lore”

“5,368 reasons to remember city’s fishermen”

“Many Fine Compliments Given ‘Prosperity Builders’ Book”, 1952

“Gloucester’s historic schooner ready for festival race”

“Blackburn sloop, Thomas photos earn city grants” by Nick Mencher

“Adventure a source of civic pride” 2013

George Clooney “Perfect Storm”

“The Fisherman’s Races” by Peter Barnicle

Poem “Forgotten” William C. Norman

Poem “God Bless The Fishermen” by Celis

“The Gang Standing by For A Squall”

Poem “Gloucester” E.J. Buzzelle

“The memories…remain special” by Sean Murphy, 1982

“Square Riggers from the Old Word” 1983

“Preserving past called a must” & “Author denies fishermen ignored”

“City salutes fishermen’s historian” by Bill Cahill, 1979

“Gloucester Tales of the Sea” by Everett R. Jodrey

“Wylie Rudolph: The Gloucestermen Found and Remembered”

Donald Ross Travel Editor (2 copies)

Partial & undated:

“Graceful schooner …”

“The School Connection”

Capt, Jeff Thomas at helm of Cynthia

Folder 9 Photocopies, Magazine clippings and Maps

13 clippings of photos of unidentified vessels

The Beautiful Oriole

“Old Navy Days In Gloucester Harbor” U.S.S Tennessee 1921

17 Year Old Gordon Thomas Walk the Deck of the New Schooner Puritan, 1922

USS Buchnell Anchored In Gloucester In 1921-3

USS Delaware Anchored In Gloucester In 1921

USS Tennessee, Gloucester Harbor, 1921

Young Gordon playing in the rigging of Sch. Elk, 1916/19

1922 Gloucester Schooner Columbia

Gloucester dory at Peabody Museum in Salem

“Enemy shore fire kicks up fountains of spray” and “The cruiser in action”

Gloucester Fishing Schooner L.A. Dunton

Model of a Grand Banker, 1741

Model of a Pinkey, 1810

Dicks and Company, Lt. Calendar Sch. Helen & Thomas

Calendar picture Schooner Bluenose Il

USS Carr Gunner Mate Third Class Paul Henry Carr

Calendar Image of Boats in Bay

Elsie Racing Fishing Schooner Calendar Image

“Mr. Schooner in Nova Scotia” 1981

“Capt. Jeff at the Wheel of Sch. Cynthia” 1911

“Young Mr. Schooner at the wheel of Marchal Foch” 1919

“Equal to the Challenge” crew of Sylvania, 1918

Annotated Cape Ann Map in Blue

Isle Madame Map – noting landing point after sinking by Germans in 1918

Pictorial map of the White Mountains of New Hampshire showing location of Recreational Facilities

A Salty Map of Cape Ann

Folder 10 Jeff Thomas Papers

Misc. Handwritten Notes

“On The Passing of a Seafarer” by Jeff Thomas pp. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7

“Any Breeze Would Do” by Jeff Thomas

Last page of a Letter from Jeff Thomas To unknown re: Fast & Able

“A Beach of Fine Sand” by Jeff Thomas 

Poem “A (Soldier?) From Newfoundland”

Gloucester Daily Times “Dories Away,” 1959

“Young Mr. Schooner Gloucester in Her Blush and Beauty” 1916

The Fishermen’s Memorial Overview

Words written and spoken by Jeff Thomas at Gordon Thomas Testimonial

Gloucester Fish Chowder Recipe

Copy of Letter To Babe From Capt. Jeff Thomas Jan 6th 1934 & last page repeat

Copy of Letter To Babe From Capt. Jeff Thomas Jan 12th 1934 & last page repeat

Handwritten Letter To Mayor from Jeff Thomas

Note on Yellow Paper- Jeff Thomas re: Fuller School Lecture

Different Museum Contact Information

Handwritten Notes Able 4th Edition

List of School Teachers

“Jeff’s Boy” Chapter 3

Note List of Chapters

Notes on Gloucester in her Blush and Beauty

Question for Alphonse Bouchie

Reminiscences about Capt. Jeff Thomas Pages 4-15 Handwritten

Facts About Capt. Jeff

Notes on Twin Lights- Thacher’s Island

Fishermen’s Boarding House Questions

List of Hotels and their Fates

Letter of Appreciation to Mayor Bruce Toby for Jeff Thomas from Long Island Univ., 2001

“A royal welcome” Sir William Alexander

“Local fishing industry evolves, becomes more unified” by Barbara Taormina, 2000

“Jesse L. Brown: pride of the Navy” by Kim Bartlett, July 1973

“Gloucester” by E.J. Buzzelle

American Schooner Association, free membership

The Hull and Rig of Vessels

“British Destroyer to visit harbor starting Tuesday” by Richard Salt

“What a treasure of our past!” Peter Anastas, 1982

“Five great sailing ships honored in silver” by Paul Kenyon

“Famous Schooner Medallion Series”

“An Ode to Old Gloucester” by Richard Buffum

Fisherman’s “Memorial Arrives”

“Giant warship anchors here; cruiser Boston will visit us over holiday” 1963

Letter To Jeff Thomas from Sherman Zwicker, Mayor of Lunenburg, 1979

Reference for Jeff Thomas from Veterans Admin., 1991

Page of names.

Misc. unattributed notes

Folder 11 Gordon W. Thomas Park

“Harbor park to honor author” by Bill Cahill, 1983

“Thomas Park dedication tomorrow” by Kevin Sullivan, 1984

“It was a real Gloucester crowd… “by Bill Cahill Thomas Park dedication tomorrow by Kevin Sullivan

“Dukakis to attend park dedication” by Sean Murphy, 1983

Handwritten Note For Head of Harbor Park Plaque

Gordon W. Thomas Park Plaque Inscription

More than 300 honor Gordon Thomas

Letter To Mayor Alper From Dorothy H. Stanley re: GWT Park, 1983

Letter To Mayor Alpert From Angus M. Hulslander, 1982

Letter To Mayor Leo Alper From Richard Lopes, Voyage Productions, 1983

Letter To Mayor Leo Alper From William Collins, 1983

Letter To Mayor Leo Alper From Jack Conrad, 1983

Letter To Mayor Leo Alper From Peter Anastas, 1983

Letter To Mayor Silva From William Collins, 1984

Letter From Leo Alper From Niels W. Jannasch, 1983

Letter To Mayor Leo-Alper From Robert Powers, p.2

Disbursed to Vertical Files

The Arichat Frenchmen in Gloucester: Problems of Identification and Identity

PT. W. H. Thomas Died Suddenly, Known Master Mariner and Manager Gloucester Cold Storage Succumbed to Heart Attack

Book Review “Adventure” J. Garland

Gloucester’s 350th anniversary celebration by Bill Cahill

Ghost’s History haunt Maine windjammer

The Photographs of Martha Hale Harvey

Homeward Bound by William Aeberli

Herbert Parker, Prosperity Builders by Gordon W. Thomas

History of This church is history of Portuguese families in Gloucester by Barbara Erkkila

Pamphlet Lettie G. Howard A Gloucester fishing schooner of 1893

Curious Naturalist Five Plants that Changed the World

Photograph of Giant Squid on the Beach

These beans never made Boston by Beth Albert, SS Rio Branco

The Naming of Capt. Solomon Jacobs Park by Paul Kenyon

What ever happened to Wonson sea serpent? By Alice E. Babson

Complete List of Gloucester Fishing Landings for 1999

Prosperity Builders Thrilling Career of Sch. Lillian Baxter by Gordon W. Thomas

Sch. Marechal Foch Builders of Prosperity by Gordon Thomas

Last of a Long line of Nunans by Paul Kenyon

J.J. Flaherty, Model of, Why the change of heart! By Paul Kenyon

Gloucester Fisherman’s Museum, 1979

American Sailing Craft-11. Gloucester Sloop

Ocean Perch, Food Fish Facts No.15.

Essex Ship Building, 1950

Cap’n Jim Walen was an ace by Joe Garland

John J. Fallon struck by squalls

Squanto

Note on the Fishermen’s Memorial