Marion Thomas Collection, 1880-1983

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: SC-T-002

Staff Only

Content Description

The Marion Thomas Collection consists of materials related to his employment at Dobbins Air Force Base, Georgia; his appointment in 1971 as the first African-American to serve in the Marietta Housing Authority; and personal items. Materials include letters, photographic prints, certificates, newspaper clippings, newsletters, books, and other items.

Dates

circa 1880s-1983
Majority of material found within circa 1960s-1970s

Creator

Thomas, Marion, 1931- (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research. Archival materials may contain sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state “right to privacy” laws. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal cause for action if facts concerning an individual’s private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person. KSU archives staff have taken care to identify and, in some cases, remove sensitive information found within its archival collections when undertaking archival processing work. However, privacy protected information may be revealed during use of the archival collections, particularly in those collections that are unprocessed or have been minimally processed. Researchers agree to make no notes or other recordation of privacy protected information if found within the archival collections, and further agree not to publish, publicize, or disclose such information to any other party for any purpose if found within the archival collections. Researchers agree to indemnify and hold harmless Kennesaw State University and its officers, employees, and agents from and against all suits, claims, actions, and expenses arising out of use of archival collections held by the Kennesaw State University Archives.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. Permission to publish, reproduce, publicly display, broadcast, or distribute this material must be secured from the repository and/or copyright holder.

Biographical and Historical Information

Marion Thomas was born on December 21, 1931, in Marietta, GA. He graduated from Perkinson High School (eventually renamed Lemon Street High School) in 1948. He enlisted in the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1949. Many times during his military service, Thomas was assigned to sensitive positions requiring access to Classified Defense information. While continuing to serve in the USAF, Thomas furthered his education at Midway Television Institute of Georgia on Auburn Avenue from 1953 until 1956 and later attended Marietta-Cobb Area Vocational Technical School (now known as Chattahoochee Technical College) from 1970-1979. Thomas retired after thirty-five years of federal and military service, during which he earned the title of Chief Master Sergeant and received numerous awards and recognitions for his exemplary work. Thomas was the first African American to serve on the Board of the Marietta Housing Authority and held this position for eight years. Thomas was long-time member of Cole Street Missionary Baptist Church in Marietta where he served as a member of the Deacon Board and as treasurer.

Extent

0.50 cubic feet (1 document case)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The collection has been arranged in three series':

Series 1: Dobbins Air Force Base, Georgia
Series 2: Board of Commisioners, Marietta Housing Authority
Series 3: Personal

Related Materials

Collection: Marietta Housing Authority Records: SC-M-003

Subjects

African Americans -- Employment -- Georgia -- Cobb County -- History -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
African Americans -- Georgia -- Marietta -- History Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
African Americans in the civil service Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Certificates Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Clippings Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Housing authorities -- Georgia -- Marietta -- History Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Letters (Correspondence) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Photographic prints Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus