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Thomas Hart family papers

Thomas Hart family papers

Descriptive Summary

Title: Thomas Hart family papers
Creator: Hart, Thomas H., 1921-
Inclusive Dates: 1936-1951
Language(s): English
Extent: 11 Linear Feet 13 boxes
Collection Number: ms3209
Repository: Hargrett Library

Collection Description

Historical Note

Thomas Houston Hart (born 1921 in Greeneville, South Carolina) was an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. He was stationed in Salt Lake City, UT; Hattisburg, MS; Charleville, France; and Liege, Belgium. He met his wife, Denise Rion, a Belgian citizen and a devout Catholic, in Belgium while he was stationed there. The couple maintained a tumultuous courtship throughout the war, but married at its conclusion in 1946 and moved to Greenville, South Carolina, where their son Tommy Rion "Robin" Hart was born the following year. Thomas Houston Hart also took over the family business upon his return to South Carolina, where the family owned over 300 acres of farmland. Thomas's brother James Allen Jr. also served in the Army.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of letters, artifacts, ephemera, photographs, and other materials from Thomas Hart and his family, most of which is from the World War II era. The correspondence is mainly between Thomas and his future wife Denise Rion both during and after the war. Also included are materials from Thomas' Army service, and photographs of friends and family, or scenery from their many trips.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Thomas Hart family papers, ms3209, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Artifacts.
Correspondence.
Love letters.
Photographs.
United States. Army
United States. Army Air Forces
World War, 1939-1945 -- Belgium.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives.
World War, 1939-1945.

Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

1. Correspondence

boxfolder
11Undated correspondence
12-151936-1946
boxfolder
21Cards from Tommy II's birth, 1947
22-151947-1951
 

2. Military

boxfolder
31-2Travel brochures
33Pamphlets, score books, related material
34French phrase book, American enterprise in Europe
35Army Air Force Guide, Going back to civilian life guide
36USA posts
37-9Service in Europe
 

3. Family and Personal

boxfolder
41Baby books
42Baby records
43Bills, receipts, tickets, ephemera
44Newspapers and clippings
45Thomas Hart dilpomas and certificates
46Ticket ephemera and stamp collection
47-8Calendars, brochures, ads
oversized_box
1Scrapbooks and photograph albums
1Genealogical materials
 

4. Photographs



Identified photographs

boxitem
51Black scrapbook
52White scrapbook
boxitem
63Brown scrapbook
61Denise album
62Denise and her family
63Tommy- Army photos
64Tommy and Denise albums
65Tommy Rion Hart "Baby Milestones" album
66Tommy and Denise's children
boxitem
81Paris (approx. 25 photos)
82Reims (approx. 30 photos)
83Charlesville (approx. 50)
84Chicago (approx. 20)
84Buildings/landscapes (approx. 60)
85Tommy and Denise (approx. 100)
86People (approx. 250)
87Ruins (approx. 30)



Unidentified

boxitem
91Panel Art Prints: scenery, buildings (approx. 70)
92Album of unidentified city (approx. 50)
93People (approx. 70)
94Places (approx. 50)



Negatives

boxitem
71Greenville (approx. 30)
72Suzanne (approx. 30)
73Florida (approx. 20)
74Mississippi (approx. 40)
75Reims (approx. 10)
76Paris (approx. 10)
77St. Petersburg (approx. 10)
78New Orleans (approx. 10)
79Liege and Rocour (approx. 50)
710Trip from Munich (approx. 30)
711Charleville (approx. 40)
712Tommy and Denise (approx. 150)
712Unidentified (approx. 200)
oversized_box
1Packet of small snapshots and negatives, some identified
 

5. Artifacts and Ephemera

cartonitem
11Blue plaid sack of baby clothes
12Red felt squirrel
13Religious tri-fold in baby water bottle box
14Religious tri-fold in baby water bottle box
15Embroidered canvas runner
16Baby memorbilia in baby's treasure box
17Black floral clutch
18Dolls and figurines in wooden Europe 1945 box
19Jewelry in gold and white papered box
110textiles in golden religious box
111Wooden thermometer in white flat box
112Pins in blue and pink peacock box
113Army badges in small golden religious box
114Charms, pins, and boxes in black floral box
115Wooden box of buttons and hooks
cartonitem
21Wooden cigar box with message written on inside cover
22Home decor items in King Edward cigar box
23Home decor items in Nunnally's box
24Figurines and home items in Norris Variety box
25Tarnished silver cup
26Binoculars in pouch
27Set of four painted wooden decorative plates
28"Never apart" box
29Decorative box of girl by flame
210Medicinal containers in dancing girl box
211"Today more than yesterday" box
212Decorative boxes and ticket ephemera in Oriental box
213Lucky Strike metal container
214Chesterfield metal container
215Phillios' milk of magnesia metal container
216Between the Acts cigars metal container
217Parliament cigarettes container
218Band-aid metal container
219Denise pouch
220Old English tobacco metal container
cartonitem
31Open box of postcards (sorted by location)
32Educational flash cards (French) in Whitman's Antique Box
33Foreign money in black Armstrong-Smith box
34Playing cards in "Dickensian memories" box
35"Missel" book (French), 1925
36Black prayer book with slip cover
37-8Charles-Lettes school-girl's diary
39Agenda, 1941
310Agenda, 1942
311Agenda, 1944
312Agenda, 1945
313Agenda, 1945
314Agenda
315Lettes school-girl's diary, 1947
316New Testament and Psalms, 1941
317-18Child's Bible: The Story of Jesus
319Catholic book (French)
320French book with cover (has cross and Bible on it)
321Denise red leather planner
322Black shiny address book
323Denise red journal
324Name and address cards
325Vacances, 1944
326Birthday book
327Aux Petits Enfants (plain black cover)
328Pocket Guide to Paris and Cities of Northern France
329Laensbergh (plain blue paper cover), 1941
330Tan sketchbook
331Purple snakeskin planner
332Puss in Boots
333Varsity-Town Clothes Little Blue Book, 1946