Summary Information
Thornbery Family Papers
circa 1732-2002
Mss 999; PH 6418
3.0 cubic feet (8 archives boxes) and 16 photographs
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers, photographs, and memorabilia documenting the Thornbery family and related families, primarily John and Evelyn Thornbery and their son Jerry who lived in Milwaukee (Wis.) for over 50 years. Evelyn's diaries, 1965-1991, detail her everyday life in Milwaukee. The collection includes correspondence, marriage certificates, religious books, military papers, and legal documents from John Thornbery's lawsuit against the MGS Company about his pension. Other legal documents include estate papers and wills and last testaments. Additionally there is documentation regarding the Thornbery's European travels and photographs and memorabilia. Some files concern John's sister, Marion Meredith Thornbery, who moved back to Milwaukee after attending the University of Arkansas and was employed as one of the first female principals in the area. Other family names represented in the collection include the Meredith, Orr, and Lamb families among others.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00999 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Thornbery and Meredith families both came to Wisconsin in the latter half of the 19th century, settling in and around Milwaukee.
John Thomas Meredith was born in Wolverhampton, England in 1840. John Meredith moved to the United States in 1867 with his wife Sarah and their children and established an industrial company in Bay View, the Meredith Brothers Company, with his sons George and Richard. This company became associated with Milwaukee Iron Company and later United States Steel Company based out of Chicago, Illinois. John Meredith's first wife was Sarah Swain and after her death, he married her sister, Eliza Swain who had come to the United States with her sister, brother-in-law (later husband), and her father Samuel.
John had seven children, one of whom was Mary Anne Meredith (1866-1963). She was born in England and met Clarence Howard Thornbery in Milwaukee; they married in 1892.
Clarence Howard Thornbery (1863-1936) was born in Worchester, England and immigrated to Milwaukee sometime in the 1870s. He lived in Bay View and worked at the electric company there. Clarence and Mayr Anne lived in Milwaukee until 1912 when they moved to a farm in Greenland, Arkansas. Clarence died in 1936 and is buried in Milwaukee at Forest Home Cemetery. Mary Anne subsequently lived with her daughter Marion in Milwaukee.
The oldest child of Mary Anne and Clarence Howard was Frederick (Oz) Osborn Thornbery (1896-1985), named after Clarence Howard's father. Oz lived in Milwaukee his whole life and served in the army during World War I. He had two sons, William Roulac and James, both of whom served in World War II where William was killed. James settled in Madison.
Marion Meredith Thornbery (1902-1999), a sister to Oz, went to the University of Arkansas and graduated with honors, receiving a Masters degree in 1931. Marion moved back to Milwaukee and became one of the first female school principals in the area. She compiled extensive genealogical notes that trace the family history back to England in the 17th century.
Another sibling, John Howard (Meredith) Thornbery (1908-1975) met and married Evelyn Lamb while living in Arkansas in 1933. John and Evelyn moved to Milwaukee where John worked as director of Baso Inc. The company was later bought by MGS Co. which prompted John to sue MGS Co. over pension plans, which the company had failed to pay out in their entirety in 1966. This and a subsequent class-action suit were both unsuccessful. Evelyn was a prolific journal writer, and her journals detail the family activities and current events in and around Milwaukee during her lifetime. John and Evelyn also traveled extensively and Evelyn's journals document their U.S. and European travels.
John and Evelyn had one child, Jerry (Gerald) John Thornbery. Jerry married Carrie Jean Himes in 1969. Jerry and Carrie both went to Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia) where they received their Masters' degrees. Jerry became a teacher of African-American History and taught at Gilman School in Maryland.
Please see the following family charts for further clarity on individual relationships.
Thornbery Family Chart
This chart is not intended to be a complete family history of the Thornbery family, but rather exists as a guide to the individuals within the collection. Bold lettering indicates the family member has materials included in the collection.
- Frederick O. Thornbery (1822-?) m. (1859?) Hannah Mound
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- ch. Edith Louisa Mary Thornbery (1865-?)
- ch. Katie M. Hannah Thornbery (1861-?)
- ch. Ernest Clarence Howard Thornbery (1863-1936?) m. (1892) Mary Anne Meredith (1866-1963)
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- ch. Frederick Osborn (Oz) Thornbery (1896-1985) m. Irene (?)
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- ch. William Roulac Thornbery (d. 1945)
- ch. James Meredith Thornbery m. Jean (?)
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- ch. James Jr. m. Diane (?)
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- ch. Marion Meredith Thornbery (1902-1999)
- ch. John Howard (Meredith) Thornbery (1908-1975) m. (1933) Evelyn Reece Lamb (1907-199?)
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- ch. Jerry (Gerald) John Thornbery (1944-) m. (1969) Carrie Jean Himes
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- ch. Reece (1977?-)
- ch. Meredith (?)
Meredith Family Chart
This chart is not intended to be a complete family history of the Meredith family, but rather exists as a guide to the individuals within the collection. Bold lettering indicates the family member has materials included in the collection.
- John Thomas Meredith (1840-1911)
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- m. Sarah Ann Swain (d. 1872)
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- ch. Susannah Maria Meredith [called Aunt Rye] (1862-?) m. F.W. Bailey
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- ch. Grace Bailey m. Arthur Osborne
- ch. Alfred John Meredith (1864-died by 1909) m. (?)
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- ch. Alfred John Meredith
- ch. Ernest Robert Meredith
- ch. Blanch Edna Meredith
- ch. Hazel Ann Meredith
- ch. Owen Matthew Meredith
- ch. Evangeline Lingan Meredith
- ch. Mary Anne Meredith (1866-1963) m. (1892) Clarence Howard Thornbery
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- ch. Frederick Osborn Thornbery (1896-1985)
- ch. Marion Meredith Thornbery (1902-1999)
- ch. John Howard (Meredith) Thornbery (1908-1975)
- ch. Richard Meredith (1866-1916) m. Lucy Bartel
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- ch. George Meredith
- ch. Richard Meredith
- ch. George Swain Meredith (1870-?) m. (1890) Charlotte D. James
- m. Eliza Swain (d. 1908)
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- ch. Horatio Samuel Meredith (1874-?) m. Isabelle Drake
- ch. Sarah Ann Meredith [married name Howard] (1876-?)
Lamb/Orr Family Charts
This chart is not intended to be a complete family history of the Meredith family, but rather exists as a guide to the individuals within the collection. >Bold lettering indicates the family member has materials included in the collection.
- Thomas Lamb (1833-1885) served army 1865 m. ?
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- ch. Reece Lamb (b. 1871-?) m. (1896) Dollie Orr
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- ch. Evelyn Reece Lamb (1907-199?)
The Orr family was related to the McKinney/Logan families.
Scope and Content Note
The collection consists of papers and memorabilia from more than three generations of the Thornbery, Meredith, and Lamb-Orr families. Most of the collection details the families' lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The collection is arranged in two series: GENERAL FAMILY PAPERS AND MEMORABILIA and INDIVIDUAL FAMILY PAPERS AND MEMORABILIA.
The GENERAL FAMILY PAPERS AND MEMORABILIA includes marriage certificates, letterhead, genealogical notes, handwritten notes, photocopies of books regarding family histories, pedigree histories, estate papers of John Thomas Meredith, 19th century letters, army discharge of Thomas Lamb, sermons from Samuel Orr, materials about Reece Lamb's employment, and photographs of various family members. There are two books that have dated handwritten signatures of family members and their addresses. These are: Book of Common Prayer, 1732, and A Collection of Hymns, 1845.
This series also contains material that relates to both John and Evelyn Thornbery as a couple and not individually. Included are documents about the Bersback lawsuit, which involved John, Evelyn, and Marion Thornbery, and two journals of unspecified authorship. John and Evelyn's trips to Europe are well documented with bills, itineraries, receipts, tickets, brochures, pamphlets, journals, and postcards. There are also a few materials related to trips within the United States. The series also contains World War II ration booklets in a leather pouch, labeled for use by Evelyn, John, and Jerry Thornbery.
The INDIVIDUAL FAMILY PAPERS AND MEMORABILIA series consists of sub-series for individual family members, arranged alphabetically.
Carrie Jean Himes Thornbery's materials include letters from Carrie to the Thornberys, her wedding invitation, and a photocopy of her newspaper engagement announcement.
Evelyn Reece Lamb Thornbery's materials consist of her academic papers and transcripts, certificates of birth and marriage, civic memberships, drafts of letters, journals, correspondence, and memorabilia such as a driver's license, passports, and news clippings. There is correspondence from friends in France that spans thirty years, most of which is from one man, Auguste Honore. The journals document almost thirty years of Evelyn's life.
Frederick (Oz) Osborn Thornbery's materials document his World War I activities. There are military badges, a military registration, passes, orders, and a lodge card. Some of his correspondence and handwritten notes are included, as is a postcard from John and Evelyn.
Jerry Thornbery's material consists of his academic papers, transcripts, birth documentation (registration, certificate, and hospital bill), and his outgoing correspondence (mostly to the family and his mother Evelyn). There are also photocopies of the covers of newsletters from Gilman School where he worked and photocopies of news clippings that were of interest to Jerry as well as clippings about him.
John Howard (Meredith) Thornbery's material contains certificates of his birth, death, and an affidavit by his mother swearing to John's middle name change. Also included are club memberships, estate papers, his will, documentation of the lawsuit against MGS Company, and a few letters to him regarding his illness. There is memorabilia such as different types of cards, a collection of poems, photocopies of news clippings, and his passport.
Marion Meredith Thornbery's material includes academic papers, transcripts, and her MA thesis. Also included is a biography written by her grandniece, employment papers, and a passport. There are also many letters to Marion from relatives, predominantly from family members in England.
Reece and Meredith Thornbery's material includes a photocopy of a childhood drawing, an elementary school paper, and two cards from each child.
William Roulac Thornbery's materials contain a letter from the Navy, which stated his presumed death during the war, a photocopy of William's letter to his brother, and a photocopy of a school paper written by his grandniece. There is also a letter to Jerry Thornbery describing some of the military aspects of William's career.
References
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Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com accessed March 11, 2005.
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Baehr, Carl. Milwaukee Streets: the Stories Behind Their Names . Milwaukee, Wis., Cream City Press, 1995.
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Bruce, William George. History of Milwaukee, City and County . Vol. 3, pg. 161-62; Chicago, Ill., S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1922.
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Genealogy.com. http://www.genealogy.com accessed March 11, 2005.
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Watrous, James A. Memoirs of Milwaukee County . Vol. 2, pg. 536-37; Madison, Wis., Western Historical Association, 1909.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by John Thornbery, Baltimore, Maryland, 2005. Accession Number: M2005-004
Processed by Kelly Farmer (Intern), May 2005.
Contents List
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Mss 999
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Series: General Family Papers and Memorabilia
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Thornbery and Meredith families, 1892-2004
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Orr and Lamb families, 1855-1917
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Box
1
Folder
3
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John Thomas Meredith, Estate papers, 1909-1919
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PH 6418
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Miscellaneous family members photographs, 1929-1991, undated
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Mss 999
Box
1
Folder
4
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The Book of Common Prayer, London, 1732, and A Collection of Hymns, London, , 1845
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Thornbery in Milwaukee
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Box
2
Folder
1
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Bersback lawsuit, 1967-1969
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Box
2
Folder
2
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Journals, 1932-1933, 1966
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Box
2
Folder
3
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Christmas cards to Evelyn Thornbery, 1955-1975
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Box
2
Folder
4
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Letters to John and Evelyn Thornbery, 1947-1975
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Box
2
Folder
5-6
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European trips, 1960-1974
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Journals, 1966, 1969, 1973
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Box
3
Folder
1
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United States trips, 1971-1972
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Box
3
Folder
2
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World War II ration booklets, 1944
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Series: Individual Family Papers and Memorabilia
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Box
3
Folder
3
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Carrie Jean Himes Thornbery, 1969-1983
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Evelyn Reece Lamb Thornbery
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Academic Materials
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Box
3
Folder
4-5
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General, 1920-1981
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Box
3
Folder
6
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Thesis, 1930
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Box
3
Folder
7
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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1984-1985
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Box
3
Folder
8
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Certificates, 1907, 1933
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Box
3
Folder
9
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Civic Memberships, 1954-1960
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Correspondence
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Box
4
Folder
1-2
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Christmas cards, 1975-1992, undated
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Box
4
Folder
3
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Drafts of letters, 1950-1990
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Box
4
Folder
4-5
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General, 1954-1992
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Box
4
Folder
6
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French, 1957-1983
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Box
4
Folder
7
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Letters/Cards from John Thornbery, 1965-1967, undated
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Box
4
Folder
8
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McKinney-Logan, 1966, 1971-1973, 1987-1990
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Journals
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Box
5
Folder
1-6
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1965-1975
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Box
6
Folder
1-4
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1976-1991
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Box
6
Folder
5
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Memorabilia, 1965-1990
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Box
6
Folder
6
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Will, 1988
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Box
6
Folder
7
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Frederick Osborn Thornbery (Oz), 1917-1938, 1969, undated
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Jerry (Gerald) John Thornbery
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Box
6
Folder
8
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Academic papers and transcripts, 1962
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Box
6
Folder
9
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Birth documentation, 1944
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Box
7
Folder
1-2
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Correspondence, 1945-1992
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Box
7
Folder
3
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Newsletters and news clippings, 1959, 1969-1992
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John Howard Thornbery
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Box
7
Folder
4
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Certificates and club memberships, 1908, 1942, 1972-1975
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Box
7
Folder
5
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Estate papers and will, 1968, 1975-1976
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Lawsuit against MGS Company
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Box
7
Folder
6
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Correspondence and fiscal documents, 1962-1970
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Box
7
Folder
7
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Court proceedings and legal documents, 1965-1970
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Box
8
Folder
1
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Lawsuit brief and appendix, 1969-1979
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Box
8
Folder
2
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Memorabilia, 1928-1975
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Box
8
Folder
3
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Marion Meredith Thornbery, 1924-1986, undated
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Box
8
Folder
4
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Letters to, 1941-1978
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Box
8
Folder
5
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MA Thesis, 1931
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Box
8
Folder
6
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Reece and Meredith Thornbery, 1991, undated
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Box
8
Folder
7
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William Roulac Thornbery, 1945, 2000-2002
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