Collection Title: Dora Thatcher Papers

Collection Number: DG0974

Inclusive Dates:1956-1958; no date

Volume: .25 cu. ft. (1 box)

Provenance : Material was donated by Dora Thatcher in 1966.

Copyright: The collection is protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U. S. Code).  Reproductions can be made only if they are to be used for "private study, scholarship, or research. "  It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials, other than that noted above.

Biographical Sketch:

Dora Thatcher was born on September 14, 1912 in Abertillery, Pembrokeshire, Wales. She was the executive officer for the British Ministry of Labour in Birmingham, England and South Wales from 1929-1939. In addition to writing short stories for the BBC and small magazines, she was also the mayor of Newport from 1960-1962. She is noted for her stories about "Henry," a helicopter that travels to different countries and a tugboat named "Tommy."

Source:

Contemporary Authors, pp. 798-799.

Scope and Content:

The collection contains typescripts and manuscripts for three titles, two short stories, eight unidentified stories, and two radio scripts. Some of the typescripts include a brief note from Ms. Thatcher detailing publishing or broadcasting information. Most of the unidentified stories are about a tugboat named "Tommy," a character that appears in other stories and radio scripts.

Series and Subseries:

A. Books (1956-1958)

• HENRY THE HELICOPTER (1956)

• TOMMY GETS A MEDAL (1958)

• TOMMY THE TUGBOAT (1956)

B. Short Stories

• “Goldie"

• “Tommy and the Naughty Boys"

C. Unidentified Stories

• “Island Pony"

• “Tommy and the Christmas Tree"

• “Tommy and the Driver"

• “Tommy and the Fighter"

• “Tommy and the Princess"

• “Tommy and the Water Carnival"

• “Tommy’s Holiday"

• “Tommy’s Sleepless Night"

D. Radio Scripts

• “The Musical Grasshopper"

• “Good Morning Ladies"

Box Inventory

Box/Folder

A. Books (1956-1958)

Henry the Helicopter by Dora Thatcher with drawings by Biro (Leicester, England: Brockhampton Press, 1956).

1/1	Typescript, pp. 1-6.

Tommy Gets a Medal by Dora Thatcher (Leicester, England: Brockhampton Press, 1956).

1/2	Partial manuscript, 2 pp.

Tommy the Tugboat by Dora Thatcher (Leicester, England: Brockhampton Press, 1958).

1/3	Partial manuscript, 2 pp.

B. Short Stories

“Goldie"

1/4	Manuscript, 8 pp.

“Tommy and the Naughty Boys"

1/5	Published copy from Sunday Stories , 13 January 1958

C. Unidentified Stories

“Island Pony"

1/6	Story idea, 2 pp.
	Partial typescript, 2 pp.

“Tommy and the Christmas Tree"

1/7	Typescript, 4 pp.

“Tommy and the Driver"

1/8	Typescript, pp.1-4.

“Tommy and the Fighter"

1/9	Manuscript, pp. 1-7.

“Tommy and the Princess"

1/10	Typescript, 8 pp.

“Tommy and the Water Carnival"

1/11	Typescript, pp.1-4.

“Tommy's Holiday"

1/12	Typescript, pp. 1-6.

“Tommy's Sleepless Night"

1/13	Typescripts, 2 versions.

D. Radio Scripts

“The Musical Grasshopper" broadcast by the BBC on 6 March 1959.

1/14	Typescript, pp. 1-11.

Excerpt from "Tommy" series for Good Morning, Ladies radio program

1/15	Manuscript 4 pp.

Processed: February 1999

This finding aid is a product of a grant funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Created by: Dee Jones
Prepared and maintained by
University of Southern Mississippi Libraries de Grummond Children's Literature Collection
http://www.lib.usm.edu/degrummond
118 College Drive #5148   Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001

Please send comments or questions to http://www.lib.usm.edu/services/forms/askalib.html
Revised: August 4, 2015