US-RPB-ms91.20 Guide to the Thomas M. Allison papers 1941-1983 Brown Library Staff. Brown University Library

2009 December 09

John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 email:hay@brown.edu URL:
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Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148 Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu
Thomas M. Allison papers Allison, Thomas M. Ms.91.20 125 item(s) 2 boxes 1941-1983 Thomas M. Allison (U.S.N., Ret.) served aboard the Hornet when propaganda leaflets were dropped in the Tokyo area on 17 February 1945. This collection includes literary manuscripts, official and personal correspondence, and memorabilia relating to World War II navy convoy in 1941 and British P.O.W.'s in Thailand. Also includes: single-leaf leaflets produced by the U.S. Navy in an attempt to lower the morale of the Japanese during World War II, which were printed aboard the carrier U.S.S. Hornet (CV-12), placed in aircraft bomber bays, and then dropped over Tokyo. Allison (Thomas M.) papers Biographical note

Thomas M. Allison was recruited and trained for the United States Navy at the Newport Naval Training Station in Newport, Rhode Island in 1941. He served in Task Force 14 during the early days of World War II which was the first U.S. Navy task force of the war. They transported British troops from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Capetown, South Africa, then sailed to Bombay, India, Mumbasa, Kenya and Singapore. He participated in the Battle of the Marianas. He was serving aboard the U.S.S. Hornet when propaganda leaflets were dropped in the Tokyo area on 17 February 1945. He retired from the Navy as a Master Chief.

 Literary Manuscripts Series 1 T.M.A, "Convoy William Sail 12X (Task Force 14)". Typescript. 1 1 Ditto (printout) 1 2 Official Correspondence Series 2 Naval Historical Center, U.S.N., to T.M.A., (1 original, 1 photocopy) 2 items 1983-1986 1 3 Army Historical Branch and Navy Historical Branch, Ministry of Defence, London, To T.M.A., 4 items 1979-1984 1 4 Historical Department Naval Staff, Ministerie van Defensie, The Hague, To T.M.A.. 3 items 1980 1 5 Kokuritsu Kobunshokan (The National Archives), Tokyo, to T.M.A. 1981 1 6 National Federation of Far Eastern Prisoners of War Clubs & Associations of Great Britain & Northern Ireland (N.F.F.C.A.) to T.M.A. 3 items 1979-1980 1 7 Printed and Miscellaneous Series 3 Owen, Frank. The Fall of Singapore (London: Pan Books) 1967 1 8 FEPOW Forum, ser. 12 no. 3. Includes( p.15) letter from T.M.A. 1980 Feb -1980 Mar 1 9 3 items 1944 Jan 09 1 10 Scope and Contents note

(1) Japanese occupation currency (10 rupee note) -undated ; (2) P.O.W. postcard from Sgt. R.S. Bartle, no. 1 P.O.W. Camp, Thailand- dated. (3) Photograph of bridge over the river Kwai- undated.

 Photocopies Series 4 T.M.A., "Convoy William Sail 12X (Task Force 14)". 1985 Feb - 1985 Mar 1 11 Scope and Contents note

Photocopy of article as printed in Sea Classics, vol. 18, no. 2, pp.20-25; pp. 13-15, 74-77

 U.S. Navy documents 7 items 1 12 Souvenirs of voyage of U.S.S. Mt. Vernon, collected by F.G. Mann 7 items 1941 1 13 Personal Correspondence Series 5 A 3 items 2 1 Bartle 7 items 1980 2 2 Ditto 5 items 1980-1981 2 3 B 5 items 2 4 C 7 items 2 5 Davies, Davis 6 items 1980 2 7 Davis 6 items 1983-1985 2 7 Ditto 5 items 1985-1986 2 8 G-H 5 items 2 9 J-L 6 items 2 10 P-S 4 items 2 11 Tuck 6 items 1980 2 12 Ditto, Wayne 6 items 1981-1983 2 13 Psychological Warfare Leaflets/Correspondence Series 6 The Allison gift 2 14 Scope and Contents note

Includes Allison's exchange of letters with the Japanese Maritime Staff Office attempting to identify Second Sub-Lt. Tatushi Nakayma, to whom the third piece is attributed, and translations of all pieces.

 Recto:text: Save the Country. The Japanese nation is facing a moment of crisis. You should no longer think of your own pride...[text in Japanese] 2 15 Scope and Contents note

Verso: illustration: Rising sun in red.

 Recto: text: What always comes with war is sickness... [text in Japanese] 2 16 Scope and Contents note

Verso: illustration: cartoon with yellow background, green printing, of Tojo followed by snakes, insects, rats eating children.

 Recto: text and Verso:text. 2 17 Scope and Contents note

Recto:text: The letter copied on the back is written by a Japanese Navy second-sub-lieutenant expressing his gratitude for treatment.[text in Japanese]. Verso: text: Contrary to Japanese propaganda, I have been treated very well...[text in Japanese].

 Collection information Scope and Contents note

Literary manuscripts, official and personal correspondence, and memorabilia relating to World War II navy convoy in 1941 and British P.O.W.'s in Thailand. Also includes: single-leaf leaflets produced by the U.S. Navy in an attempt to lower the morale of the Japanese during World War II which were printed aboard the carrier U.S.S. Hornet (CV-12), placed in aircraft bomber bays and then dropped over Tokyo. Authorship of one document signed "Nakayama, Tatsushi" has been attributed to an imperial Navy Second Sub-Lieutenant of this name, taken as a prisoner of war by the United States. Included are two letters relating to his identification and translations of the documents from Japanese into English.

 Conditions Governing Use note

Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Brown University Library. Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.

 Preferred Citation note

Thomas M. Allison papers, Ms 91.20, Brown University Library.

 Arrangement note

The collection is arranged in six series: Series 1. Literary Manuscripts Series 2. Official Correspondence Series 3. Printed and Miscellaneous Series 4. Photocopies Series 5. Personal Correspondence Series 6. Psychological Warfare Leaflets/ Correspondence

Conditions Governing Access note

There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.

 Administrative information Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Gift of Thomas Allison in 1986 and 1987.

 Additional information Related Materials

See also: Two memoirs by Thomas M. Allison. The first is titled Reminiscence and covers November 10 - December 19, 1941. It gives an account of the movements of Task Force 14, first U.S. Navy task force of the war, that transported British troops from Halifax, NS, to Capetown, SA, then sailed to Bombay, India, Mumbasa, Kenya and Singapore. Mentions food, weather, liberty and news of early wartime attacks, including Pearl Harbor. List of ships in Task Force 14 is included. The second is titled Reminiscence, 1941-1950 and covers his service in the United States Navy, including recruitment and training at the Newport Naval Training Station in the early months of 1941. Includes service in USS Hornet at the Battle of the Marianas, an instance of friendly fire in USS Hornet, and visit of Rita Hayworth and Aly Khan to USS Midway, 1950. The only known copy for both memoirs are owned by the Naval War College in Newport, RI.

 Names Nakayama, Tatsushi Subjects Rhode Island/Local Interest World War, 1939-1945 -- Psychological aspects Psychological warfare Types of Materials Letters -- Japan -- 20th century Letters -- 20th century -- Rhode Island Essays Pamphlets Letters (Correspondence) Ephemera