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James and Josie Tomes travel collection

 Collection
Identifier: Maps-Tomes

Scope and Content of the Collection

Printed travel materials and road maps related to James and Josie Tomes’ travels. Also includes itineraries, travel confirmations, correspondence and confirmation letters, brochures, menus, hotel stationery, newspaper and magazine clippings, postcards, ticket stubs, and stamps.

Material is organized geographically by continent into series, and thereunder alphabetically. National Parks and Historical Estates (castles, palaces, and manors) are listed by their official name, rather than nearby towns.

There is also a series dedicated to material unrelated to a specific place (i.e.: correspondence) and a series dedicated to the Tomes’ genealogical pursuits, much of which can be tied into their travels.

Dates

  • Creation: 1928-2008
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1980-2000

Creator

Language

Materials are in English, French, and German. Limited materials in Japanese.

Ownership and Literary Rights

The James and Josie Tomes travel collection is the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections at reference@newberry.org.

Biography of James and Josie Tomes

James Tomes (b. 1927) is a “lawyer, businessman, and publisher,” as well as an amateur family genealogist. Able to trace his family genealogy back to the early 18th century, he also is known for his compilations and writings about family history.

Born in Milwaukee to William Austin Tomes Jr. and Betty Steel, James spent his formative years moving around the Midwest before his family settled in Northbrook, Illinois in 1942. He has one younger brother, William Tomes.

After serving in WWII, James attended college at Northwestern University in Evanston, receiving a Bachelor of Science. Intending to start medical school, his plans were interrupted by the Korean War when he was called up by the Air Force. He served at the air base in Enid, Oklahoma for two years before beginning law school instead of medical school.

Joann “Josie” Raymaley was born to Elizabeth Witmeyer and Francis Raymaley and grew up as an only child in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Both parents can claim a strong Pennsylvania Dutch heritage.

Josie received a Bachelor of the Arts from Northwestern in 1951 and began a career in fashion. While in school, she received the national Mademoiselle Magazine prize for writing. After college, she worked in the fashion office of Marshall Field & Co., and continues to be active in Chicago’s fashion world. She is also an advocate of the arts.

Josie and James met at Northwestern in 1948 and were married in 1954. They have two daughters, Betsy and Julia, and two sons, Robert and John.

James worked a variety of jobs while studying law in night school at Chicago Kent. He began work as a lawyer in 1957 while also volunteering his services with ACLU. After working for Bell & Howell as General Counsel, James served as chief executive for various other businesses before becoming president of Federal Publications. After retiring, he became involved with the Caxton Club in Chicago and has served in a variety of roles.

The Tomes family traveled extensively during the 1970-2000 time period, and collected material and correspondence related to their travels. Over the course of a decade, James and Josie Tomes donated a wide variety of material to the Newberry, which the Newberry currently holds in its collections. A more detailed biography can be found in James Tomes’ book titled Serendipity: The Genealogy of Tomes, Steel, Raymaley, and Shaeffer Families.

Extent

15.1 Linear Feet (12 record cartons and 1 oversize box)

Abstract

Collection of maps and travel ephemera related to the travels of James and Josie Tomes. Material covers Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, with most material on Europe and North America. Also includes material related to James Tomes’ genealogy research, much of which required travel in the United States and Europe.

Organization

Papers are organized in the following series

Series 1: Africa, Asia, and Pacifica Countries and Regional Material, 1962-1996
Box 1
Series 2: Europe Countries and Regional Material, 1950-2007
Boxes 1-10
Series 3: North America Countries and Regional Material, 1928-2005
Boxes 10-11
Series 4: World and Global Material, 1974-2003
Boxes 11-12
Series 5: Genealogy Research, 1967-2008
Box 12

Collection Stack Location

4a 18 3-4

Provenance

Gift, James and Josie Tomes, 2014.

Processed by

Emily Richardson, 2018.

Title
Inventory of the James and Josie Tomes travel collection, 1928-2008, bulk 1980-2000
Status
Completed
Author
Emily L. Richardson
Date
©2018.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512