John Roberts was born on March 16, 1914, in Massachusetts. During World War II, John was assigned to the Signal Corps Photo Center on Long Island. Once discharged, John was sent to the Near East by Lowell Thomas to make a complete film for the Near East College Association. In 1948, John covered the Winter Olympics and met Clayton Ballou, who would be his business partner for the next 50 years. Together they released a 30-minute color short of Andrea Mead Lawrence, and titled it “Born to Ski”. John also worked on several assignments for Lowell Thomas in Persia, Tibet, Calcutta, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Macaoe, Japan, Hawaii, and Alaska. In 1954, Clayton Ballou and John Roberts formed Associated Film Producers Inc., and produced 19 travel documentaries and commercials. This collection consists of materials created or saved by John Roberts and contains documents from his trip to the Middle East on behalf of Lowell Thomas, the correspondence of John Roberts, and materials from the production of travel films, including film proposals, scene outlines, film scripts, and the associated promotional materials, programs, and booklets. There are also a significant number of photographs in this collection.

Lowell Thomas Jr. was born on 6 October 1923 in London, England, to Lowell Jackson Thomas (1892-1981) and Frances Ryan Thomas (1893-1975). His early childhood was spent in New York City and would spend weekends at the family home in Quaker Hill. In 1949, he and his father, Lowell Thomas Sr. became two of the few Westerners allowed entry into Tibet. In 1958, he and his wife, Mary “Tay” Pryor flew to Alaska with their toddler Anne and fell in love with the territory where they would remain residents for the rest of their lives. Soon after moving to Anchorage, Lowell Thomas Jr. began his many years of public service. Lowell Thomas Jr. devoted much of his time and money to conservation issues and public service, and he and Tay aided many charitable causes. This collection consists of materials created or saved by Lowell Thomas Jr. including various documents and memorabilia. Materials on his political career include newspaper clippings correspondences, and a book. This collection also contains newspaper clippings, correspondence, and notes on Lowell Thomas Jr.’s environmental involvement, personal life, as well as materials on his travels to Tibet, Turkey, and Persia.

Lowell Thomas was a renowned broadcaster, writer, and world traveler who made a significant impact on journalism. The Lowell Thomas Papers: Periodicals Collection consists of various periodicals that Lowell Thomas collected during his lifetime.