Edward L.G. Thomas, or Gordon Thomas as he was usually known, joined the Methodist Mission in New Guinea as a printer in 1911, and later worked as a planter, trader and oil driller in that territory. He was editor of the Rabaul Times from 1925-1927 and from 1933-1942. He was one of about 300 European civilians captured when the Japanese invaded Rabaul in January 1942 and one of only four who remained in Rabaul throughout the Japanese occupation.

Reel 1:

1. General correspondence, 1946-66
2. Correspondence re disposal of printing plant used to produce Guinea Gold 1946-47
3. Correspondence re Fred Urban's war damage claims, 1947-48
4. Correspondence re Queen Emma (Mrs Emma Kolbe), 1955
5. Diary and other writings while prisoner-of-war, 1942-45
6. Notes and papers collected while prisoner-of-war, 1942-45
7. Articles, 1945-49 (Continued on reel 2)

Reel 2:

7. Articles, 1945-49 (Continued from reel 1)
8. Speeches and articles, undated (c.1946-49)
9. Diary of trip on MV Bulolo to Papua and New Guinea, 1955