Guide to the Thelma P. Langdon papers
circa 1983-2012
Collection number: HMC-1331.
Creator: Langdon, Thelma P.
Title: Thelma P. Langdon papers.
Dates: circa 1983-2012.
Volume of collection: 0.2 cubic feet and 1.53 MB.
Language of materials: Materials in this collection are in English.
Collection summary: Personal papers of a former nurse.
Biographical note:
Thelma Langdon (née Perse) was born in Pueblo, Colorado, and grew up in Walsenburg. She graduated as a registered nurse from Minnequa School of Nursing in Pueblo in 1946. Thelma met J. Ray Langdon while he was a patient at the hospital where she worked and the couple married in 1947. The couple had five children. The Langdon family lived in six different states before finally moving to Alaska. Thelma served on the Alaska Mental Health Board (where she was the first chairperson), the Alaska Commission on Post-Secondary Education board, the Alaska State Board of Education, and Board of Directors for the Alaska Office of Child Advocacy. She also started the first statewide effort to serve people with dementia. Thelma P. Langdon died in 2012.
Collection description:
The collection mostly contains the personal papers of Thelma Langdon. Included in the collection are her wallet prayers, resumes, and post cards written during a vacation to New Zealand. The collection includes note cards from a speech Thelma gave on family conflicts, and an unpublished manuscript Thelma wrote about living in Alaska.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged in no discernible order.
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Digital materials: The digital contents of this collection are not available online. Access may only be provided on-site in the Archives research room. For more information about potential distance access to digital records, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives and Special Collections holds copyright to materials in this collection created by Thelma P. Langdon. The collection contains materials not created by Langdon, which may be subject to copyright restrictions.
Preferred citation: Thelma P. Langdon papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Works used in preparation of inventory: Biographical information was taken from information in the collection.
Related materials: Archives and Special Collections also has the papers of Thelma P. Langdon’s husband: HMC-1332, J. Ray Langdon papers. The University of Alaska Fairbanks Oral History Program has a recording of Thelma P. Langdon’s oral history in their holdings.
Acquisition note: The collection was donated to Archives and Special Collections by Mary Langdon and Steve Langdon, Thelma Langdon’s children, in 2019. Both Mary and Steve Langdon signed deeds of gift at the time of donation.
Processing information: This collection was described and rehoused by Veronica Denison in 2019.
Container list:
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/1 | “A woman views the newest and biggest—Alaska” written by Thelma | undated |
| 1/2 | Citizens of Alaska petition for destruction of KAL 007; Letter from Ted Stevens regarding petition | 1983-1984 |
| 1/3 | Women Helping Women awards banquet (Thelma was 1987 winner) | 1987 |
| 1/4 | Speech notecards: “Family conflicts—Problems in Living” | undated |
| 1/5 | Postcards written by Thelma during New Zealand trip | 1999 |
| 1/6 | Thelma’s wallet prayers, song from Thelma’s high school; Photographs of Thelma | undated, 2010 |
| 1/7 | Nominee application | 2012 |
| 1/8 | Photocopies of condolence letters | 2012 |
| 1/9 | Eulogies from Thelma’s funeral, printout of messages from online memory book, funeral program | 2012 |
| 1/10 | Resumes; List of milestones | undated |
| Server | Newspaper articles: Thelma Langdon: A family equation and Volunteer turns work into career | 1987, 1993 |