Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Johanna Gostas POW/MIA papers, 1963-2020
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Gostas, Johanna
- Title
- Johanna Gostas POW/MIA papers
- Dates
- 1963-2020 (inclusive)19681973
- Quantity
- 3.70 cubic ft. (9 boxes) + 3.48 GB
- Collection Number
- 05497
- Summary
- This collection contans materials related to Johanna Gostas' work in POW/MIA issues and her husband's, Theodore "Ted" W. Gostas, experiences as a POW during the Vietnam War.
- Repository
-
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu - Access Restrictions
-
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Johanna Gostas, of Sheridan, Wyoming, was the Wyoming coordinator for the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia. Her husband, U.S. Army Major Theodore W. Gostas, was taken prisoner by the North Vietnamese during the Tet Offensive in February, 1968, and was released in March, 1973, following the signing of the Paris peace agreement in January, 1973. Johanna Gostas worked with national and state POW/MIA groups from 1968 to 1973, and was a National League of Families representative to a 1971 conference on prisoner of war treatment held in Geneva, Switzerland.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Collection contains correspondence, news releases, pamphlets, bumper stickers, newspaper clippings, and printed materials from various state and national groups related to Gostas' work on POW/MIA issues; correspondence from other POW wives and families; posters depicting Wyoming POWs; materials related to the Geneva conference; notes and drafts; miscellaneous memorabilia; and an oral history interview with Theodore "Ted" W. Gostas regarding his experiences in the military and as a POW in the Vietnam War.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright InformationThe researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Restrictions on Use
Statement on Potentially Harmful Language and Images Found in CollectionsThe American Heritage Center aspires to approach all areas of our work in ways that are respectful to those who create, use, and are represented in our collections. For a variety of reasons, however, users may encounter offensive or harmful language or images in some of our finding aids, catalogs, and collection materials.
Note that the AHC does not censor or alter contents of the collections as they provide context and evidence of a time, people, place, or event. Therefore, we encourage users to bring questions and concerns about descriptions in our finding aids to our attention via email or anonymous web-form. For more information, read our full statement.
Preferred Citation
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Related Materials
There are no known other archival collections created by Johanna Gostas at the date of processing.
Acquisition Information
This material was received from Johanna Gostas in 1974 and Theodore "Ted" W. Gostas in 2023.
Processing Note
The collection was processed by Brittany Heye in September 2023 and updated by Jamie J. Greene in November 2024.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | American Legion | undated | |
| 7 | “American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia, 1971: Hearings Before the Subcommittee on National Security Policy and Scientific Developments” | April 1971 | |
| 8 | Art: Drawings by Theodore "Ted" Gostas | 2003-2020 | |
| 1 | Cares for POW/MIA (other states) | 1970-1972; undated | |
| 1 | Cares for POW/MIA (Wyoming) | 1970-1972; undated | |
| 7 | “Communist Treatment of Prisoners of War: A Historical Survey” Booklet | 1972 | |
| 1 | Concerns for Prisoners of War, Inc. | 1971; undated | |
| 1 | Congressional Material | 1969-1971 | |
| 4 | Correspondence | 1969-1972 | |
| 1 | Disabled American Veterans | 1970; undated | |
| 7 | “Don’t Let Them Be Forgotten- POWs-MIAs” by Wyoming Cares Bumper Sticker | undated | |
| 7 | “Don’t Let Them Be Forgotten- POWs-MIAs” Mini Bumper Sticker | undated | |
| 7 | “Don’t Let Them Be Forgotten- POWs-MIAs” Bumper Sticker | undated | |
| 7 | "Don't You Let 1600 American Prisoners of War & Missing In Action Be Forgotten" Address Stickers | undated | |
| 7 | “Do You Remember Them? American Prisoners & Missing in S.E.A.” flyer | undated | |
| 7 | "Federal Benefits…for Veterans and Dependents" booklet | March 1971 | |
| 1 | Forgotten Americans Committee | 1971-1972; undated | |
| 1 | Form Letters | undated | |
| 7 | "Hearing on Problems of Prisoners of War and their Families" booklet | 1970 | |
| 7 | "Have A Heart Hanoi" Stickers | undated | |
| 9 | Have you Forgotten Them? How Can You Help?" Poster | undated | |
| 7 | "Help 1700 Men POW's-MIA's" Bumper Sticker | undated | |
| 2 | International Red Cross | 1963-1972 | |
| 7 | Mail Campaign Addresses | undated | |
| 8 | Mail Campaign Instruction Sheet | undated | |
| 2 | Mailing Lists | undated | |
| 2 | Miscellaneous | undated | |
| 8 | Miscellaneous Mail Campaign Items | undated | |
| 8 | Miscellaneous Stickers | undated | |
| 8 | "Mother and Father and a Empty Mailbox" Postcard | undated | |
| 2 | National Committee for Responsible Patriotism | undated | |
| 5-6 | National League of Families of American Prisoners & Missing in Southeast Asia | 1970-1973 | |
| 8-9 | Newspapers | 1970-1972; undated | |
| 8 and Digital | ahcdm_05497_001 | Oral History: Theodore "Ted" Gostas (audio and transcripts) | November 6, 2020 |
| 8 | “Our Prisoners Need Your Help! Free Them From Red Barbarism” pamphlets | undated | |
| 2 | Petitions | 1970-1971; undated | |
| 8 | POW-MIA Campaign Buttons | undated | |
| 3 | POW/MIA International | 1971-1973; undated | |
| 3 | POW/MIA Material on Major T. Gostas | 1970-1971 | |
| 3 | POW/MIA Schloarship Material | 1971-1972; undated | |
| 8 | “POW * MIA You Are Not Forgotten” Bumper Sticker | undated | |
| 8 | "POWs Never Have A Nice Day" Bumper Stickers | undated | |
| 8 | "Pray for Our P.O.W.'s" Forgotten Americans Committee Bumper Sticker | undated | |
| 3 | Returned POW/MIA Material | 1973-1974; undated | |
| 3 | Rescue Line | undated | |
| 3 | United We Stand | undated | |
| 3 | Voices in Vital America | 1971-1973 | |
| 3 | Veterans of Foreign Wars | 1970-1971 | |
| 8 | "Welcome Home POWs" Viva-Voices in Vital America Bumper Sticker | undated | |
| 8 | Wyoming Cares POW-MIA Pamphlet | undated | |
| 8 | "Wyoming's 9 POWs/MIAs- Don't Leave Us!" Pamphlet | undated | |
| 9 | "Wyoming's 10 POWs/MIAs- Don't Leave Us" Posters | undated | |
| 8 | “You Can Help 1500 American POW’s- MIA’s- Write Your Personal Concern for them to-“ Address Stickers | undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Political activists -- Wyoming.
- Prisoners of war -- Family relationships.
- Prisoners of war -- United States.
- Prisoners of war -- Vietnam.
- Prisoners of war -- Wyoming.
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Prisoners and prisons, North Vietnamese.
Personal Names
- Gostas, Theodore William.
- Gostas, Theodore, 1938-
Corporate Names
- Conference of Government Experts on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts.
- National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia.
- Wyoming Cares POW-MIA.
Geographical Names
- Sheridan (Wyo.) -- History.
- Wyoming -- History -- 1946-1999.
Occupations
- Political activists.
Processed by Brittany Heye
2023
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
