AHJ_ah05497 Inventory of the Johanna Gostas POW/MIA papers, 1963-2020 Gostas (Johanna) POW/MIA papers Processed by Brittany Heye University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
2023

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Ann Mulfort 2013 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Gostas, Johanna Johanna Gostas POW/MIA papers 1963-2020 05497 3.70 cubic ft. (9 boxes) + 3.48 GB University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English 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. Biography of Johanna Gostas

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.

 Scope and Content

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.

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

 Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

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There are no known other archival collections created by Johanna Gostas at the date of processing.

This material was received from Johanna Gostas in 1974 and Theodore "Ted" W. Gostas in 2023.

The collection was processed by Brittany Heye in September 2023 and updated by Jamie J. Greene in November 2024.

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

 Existence and Location of Copies

Digital reproductions of select material from this collection are available at https://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu/luna/servlet/uwydbuwy~209~209.

 Access Terms Gostas, Theodore William. Gostas, Theodore, 1938- National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia. Wyoming Cares POW-MIA. Conference of Government Experts on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts. Prisoners of war -- United States. Prisoners of war -- Vietnam. Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Prisoners and prisons, North Vietnamese. Prisoners of war -- Family relationships. Prisoners of war -- Wyoming. Political activists -- Wyoming. Wyoming -- History -- 1946-1999. Sheridan (Wyo.) -- History. Political activists. <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Wyoming Politics, Government, and Law Military Civic Activism 1American Legionundated 7“American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia, 1971: Hearings Before the Subcommittee on National Security Policy and Scientific Developments”April 1971 8Art: Drawings by Theodore "Ted" Gostas2003-2020 1Cares for POW/MIA (other states)1970-1972; undated 1Cares for POW/MIA (Wyoming)1970-1972; undated 7“Communist Treatment of Prisoners of War: A Historical Survey” Booklet1972 1Concerns for Prisoners of War, Inc.1971; undated 1Congressional Material1969-1971 4Correspondence1969-1972 1Disabled American Veterans1970; undated 7“Don’t Let Them Be Forgotten- POWs-MIAs” by Wyoming Cares Bumper Stickerundated 7“Don’t Let Them Be Forgotten- POWs-MIAs” Mini Bumper Stickerundated 7“Don’t Let Them Be Forgotten- POWs-MIAs” Bumper Stickerundated 7"Don't You Let 1600 American Prisoners of War & Missing In Action Be Forgotten" Address Stickersundated 7“Do You Remember Them? American Prisoners & Missing in S.E.A.” flyerundated 7"Federal Benefits…for Veterans and Dependents" bookletMarch 1971 1Forgotten Americans Committee1971-1972; undated 1Form Lettersundated 7"Hearing on Problems of Prisoners of War and their Families" booklet1970 7"Have A Heart Hanoi" Stickersundated 9Have you Forgotten Them? How Can You Help?" Posterundated 7"Help 1700 Men POW's-MIA's" Bumper Stickerundated 2International Red Cross1963-1972 7Mail Campaign Addressesundated 8Mail Campaign Instruction Sheetundated 2Mailing Listsundated 2Miscellaneousundated 8Miscellaneous Mail Campaign Itemsundated 8Miscellaneous Stickersundated 8"Mother and Father and a Empty Mailbox" Postcardundated 2National Committee for Responsible Patriotismundated 5-6National League of Families of American Prisoners & Missing in Southeast Asia1970-1973 8-9Newspapers1970-1972; undated 8 and Digitalahcdm_05497_001Oral History: Theodore "Ted" Gostas (audio and transcripts)November 6, 2020 8“Our Prisoners Need Your Help! Free Them From Red Barbarism” pamphletsundated 2Petitions1970-1971; undated 8POW-MIA Campaign Buttonsundated 3POW/MIA International1971-1973; undated 3POW/MIA Material on Major T. Gostas1970-1971 3POW/MIA Scholarship Material1971-1972; undated 8“POW * MIA You Are Not Forgotten” Bumper Stickerundated 8"POWs Never Have A Nice Day" Bumper Stickersundated 8"Pray for Our P.O.W.'s" Forgotten Americans Committee Bumper Stickerundated 3Returned POW/MIA Material1973-1974; undated 3Rescue Lineundated 3United We Standundated 3Voices in Vital America1971-1973 3Veterans of Foreign Wars1970-1971 8"Welcome Home POWs" Viva-Voices in Vital America Bumper Stickerundated 8Wyoming Cares POW-MIA Pamphletundated 8"Wyoming's 9 POWs/MIAs- Don't Leave Us!" pamphletundated 9"Wyoming's 10 POWs/MIAs- Don't Leave Us" postersundated 8“You Can Help 1500 American POW’s- MIA’s- Write Your Personal Concern for them to-“ Address Stickersundated