Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Edward B. Thomas papers, 1923-1984
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Thomas, Edward B., 1920-1984
- Title
- Edward B. Thomas papers
- Dates
- 1923-1984 (inclusive)19231984
- Quantity
- 16.25 cubic feet (14 boxes plus 1 sound cassette, 1 folder, 1 flat slide box)
- Collection Number
- 2863
- Summary
- Museum administrator of Seattle, Washington
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Open to all users.
Some material stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Edward B. Thomas (1920-1984) was a curator, arts educator, and administrator at the Seattle Art Museum (1951-1967). He was born in Cosmopolis, Washington, in 1920 and earned a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Washington. He joined the staff of the Seattle Art Museum in 1951 as Curator of Education and subsequently served as Education Director (1954-1961), Assistant Director (1961-1963), and Associate Director (1963-1967). He resigned in 1967 but continued to be involved with the museum as a Trustee (1970-82) and as a member of several museum committees until his death in 1984. He was related, by marriage, to museum director Richard Fuller (their wives were sisters). A 1967 article in Seattle Magazine suggested that Thomas was expected to succeed Fuller as director but resigned in 1967 due to tensions with him.
After leaving the staff of the Seattle Art Museum, Thomas joined the faculty of Western Washington College in Bellingham (now Western Washington University) as an arts lecturer. He was later appointed associate professor of art history at Western. He also taught for many years at Cornish School (now Cornish College of the Arts) in Seattle. Between 1955 and 1965, Thomas hosted a weekly television show, “Community Workshop,” on KING-TV, in which he interviewed art personalities and lectured on art.
Thomas was curator of a major retrospective exhibit of the painter Mark Tobey in 1959, which concentrated on Tobey in relation to the Northwest. He was also curator of a 1963 exhibition, “Tobey and the Seattle Public Market,” which was mounted at the Seattle Art Museum but later circulated to the Museum of Modern Art.
During World War II, Thomas served in General Patton’s Third Army and participated in five campaigns, including the Normandy invasion. He was awarded two bronze stars.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Tape recorded interview, correspondence, notes, writings, diaries, covers, exhibition catalog, lecture notes, exhibition files, photographs, clippings and other related materials.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Organized into 5 accessions.
- Accession No. 2863-001, Edward B. Thomas interview, 1951-1977
- Accession No. 2863-002, Edward B. Thomas papers, 1923-1984
- Accession No. 2863-003, Edward B. Thomas papers, 1939-1984
- Accession No. 2863-004, Edward B. Thomas papers, 1941-1963
- Accession No. 2863-005, Edward B. Thomas papers, 1958-1963
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Accession No. 2863-001: Edward B. Thomas interview, 1951-1977Return to Top
Scope and Content: Tape recorded interview conducted by Sue Ragen on 12 Dec 1977; transcript covering dates 1951-1977; resume of Edward Thomas. Subjects include Thomas’ biography, Richard Fuller, museum education, and Thomas’ classroom television series “Man’s Story.”
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: Donated by E. Thomas, 12/12/1977.
Accession No. 2863-002: Edward B. Thomas papers, 1923-1984Return to Top
Scope and Content: Correspondence, notes, writings, lecture notes, exhibition files, photographs, and clippings from the period 1923-84 (bulk 1950-80). The bulk of the papers were created during Thomas’ career as an administrator, educator, and curator at the Seattle Art Museum (1951-67). Also included are papers documenting Thomas’ role as an arts educator in his weekly television show, “Community Workshop” (1955-65), his teaching career at the Cornish Institute and Western Washington University, and his additional involvement with the Seattle Art Museum and other arts organizations from the 1950s to the early 1980s. The exhibition series includes material from two retrospective exhibitions, one in 1959 and another in 1963, of the painter Mark Tobey. (See the inventory for accession 2863-2 for a list of other exhibition files in the collection). Correspondents include the Museum of Modern Art.
Organization of this accession generally follows Thomas’ career at the Seattle Art Museum, with groupings for his tenure as Education Director, Assistant Director, Associate Director, and Trustee (1970-82). Additional groupsings document Thomas’ work on various museum committees and with other regional and national arts organizations, mostly in the 1960s and 1970s, including the Museum of Modern Art’s National Committee on Art Education (1964-65). Personal papers (1923-1984, bulk 1933-54) contains correspondence, writings, class notes, sketches and cartoons, photographs, clippings, and ephemera. This material is similar in subject to personal papers in accession 2868-3.
Material regarding major exhibitions that took place during Thomas’ tenure at the Seattle Art Museum has been placed in the grouping of the directorship he held at the time of each exhibition. Some records in the Education Director grouping, however, contain material dated later than 1961. Two subject series for Mark Tobey were placed within the grouping Seattle Art Museum, Education in order to keep the bulk of the Tobey material together and in the same grouping as the major Tobey retrospective of 1959. Similarly, the record series Subject Series/Background Material/Project and Planning Files has been placed in the Education Director grouping, although some items have dates much later than 1961. This sprawling series contains mostly undated material. It is possible that some of the folders are lecture notes intended for use at Western Washington University or for the television program at KING, but without dates or clearer labeling this is purely conjecture. It is also possible that some notes have been placed in the WWU and KING-TV groupings in error. Users should keep in mind that the telegraphic style of the notes made them very difficult to identify; all possibilities should be examined.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Jeff Butcher, 1/9/1985.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Accession | ||
1 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director
Correspondence |
1963 |
1 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director Notes |
undated |
1 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director
Writings |
undated |
1 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director Published
Writings of Edward Thomas |
1953-1962 |
1 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director Museum Public
Relations |
1953-1965 |
1 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director Fact Sheets for
Exhibitions |
1957-1961 |
1-2 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Mark Tobey: A
Retrospective Exhibition from Northwest Collections |
1959 |
3 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Illuminations
Exhibition |
1957-1958 |
3 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Century 21
Exhibition |
1961-1962 |
3 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Kress
Collection Exhibition |
1952-1961 |
3 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Van Gogh
Exhibition |
undated |
3 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Thai Show
Exhibition |
1962 |
3 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Ambrose
Patterson Exhibition |
1961 |
3 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Walter Isaacs
Exhibition |
1961 |
3 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Life of Christ
Exhibition |
undated |
3 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Walter P.
Chrysler Jr. Exhibition |
undated |
3 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Masterpieces of
Korean Art Exhibition |
undated |
3 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Treasures of
Japan Exhibition |
undated |
3 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Masterpieces of
Painting from the Past Exhibition |
undated |
3 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Conferences and
Conventions |
1953-1960 |
3 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Guild
Lectures |
1959-1960 |
3 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Address
Book |
undated |
3-4 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director -
Clippings |
1955-1961 |
4 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Mark
Tobey |
1955-1978 |
4 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Seattle Art
Museum and Tobey Estate |
1977-1978 |
4 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Tour Techniques
for Docents |
1955 |
4 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - Docent
Bibliographies |
1957 |
4-6 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Education Director - subject
series/background material/project and planning files
Scope and Content: "Notes in these folders are often in a telegraphic style, making
it difficult to be sure whether they are notes for lectures, background
material for art exhibits, or information being compiled for future projects.
Most files are not dated."
|
1950-1977 |
6 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Assistant Director
Correspondence |
1962-1963 |
6 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Assistant Director
Writings |
1963 |
6 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Assistant Director Guild
Lectures |
1962-1963 |
6 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Assistant Director Conferences and
Conventions |
1962 |
7 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Associate Director
Correspondence |
1963-1967 |
7 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Associate Director Published
Writings of Edward Thomas |
1965 |
7 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Associate Director Guild
Lectures |
1963-1964 |
7 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Associate Director - Tobey and the
Seattle Public Market Exhibition |
1963 |
7 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Associate Director - An Exchange
Exhibition between the Sister Cities, Seattle and Kobe |
1966 |
7 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Associate Director - Patrons of
Northwest Civic, Cultural and Charitable Organizations (PONCHO) |
1963-1965 |
7 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Board of Trustees |
1970-1982 |
7 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Program and Education
Committee |
1951-1984 |
8 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Collection Committee |
1976-1978 |
8 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Buildings and Grounds
Committee |
1980 |
8 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Asian Art Council |
1974-1983 |
8 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Pacific Northwest Arts
Council |
1977 |
8 | 2863-002 | Seattle Art Museum, Decorative Arts Council |
1980-1982 |
8 | 2863-002 | Seattle, Century 21 Exposition, 1962. Cultural Arts
Advisory board |
1957-1962 |
8 | 2863-002 | Fine Arts, Inc. |
1962-1964 |
8 | 2863-002 | Pacific Arts Association |
1962-1963 |
8 | 2863-002 | Western Museums League |
1962-1963 |
8 | 2863-002 | American Association of Museums |
1962-1966 |
8 | 2863-002 | National Art Education Association |
1959-1965 |
8 | 2863-002 | Museum of Modern Art, National Committee on Art
Education |
1964-1965 |
8 | 2863-002 | King Broadcasting Company, Seattle. KING-TV. "Community
Workshop."
Scope and Content: Thomas appeared weekly on this show for about eleven years.
|
1955-1965 |
8 | 2863-002 | Cornish Institute
Scope and Content: Thomas was a faculty member.
|
1953-1978 |
8-9 | 2863-002 | Washington, Western Washington University, Bellingham -
Lecture Notes, Memoranda
Scope and Content: Thomas was a faculty member.
|
1952-1980 |
9 | 2863-002 | Seattle, Housing Authority, Advisory Committee on
Housing for the Elderly, Sub-Committee on Art for Interior and Exterior
Areas |
1961-1966 |
10 | 2863-002 | Thomas, Edward B. Biographical Features |
1984 |
10 | 2863-002 | Thomas, Edward B. Correspondence |
1933-1948 |
11 | 2863-002 | Thomas, Edward B. Writings |
1939-1944 |
11 | 2863-002 | Thomas, Edward B. Class Notes |
1939-1953 |
11 | 2863-002 | Thomas, Edward B. Sketches and Cartoons |
undated |
11 | 2863-002 | Thomas, Edward B. Engagement Calendars |
1923-1948 |
11 | 2863-002 | Thomas, Edward B. High School Yearbooks |
1925-1939 |
11 | 2863-002 | Thomas, Edward B. - Harry Hartman's Lantern
newsletters |
1940-1948 |
11 | 2863-002 | Thomas, Edward B. - Growing Library
newsletter |
1938 |
11 | 2863-002 | Thomas, Edward B. Photographs |
1938-1948 |
11 | 2863-002 | Thomas, Edward B. Clippings |
1939-1944 |
11 | 2863-002 | Thomas, Edward B. Ephemera |
1929-1954 |
Accession No. 2863-003: Edward B. Thomas papers, 1939-1984Return to Top
Scope and Content: Correspondence, photographs, diaries, clippings and other records series from the period 1939-84. It is divided into five groupings: Personal Papers (1940-1984), Seattle Art Museum (1954-75), Western Washington University (1967-83), American Association of Museums (1967), and 1500 42nd Avenue East, Seattle Vigilance Committee (1966-84). Personal papers are divided into several series including correspondence and photographs. Subject series document Thomas’ trip to Europe in 1966 and his “Japan 1956” University of Washington Extension Lecture. This grouping also includes drawings by Thomas, student work, and student class notes, as well as photographs from World War II.
Material in the grouping of Seattle Art Museum (approximately .42 cubic feet) has not been organized at the series level, but includes museum and personal correspondence, articles Thomas wrote, a Gemberling exhibit file from 1962, and miscellaneous notes. Papers in Western Washington University grouping include correspondence regarding Thomas’ employment there, lecture notes, several files marked sabbatical, personal correspondence, and teaching evaluations. Papers in the American Association of Museums grouping document Thomas’ aborted 1967 campaign for Director of the American Association of Museums. The Vigilance Committee grouping consists of a folder of correspondence from 1975-84 pertaining to efforts to improve security in Thomas’ neighborhood.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Jeff Butcher, 7/21/1987.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Accession | ||
1 | 2863-003 | Biographical Features |
1963-1967 |
1 | 2863-003 | Incoming Letters |
1940-1984 |
1 | 2863-003 | Outgoing Letters |
1944-1957 |
1 | 2863-003 | General Correspondence |
1942-1984 |
1 | 2863-003 | Diary |
1949 |
1 | 2863-003 | Appointment Calendars |
1966-1981 |
1 | 2863-003 | Address Books |
1943 |
1 | 2863-003 | Passports |
1948-1977 |
1 | 2863-003 | Drawings |
1943-1945 |
1 | 2863-003 | Student Work |
1946 |
1 | 2863-003 | Student Class Notes |
undated |
1 | 2863-003 | Diplomas |
1951 |
1 | 2863-003 | Notes |
1975 |
1 | 2863-003 | World War II photographs |
undated |
1 | 2863-003 | Reunion photographs |
1964-1965 |
1 | 2863-003 | Miscellaneous photographs |
undated |
1 | 2863-003 | Itinerary for Trip to USSR |
1971 |
1 | 2863-003 | Memorabilia |
1943-1945 |
1 | 2863-003 | Clippings |
1939-1967 |
1 | 2863-003 | Ephemera |
1947 |
1 | 2863-003 | Europe Trip |
1966 |
1 | 2863-003 | "Japan 1956" UW Extension Lecture |
1956 |
2 | 2863-003 | Seattle Art Museum |
1954-1975 |
3 | 2863-003 | Washington, Western Washington University,
Bellingham |
1967-1983 |
3 | 2863-003 | American Association of Museums |
1967 |
3 | 2863-003 | 1500 42nd Avenue East, Seattle, Vigilance
Committee |
1966-1984 |
Accession No. 2863-004: Edward B. Thomas papers, 1941-1963Return to Top
Scope and Content: Biographical features, incoming letters (mostly photocopies), outgoing letters, photographs, calendars, Thomas's list of his own paintings, exhibition catalogs.
Copies of several letters of Mark Tobey are also in this accession.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Jeffrey Butcher, 4/12/1991.
Accession No. 2863-005: Edward B. Thomas papers, 1958-1963Return to Top
Scope and Content: Letters, covers, exhibition catalog.
Letters are from Mark Tobey to Edward Thomas, Richard Fuller, and Joanna Eckstein; from Fuller to Thomas to Toby; and the exhibition catalog has a short message written on it by Tobey.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Jeff Butcher, 3/24/1993.
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Personal Names
- Eckstein, Joanna, 1903-1983
- Fuller, Richard E. (Richard Eugene), 1897-1976
- Patterson, Ambrose, 1877-1966
- Thomas, Edward B., 1920-1984--Archives
- Tobey, Mark
Corporate Names
- Century 21 Exposition (1962 : Seattle, Wash.)
- Cornish School of Allied Arts (Seattle, Wash.)
- Harry Hartman, Bookseller (Firm)
- Pike Place Market (Seattle, Wash.)
- Seattle Art Museum
- Western Washington University
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Tanner, Heather (creator)
- Tanner, Robin, 1904-1988 (creator)
Corporate Names
- Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.)