Thomas Neill Papers, 1892-1937

Thomas Neill (1861-1938) was born in Ireland and emigrated to the United States in 1879. He worked first as a laborer in various jobs, and then studied law in Indiana, where he was admitted to the bar. In 1886 Neill married Ada Marion Allen, after meeting her in the Dakota Territory where he was involved in a newspaper venture. They had three children: Roscoe, Ruth, and Royal.

The Neills relocated to Pullman in 1888. Neill established the Pullman Herald newspaper in the same year. He was very active in the newly incorporated town, becoming particularly involved in supporting civic improvements and establishing educational institutions, including what is now Washington State University. Neill Hall on the WSU Pullman campus is named in his honor.

He served as Superior Court judge for Whitman County from 1910 to 1912.

Judge Neill was interested in documenting the early history of Pullman, and published a pamphlet, Incidents in the Early History of Pullman and the State College of Washington, in 1922. A later edition of the pamphlet, published in 1977, includes a brief biography of Neill written by Lawrence R. Stark.