Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Erwin Thompson Papers, circa 1950-1998
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Thompson, Erwin
- Title
- Erwin Thompson Papers
- Dates
- circa 1950-1998 (inclusive)19501998
- Quantity
- 5.0 linear feet, (4 record cartons, 3 manuscript boxes)
- Collection Number
- WCMss.443
- Summary
- The Erwin Thompson papers collection consists most notably of research material for his book "Shallow Grave at Waiilatpu," notes, photographs, and diaries. This collection, which dates from 1950 to 1998, also contains maps and other ephemera related to his published works.
- Repository
-
Whitman College and Northwest Archives
Whitman College and Northwest Archives
Penrose Library, Room 130
345 Boyer Avenue
Walla Walla, WA
99362
Telephone: 5095275922
Fax: 5095264785
archives@whitman.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Erwin N. Thompson, born 18 August 1926 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was a historian and author with an interest in Pacific Northwest history. He served in both the Royal Canadian Navy and the United States Army, and was sent to Okinawa, Japan as part of the postwar occupation forces. In 1960, he graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles with a degree in history, subsequently becoming the head park historian at the Whitman Mission National Monument near Walla Walla, Washington. His book "Shallow Grave at Waiilatpu: The Sagers' West," which documents the Sager family's circa 1843-1846 migration to Oregon territory and their deaths in the Whitman Incident, was published in 1969 to general acclaim. He died in Jefferson, Colorado, on June 15, 1998, at the age of 71.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Erwin Thompson papers houses the personal and research files of Erwin Thompson. This collection, dating from 1950 to 1998, consists most notably of research material for his book "Shallow Grave at Waiilatpu", including correspondence, maps, notes, photographs, diaries, Whitman Mission and Nez Perce information, primary source material, and manuscripts.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Personal Names
- Whitman, Marcus
- Whitman, Narcissa Prentiss