English
Oregon Historical Society, Davies Family Research Library
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland, OR 97205
libreference@ohs.org
https://www.ohs.org/research-and-library/
Thompson and Teal family papers
Thompson family
Coll 168
2.75 cubic feet
5 letter-size document cases; 1 flat box (13 x 16); 1 flat box (16 x 20)
circa 1808-1993
circa 1850-1976
Papers, photographs, and memorabilia relating to the Thompson and Teal families and related families, a significant portion of which specifically concern Genevieve Thompson Smith.
Genevieve Thompson Smith (1883-1974) and Bessie Thompson Teal (1867-1943) were daughters of Oregon pioneer and politician David P. Thompson (1834-1901) and his wife, Mary Meldrum Thompson (1842-1938). Genevieve Thompson Smith was an attorney, author, and playwright who married naval commander Norman Murray Smith. Bessie Thompson Teal married Portland, Oregon attorney Joseph Nathan Teal (1858-1929), with whom she had a daughter, Ruth (1895-1955). Ruth Teal was married twice – first to Carleton W. Betts, and then to Thomas P. Durell. She had a daughter with Betts, Audrey Teal Betts (1924-1994).
Genevieve Thompson Smith was born in Portland, Oregon, on December 2, 1883. She attended Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, and then earned a law degree from the University of Oregon; she was later admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. During World War I, she worked in the Russian section of U.S. Army Intelligence, and ran the Oregon chapter of the organization Fatherless Children in France. In 1921, she married naval commander Norman Murray Smith. In addition to her career as an attorney, she was an author and playwright. She also collected books and Native American artifacts, which she donated to the Multnomah County Library and the University of Oregon, respectively. She died in May 1974.
The collection consists of papers, photographs, and memorabilia of the Thompson and Teal families, as well as related families, such as the Meldrums. A significant portion of the collection specifically concerns Genevieve Thompson Smith. Other individuals represented in the collection are: Audrey Teal Betts; Norman Murray Smith; Bessie Thompson Teal; Joseph N. Teal; Ruth Teal; David P. Thompson.
Collection is open for research.
Thompson and Teal family papers, Coll 168, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
The collection is arranged in the following series: Series 1. General family papers and memorabilia; Series 2. Individuals.
Gifts of Nancy Stryble made in 2008, 2014, and 2018 (Accessions 26529, 28360, 29262).
Artifacts were separated to the Oregon Historical Society Museum collections.
Additional papers of Genevieve Thompson Smith and David P. Thompson are designated Mss 1537, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
The bulk of Joseph N. Teal's papers are designated Mss 1381, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Additional photograph albums relating to the family of David P. Thompson are designated Album 455 and Album 456, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Records of the D. P. Thompson Company, which handled David P. Thompson's estate and properties, are designated Mss 1681, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Access to cased photographs in Box 5 is restricted for preservation reasons.
Due to fragility, letter in Box 7, Folder 1 may only be accessed under direct staff supervision.
Smith, Genevieve Thompson, 1883-1974
Meldrum family
Thompson family
Teal family
Theater
Performing Arts
Home and Family
Correspondence
Photographs
Memorabilia
Photograph albums
Teal family
General family papers and memorabilia
Series 1
circa 1808-1993
circa 1850-1958
Genealogies and histories of Meldrum, Teal, Thompson, and Manley families
circa 1900-1993
1
1
Letter from Edward Parker to David Thompson (1772-1868) of Franklin County, Pennsylvania
1808 October 2
7
1
Family papers, including letter concerning Native American land claim
1887-1953
1
2
Family memorabilia - ledger/journal of cures by James M. Ward
circa 1818
1
3
Confession of faith
1850
1
4
Issue of The Portland Spectator
1933 March 11
7
2
Family memorabilia
circa 1828-1958
1
5
Thompson family memorabilia
1899-1951
1
6
Photograph album
circa 1870-1910
2
1
Loose photographs from album
1883-circa 1920
2
2
Photograph album
1913-1919
6
Cased portrait photographs, including daguerreotype and ambrotype of David P. Thompson as a young man (10 items total)
circa 1850-1875
5
Photographs
circa 1870-1929
7
3
Photographs
1908-1929
2
3
Meldrum family photographs
circa 1870-1899
2
4
Teal family photographs
circa 1900-1945
2
5
Thompson family photographs
circa 1929-1955
2
6
Portrait photographs of David P. and Mary R. Thompson
circa 1900, circa 1915
7
4
Individuals
Series 2
1860-1976
Arranged in alphabetical order by surname.
Audrey Teal Betts - Correspondence and report cards
1930-1976
2
7
Audrey Teal Betts - Photographs
1924-1940
2
8
Genevieve Thompson Smith
Subseries 1
1911-1961
Includes photographs and publicity materials for her play "Frail Emma."
Certificates
1911-1937
7
5
Correspondence, including about Bryn Mawr reunions, and newspaper clippings
1917-1961
2
9
Magazines featuring writings by Smith
1907, 1933
2
10
Issues of magazine The Playgoer with advertisements for Smith's play "Frail Emma"
1928 September
3
1
Magazine clipping about actress in Smith's play "Frail Emma"
1928 November
7
6
Photographs
circa 1905-1940
3
2-3
Production photographs of Smith's play "Frail Emma"
circa 1928
3
4
Production photographs of Smith's play "Frail Emma"
circa 1928
7
7-8
Photograph album of travels in Europe
1937
3
5
Photographs of Norman Murray Smith and his Washington, D.C. residence, including two photographs of Audrey Teal Betts
circa 1930-1945
3
6
Bessie Thompson Teal - Correspondence
1910-1934, undated
4
1
Bessie Thompson Teal - Photographs
circa 1910-1939
4
2
Joseph Teal - Autobiography, including a photograph of damage from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906, 1924
4
3
Joseph Teal - Correspondence and death announcement
1875-1929
4
4
Ruth Teal - Memorabilia
1900-1913
4
5
Ruth Teal - Photographs
circa 1898-1912
4
6
David P. Thompson - Correspondence, business card, and newspaper clippings
1860, 1900-1950
4
7
David P. Thompson - Photographs
circa 1880-1899
4
8
Mary Relief Meldrum Thompson - Correspondence and newspaper clippings
1910-1938
4
9
Mary Relief Meldrum Thompson - Photographs
circa 1875-1925
4
10