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Thompson Family Papers, 1797-2013

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Thompson, Thomas G. -- (Thomas Gordon), -- 1888-1961.; Thompson, Harriet G. -- (Harriet Galbraith), -- 1893-1951.; Thompson, Harriet, -- 1931-
Title
Thompson Family Papers
Dates
1797-2013 (inclusive)
1900-1968 (bulk)
Quantity
13.5 linear feet
Collection Number
XOE_CPNWS0244Thompson
Summary
The Thompson Family Papers document three generations of Thompson family members, providing insight into life on the San Juan Islands during the first half of the twentieth century, as well as first hand accounts of family experience during World War II. The papers document aspects of the career of former University of Washington chemistry professor, Thomas G. Thompson, who coordinated the establishment of the university's Oceanographic Laboratories. Additionally, the collection also refers to June and Farrar Burn, long-time friends of the Thompson family.
Repository
Western Washington University, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Archives Building
808 25th St.
Bellingham, WA
98225
Telephone: (360) 650-7534
cpnws@wwu.edu
Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions on access. There are some restrictions on use - contact repository for details.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Thomas G. (Thomas Gordon) Thompson was born November 28, 1888 on Staten Island, New York, son of John Haslam Thompson and Mary Elizabeth Langdon Thompson. The Thompson family moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1894. After graduating high school in 1906, Thomas moved to Torrington, Connecticut, where he was employed in the chemistry lab of a manufacturing plant. The rest of his family followed him to Torrington where his brother, Jack, came to work for the Torrington Register. Thomas remained at the manufacturing plant until 1911, at which time he was given a Carnegie scholarship. The award allowed him to attend Clark University, a three-year college in Worchester, Massachusetts.

In 1914, Thomas moved to Seattle to pursue graduate studies in the Chemistry Department at the University of Washington. He received a Master's of Science in 1915 and the university awarded him a Doctorate in Chemistry in 1918. He continued to teach chemistry at the university and, as time progressed, he became more exclusively concerned with oceanographic issues. In 1930, Thomas coordinated the formal establishment of the University of Washington Oceanographic Laboratories.

Thomas G. Thompson served twice in the United States Army. During World War I, he was engaged in chemical warfare research for the United States Army. At the beginning of World War II, he worked at Stanford University's Edgewood Arsenal, and also headed a War Department Civilian Defense School in Seattle. From 1943-1945, Thompson served as a lieutenant colonel in the Chemical Warfare Service.

Harriet G. (Harriet Galbraith) Thompson was born on February 3, 1893, in Winnipeg, Canada, daughter of Edward Galbraith and Mary Moore Galbraith. While Harriet was a little girl, the Galbraith family homesteaded on Bowen Island, British Columbia. Harriet received her nursing certificate from the Royal Columbia Teaching Hospital in 1911. In addition to continuing work at the hospital, she traveled to Alaska and other northwest regions to practice nursing. In 1919 Harriet enrolled in the University of Washington, graduating in 1923.

Thomas and Harriet met at the University of Washington where Harriet was a student and Thomas was a professor of chemistry. The two married on June 27, 1922. During World War II, while Thomas was active with the War Department in the Civilian Defense Corps, Harriet worked for the American National Red Cross as head instructor for the Nurses' Aides program in Seattle.

Thomas and Harriet had three children: Thomas Jr., Jack, and Harriet. Thomas Jr. and Jack followed their father into the army, having been drafted in 1943. For the duration of the war Thomas Jr. was stationed in Iran while Jack was in France and Germany. During the war, young Harriet remained with her mother in Seattle, and occasionally visited June Burn at the Burn family cabin on Waldron Island. During the last years of the war the Thompson family purchased McConnell Island, part of the San Juan Islands in Washington State.

Harriet G. Thompson died in 1951 and Thomas retired from the University of Washington the same year. He remarried Isabelle Costigan in 1954 and, in the first year of their marriage, legally adopted her two small sons, Charles and Gary. Thomas G. Thompson passed away on August 12, 1961.

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Content Description

The Thompson Family Papers span the dates 1797-2007, with the bulk of materials ranging from 1900 to 1965. The collection contains individual and family correspondence, personal and family papers, photographs, publications, and an oral history. The papers document three generations of Thompson family members, providing insight into life on the San Juan Islands during the first half of the twentieth century and first hand accounts of family experiences during World War II. The collection documents the career of Thomas G. (Thomas Gordon) Thompson, who coordinated the establishment of the University of Washington's Oceanographic Laboratories. The collection also contains records pertaining to June and Farrar Burn, long-time friends of the Thompson family.

Correspondence dates from circa 1900-1968 and contains letters to and from various members of the Thompson family, their relatives, friends, and colleagues. Much of the correspondence comprises letters written by the family to each other during World War II. This correspondence provides rich detail into the life and military experiences of a Seattle family during the war, including accounts of air raid drills coordinated by Thomas G. Thompson at a baseball field in Seattle. The collection also contains a number of letters between members of the Thompson family and June Burn.

Personal papers span the dates 1797-2006 with the bulk of materials dating from 1906-1965. Thomas G. Thompson's papers include documents from his early childhood and education, personal journals, and records reflecting his professional career and travels. The collection contains a number of stamps and empty envelopes possessing philatelic value that Thomas collected and saved. General family papers include Thompson family property and financial records, some of which document the family's purchase and sale of McConnell Island, part of the San Juan Islands in Washington State. General family papers contain poems and other writings by various Thompson family members.

Photographs are dated circa 1900s-1950, and mostly depict Harriet G. and Thomas G. Thompson. These images document Harriet and Thomas' early lives and education, as well as other significant events and members of both the Thompson and Galbraith families. The collection includes images of Harriet G. Thompson and June Burn on Waldron Island and Johns Island.

Publications dated 1918-1997 include articles about Thomas G. Thompson and his career, and materials regarding long-time family friends June and Farrar Burn. The publications also include pamphlets, newspaper articles, and one book.

The oral history was obtained through a 2007 interview with the donor of the collection, Harriet Thompson (daughter of Thomas G. and Harriet G. Thompson). In the interview, Harriet reflects on her childhood in the Pacific Northwest. She tells of her mother's work as an instructor with the American National Red Cross Nurses' Aides program, and her father's involvement with the Chemical Warfare and Civilian Defense Departments during World War II. Harriet describes air raid drills coordinated by her father at a baseball stadium in downtown Seattle. The oral history also contains anecdotes about the Burn family, with whom Harriet spent time as a child.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[item/date], Thompson Family Papers, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.

Restrictions on Use

Letters written by Jack Thompson are subject to a publication/use restriction until 2027.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The Thompson Family Papers are organized according to the following series and sub-series arrangement

  • Series I: Correspondence, circa 1900-1968
    • Sub-series 1: Individual correspondence, circa 1906-1967
    • Sub-series 2: Family correspondence, circa 1920-1949
  • Series II: Personal and Family papers, 1797-2006, bulk 1906-1965
    • Sub-seris 1: Thomas G. (Thomas Gordon) Thompson papers, 1979-2006, bulk 1906-1949
    • Sub-series 2: Thompson family papers, circa 1911-1965
  • Series III: Photographs, 1900s-1950
  • Series IV: Publications, 1918-1997
  • Series V: Oral History, 2007

Acquisition Information

The collection was transferred directly via deed of gift by the donor, Harriet Thompson, in 2007.

Processing Note

Duplicates and non-archival materials were removed from the collection.

Processing Note

To learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see the following Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Finding aid written by Roz Koester
2007

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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