Thomas P. Thompson Papers, 1896-1957

Collection Overview

Title: Thomas P. Thompson Papers, 1896-1957

ID: 001/01/MSS 0000-234

Creator: Thompson, Thomas P. (1876-1957)

Extent: 11.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Arranged generally in original order by major topic and date.

Date Acquired: 00/00/0000

Languages: English [eng]

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Primarily 1920s-1930s correspondence, reports, and other records from Thomas P. Thompson's tenure as City Manager for the City of Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia. This collection also includes records from Thompson's business and civic activities, personal correspondence, photographs, and other miscellaneous materials from the early to mid-20th century.

Biographical Note

Thomas P. Thompson (1876-1957) was a prominent Norfolk, Virginia businessman and community leader. He served as Norfolk City Manager from 1933-1938, where he led infrastructure improvement programs, organized plans to address the city's slum areas (these efforts led to the creation of the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority), and helped develop the city's Botanical Gardens. From the 1920s to 1950s, he was partner in the engineering and architecture firm Neff and Thompson, which designed many notable buildings in the local area, including Maury High School, the Monticello Arcade, and the Cavalier Hotel. His civic work included representing Norfolk on the Virginia State Chamber of Commerce, and serving as vice chair of the Elizabeth River Tunnel Commission.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions: This collection is open to all researchers.

Use Restrictions: The status of copyright for these materials is governed by Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U. S. C.). Copyright restrictions may apply.

Acquisition Source: Unknown

Related Materials:

Thomas P. Thompson Papers, MS170, Georgia Tech Library.

https://finding-aids.library.gatech.edu/repositories/2/resources/129

Preferred Citation: Thomas P. Thompson Papers, MSS 0000-234, Sargeant Memorial Collection, Norfolk Public Library, Norfolk, Virginia.

Processing Information: Processed in February 2020.

Box and Folder Listing

Box 1

Folder 1: City Manager correspondence, 1922-1936
Folder 2: City Manager correspondence, 1937
Folder 3: City Manager correspondence, 1938
Folder 4: City Manager correspondence, undated
Folder 5: City Manager, pollution study, 1934: Focuses on water pollution in area rivers.
Folder 6: City Manager, annual report, 1935

Box 2

Folder 1: City Manager, slum clearance study, 1937 March 18
Folder 2: City Manager, miscellaneous studies and reports, 1936-1938
Folder 3: City Manager, financial materials and correspondence, 1933-1936
Folder 4: City Manager, taxation records, 1936-1938
Folder 5: City Manager, reports on budgets and finances, 1936-1938
Folder 6: City Manager, miscellaneous accounting reports, 1922-1936
Folder 7: City Manager, statements and clippings, circa 1936

Box 3

Folder 1: Neff and Thompson, correspondence, 1913-1952
Folder 2: Neff and Thompson, Tidewater Construction Corporation book, 1952
Folder 3: Neff and Thompson, reports, 1908 and 1938: Includes two reports: Monticello Arcade specifications and Cavalier Hotel Corporation.
Folder 4: The Hampton Roads Maritime Exchange, correspondence, circa 1920s: Thompson was a member of the Exchange.
Folder 5: The Hampton Roads Maritime Exchange, reports, 1923-1938
Folder 6: The Hampton Roads Maritime Exchange, members list, 1924
Folder 7: The Hampton Roads Maritime Exchange, vessel records, 1924
Folder 8: The Hampton Roads Maritime Exchange, summary of import-exports, 1922-1924

Box 4

Folder 1: Virginia State Chamber of Commerce, correspondence, 1927-1929: Thompson served on the Chamber's Board of Directors.
Folder 2: Virginia State Chamber of Commerce, correspondence, 1930-1931
Folder 3: Virginia State Chamber of Commerce, correspondence, undated
Folder 4: Virginia State Chamber of Commerce, miscellaneous records, circa 1924-1930
Folder 5: Elizabeth River Tunnel Commission, miscellaneous documents, circa 1950-1954: Thompson served as Vice Chairman of the Commission.

Box 5

Folder 1: Elizabeth River Tunnel Commission, studies, 1947 and 1950
Folder 2: Miscellaneous correspondence, 1896-1910
Folder 3: Miscellaneous correspondence, 1911
Folder 4: Miscellaneous correspondence, 1911-1912
Folder 5: Miscellaneous correspondence, 1912-1917

Box 6

Folder 1: Miscellaneous correspondence, 1920-1933
Folder 2: Miscellaneous correspondence, 1934-1937
Folder 3: Miscellaneous correspondence, 1937
Folder 4: Miscellaneous correspondence, 1937-1938

Box 7

Folder 1: Miscellaneous correspondence, 1942-1957
Folder 2: Miscellaneous cards and notes, undated
Folder 3: Miscellaneous correspondence, dates illegible
Folder 4: Financial documents, 1903-1924
Folder 5: Financial documents, 1925-1930
Folder 6: Financial documents, 1931-1933

Box 8

Folder 1: Financial documents, 1934-1937
Folder 2: Financial documents, miscellaneous dates
Folder 3: Engineering-related documents, miscellaneous dates: Some may include graduate school work.
Folder 4: Financial documents, miscellaneous dates
Folder 5: Country club activities, miscellaneous dates: Includes brochures on skeet shooting events.

Box 9

Folder 1: Various notebooks, miscellaneous dates: Includes 5 small notebooks.
Folder 2: Various materials, miscellaneous dates: Includes correspondence, household records, and other miscellaneous materials.
Folder 3: Various materials, miscellaneous dates
Folder 4: Various materials, miscellaneous dates
Folder 5: Various materials, miscellaneous dates
Folder 6: Military service records, circa 1898-1902
Folder 7: Charity-related records, 1941-1946

Box 10

Folder 1: Photographs, miscellaneous dates
Folder 2: Photographs, miscellaneous dates
Folder 3: Photographs, miscellaneous dates

Box 11

Item 1: Color slides, undated: Includes approximately 100 photo slides of unidentified people and places.

Drawer x

Folder 1

Item 1: Oversized photographs, undated: Three group photos, possibly from Thompson's undergraduate time at Georgia Tech.

Folder 2

Item 1: Certificates, 1944, 1954: Includes certificates for Thompson's work as a professional engineer and his participation on the Elizabeth River Tunnel Commission.

Folder 3

Item 1: Cosmopolitan Club citation, 1950

Folder 4

Item 1: Professional engineer certification, 1921

Folder 5

Item 1: Advertising accounts, undated

Folder 6

Item 1: Resolution of appreciation from the City of Norfolk, 1938: For Thompson's work as City Manager.