The collection, composed entirely of photographs, offers a visual portrait of several generations of a diverse and energetic family of black Houstonians from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century. It includes images of family members at home, school, work, and play. The Photographic Identification Sheets which accompany the pictures contain additional biographic information about family members and their activities.
The collection has two parts: the photographs themselves and the Photographic Identification Sheets which specify the date, location,a nd contents of each individual picture in the collection. The ID Sheets also usually contain biographic information about those pictured, such as their birth and death dates, their profession and place of employment, and so forth. Each ID Sheet is coded with the same number as the photograph it describes, and all of them are grouped together at the beginning of the collection.
Researchers who would like to survey the collection quickly and easily should ask to see the African-American Photographic Finder's Guide, which is located in the public section of the Texas and Local History Department. It contains clear xerox copies of the photographs as well as the ID Sheets.
None.
Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the Thompson Family Collection must be obtained from the Houston Metropolitan Research Center or the appropriate copyright holder.
Thompson Family Collection. MSS 232. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library.
Donated by Chester Thompson and Exvelma Thompson, 1983.
Processed by Howard Beeth, 1983.