urn:taro:utexas.cah.00158 A Guide to the Ernest Othmer Thompson Papers, 1907-1967 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, March 2001. Finding aid written in English. October 16, 2002 Edited with XMetaL 2 by Bill Hardesty, according to instructions in Editing TARO EAD XML Finding Aids with XMetaL. Tue Jul 22 15:28:13 CDT 2003 urn:taro:utexas.cah.00158 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (20030505). October 2010 Removed James Blundell Papers, 4Ze177, which was separated into its own collection in 1989, by Laurel Rozema. October 2011 Revised by Evan Usler. Descriptive Summary Thompson, Ernest Othmer, 1892-1966 Thompson (Ernest Othmer) Papers, 1907-1967 23285446 41 ft. The University of Texas at Austin Dolph Briscoe Center for American History Correspondence, printed materials, speeches, memoranda, scrapbooks, maps, and photographs comprise the Ernest Othmer Thompson Papers, 1907-1967, documenting Thompson's career, political activities, and his military career. Materials are in English. Biographical Note

Attorney and politician Ernest Othmer Thompson (1892-1966) was born in Alvord, Texas, the son of Lewis Oliver and Flora Lee Agnes (Murray) Thompson. After graduating from the University of Texas Law School in 1917, Thompson served in World War I, and then managed the Amarillo Hotel in Amarillo, Texas. He married May Peterson in 1923 and was elected mayor of Amarillo, Texas five years later. In 1932, Thompson was appointed to the Texas Railroad Commission in which he served from 1932 to 1965. Also a member and chairman of the Interstate Oil Compact Commission (1935-1965), Thompson ran unsuccessfully for the governorship of Texas in 1938 and 1940.

Source:

Green, George N. “Thompson, Ernest Othmer.” Handbook of Texs Online. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. Accessed October 14, 2011.http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fth18.

 Scope and Contents

Correspondence, printed materials, speeches, memoranda, scrapbooks, maps, and photographs comprise the Ernest Othmer Thompson Papers, 1907-1967, documenting Thompson's career, political activities, and his military career in World War I and World War II as well as to his service in the Texas National Guard. Printed materials include newspaper clippings, campaign literature, official reports and certificates. The collection also includes memorabilia related to Thompson's first wife, May Peterson, a Metropolitan Opera singer, and a series of 39 bound volumes with an index that chronicles Thompson's professional activities from 1930 to 1957.

Photographs shed light on Thompson’s career as mayor of Amarillo (1929-1932), as railroad commissioner (1932-1965), as a member and chairman of the Interstate Oil Compact Commission (1935-1965), and as a candidate for governor against Wilbert Lee O'Daniel in 1938 and 1940. Photographs of Thompson's family include his two wives May Peterson and Myda Bivins and also consist of many friends and well-known personalities such as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Lyndon Baines Johnson, and Sam Rayburn.

 Organization

The papers are arranged chronologically into 14 series: 1. Mayoral records, Amarillo. 2. Texas Railroad Commission Records. 3. Gubernatorial campaign records. 4. Military records. 5. Personal papers. 6. Miscellaneous scrapbooks. 7. Picture history portfolio. 8. Printed material. 9. Maps. 10. Blueprints. 11. Sound recordings. 12. Memorabilia of May Peterson Thompson. 13. Photographs. 14. Paintings.

Index Terms Subjects (Persons) - Papers Blundell, James H. O'Daniel, Wilbert Lee, 1890-1969. Thompson, Ernest Othmer, 1892-1966. Thompson, May Esther. Thompson family. Subjects (Persons) - Photographs Culberson, Olin Garner, John Nance Jones, Jesse Holman Shivers, Allan Thompson, Ernest Othmer Thompson, May Peterson Thompson, Myda Bivins Thompson Family. Subjects (Organizations) - Papers Democratic Party (Tex.) Railroad Commission of Texas. Interstate Oil Compact Commission. Texas. National Guard. Subjects - Papers Droughts--Texas. Elections--Texas. Gasoline--Pipe lines Petroleum--Pipe lines Politicians--Texas. Subjects - Photographs Blackwell Ranch Dust Bowl (region) Elections Hunting and fishing Music and musicians Oil and gas Politics and politicians Texas National Guard Texas Railroad Commission U. S. Army Air Force U. S. Army - Supplies and stores Places - Papers Amarillo (Tex.)--History--Sources. Austin (Tex.)--History--Sources. Places - Photographs Amarillo, Texas Austin, Texas DeWitt County, Texas Galveston, Texas Arizona California Colorado New York Oregon Washington, D. C. Wyoming Yosemite National Park California Canada Europe Access Restrictions

Some restrictions apply. Consult archivist.

 Separated Material

Some material separated to the James H. Blundell, Jr., Papers.

 Preferred Citation

Ernest Othmer Thompson papers, 1907-1967, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

 Papers 4Ze134 Mayoral records, Amarillo: 4Ze134 Actions of City Commission, 4Ze134 Vol. 1-3, 1929-1931 4Ze135 Vol. 4-5, 1931-1932 4Ze135 Amarillo, 1932 4Ze135 Amarillo miscellany, 1929-1948 and undated. 4Ze136 Texas Railroad Commission records: 4Ze136 Correspondence, 4Ze136 1932-1939 4Ze137 1940-July 1957 4Ze138 August 1957-1965 and undated 4Ze138 Speeches, 1949-1961 and undated 4Ze139 Reports, statements, testimonies, press releases, 4Ze139 miscellany, 1936-1965 and undated 4Ze140 Fourth World Petroleum Congress, Rome, Italy, 4Ze140 June 6-15, 1965 4Ze140 Certificates and awards, 4Ze140 1932-1961 2.325/V18 1937-1964 2.116/OD1223A Certificate of Appreciation, April 1964 4Ze141 Printed material: 4Ze141 Hearings, briefs, testimonies, etc., 4Ze141 1932-1939 4Ze142 1939-1945 4Ze143 1946-1957 4Ze144 1957-1959 4Ze145 Undated 4Ze145 Reports, statistics, rules and regulations, etc., 4Ze145 1929-1937 4Ze146 1938-1939 4Ze147 1940 4Ze148 1941-1945 4Ze149 1945-1947 4Ze150 1947-1948 4Ze151 1948-1949 4Ze152 1950-1960 4Ze153 Undated 4Ze153 Campaign material, banquets, programs, miscellany, 4Ze153 1935-1964 4Ze154 Albums of professional activities, 4Ze154 1930-1935 4Ze155 1934-1945 4Ze156 1938-1945 4Ze157 1939-1940 4Ze158 1940-1943 4Ze159 1944-1947 4Ze160 1948-1951 4Ze161 1951-1955 4Ze162 1957 and undated 4Ze163 Scrapbooks: 4Ze163 Vol. 1-2, February 7, 1938 - July 30, 1939 4Ze164 Vol. 3-4, August 1939, news history of the oil field shutdown and aftermath 4Ze165 Vol. 5-7, September - October 1939 4Ze166 Vol. 8-10, November - December 1939 4Ze167 Vol. 11-13, January - February 1940 4Ze168 Vol. 14-15, March 1940 4Ze169 Vol. 16-17, April 1940 4Ze170 Vol. 18-19, May 1940 4Ze171 Second World Petroleum Congress, Paris, France, June 14-19, 1937 4Ze171 The Engineers Club of Tulsa, 1/25/1954 4Ze171 "An Oil and Gas Administrators Views on Conservation," 10/10/1957 4Ze172 1936 Re-election campaign 4Ze172 Opening of Shell's Research Center, Houston, Texas, December 1947 4Ze172 The Engineers Club of Tulsa, 1/25/1954 4Ze172 Oil Progress Week, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 10/10/1957 4N467d 1933-1956 4N48k 1934-1935 4N48l October 12-27, 1935 4N48m November, 1951 - February, 1952 4N48n 1955-1965 4N48o 10/21/59 4Ze173 Printed material: 4Ze173 Newspaper clippings, 4Ze173 1934-1939 4Ze174 1939-1964 and undated 4Ze174 Three Stars for the Colonel, by James A. Clark, 1954 2.325/V18 Panhandle Field, Texas: 2.325/V18 Gas Oil Ratio Test Data...., March 1 - April 1, 1958 2.325/V18 Index of Average Day Volumes..., 1950-1958 4Ze175 Interstate Oil Compact Commission Records: 4Ze175 Minutes, by-laws, resolutions, reports, 1935-1956. 4Ze176 Gubernatorial Campaign records: 4Ze176 1932-1940 2.325/V18 Poster: Ernest O. Thompson for Governor. 4Ze178 Military records: 4Ze178 1929 - June, 1942 4Ze179 July, 1941 - August 15, 1942 4Ze180 August 16, 1942 - 1943 4Ze181 1944-1961 and undated 4Ze181 Certificates and awards, 1917-1957 4Ze181 Speeches, 1939-1957 4Ze181 George C. Marshall Research Foundation, 1953-1958 2.325/V18 Certificates and awards, 1936-1940 4Ze182 Printed material: 4Ze182 1931-1940 4Ze183 1940-1941 4Ze184 1941-1961 and undated 4N24e Scrapbooks: 4N24e 1918-1919 4N48p 1919-1941 4N48q 10/1/1935; 1941-1945 OD1286 Blueprint: Armory building, Amarillo, Texas. 4Ze185 Personal papers: 4Ze185 Family correspondence, 6/19/1917; 1922-1966 and undated 4L851 Thompson family Bible 4Ze186 Financial and legal records, 1920-1965 4Ze186 Resolutions, 1932-1967 4Ze186 Certificates and awards, 1952-1966 and undated 4Ze186 Amarillo and Herring Hotel miscellany, undated 2.325/V18 Misc. certificates and awards, 1921-1955 and undated 4Ze187 Speeches 4Ze187 Address book 4Ze187 General correspondence, 1923-1965 and undated 4Ze188 Programs, testimonial dinners, miscellany, 1927-1955 and undated 4Ze188 Guest book, 1924-1952 4Ze188 Scrapbook, trip to Australia and New Zealand, 1956 4Ze189 Scrapbooks 4Ze189 Tribute to Mrs. Lewis Oliver Thompson, 1941. 4Ze190 Miscellaneous Scrapbooks: 4Ze190 1934-1938 4Ze191 1938-1940 4Ze192 1941-1943 4Ze193 1943-1945 4Ze194 1945-1947 4N48r 1932-1943 4N456a 2/6/1951 4N456b Legal miscellany, undated. 4N456c Picture History Portfolio, undated. 4Ze195 Printed Material: 4Ze195 Newspaper clippings, 4Ze195 1926-1965 4Ze196 1927-1966 4Ze197 1939-1965. 2.325/ Maps: OD31 World Atlas, 1943 OD31 Miscellaneous maps OD1286 Oil and gas map, Railroad Commission District Four OD1286 Browning's map of the city of Amarillo, 1962. OD1286 Blueprints: OD1286 Amarillo Park OD1286 Herring Hotel 2.325/V18 Amarillo office building 2.325/V18 Vernon Hotel - Texas. 2.325/R1-7 Sound Recordings (list available). 4Ze198 Memorabilia of May Esther Peterson Thompson: 4Ze198 Personal correspondence, 1914-1952 and undated 4Ze198 General correspondence, 1907-1951 and undated 4Ze198 Fan letters, 1921-1929 and undated 4Ze199 Bride's gift book, 1923-1924 4Ze199 Notes, calling cards, miscellany, 1916-1948 4Ze199 Speeches and miscellany, 1948 and undated 4Ze199 Notes and miscellany, undated 4Ze199 Certificate, 12/17/1918, and Resolution, 1/12/1924 4Ze200 Financial and legal records, 1912-1950 and undated 4Ze201 Publicity, 1923-1928 and undated 4Ze201 Broadsides and miscellany 4Ze201 Programs, 1913-1952 and undated 2.325/V18 Broadsides 4Ze202 Programs, miscellany 4Ze203 Engagement books, notebooks, address books, 1916-1931 and undated 4Ze204 Scrapbooks, 1912-1927 4Ze205 Music: Manuscript, printed, miscellany 4Ze206-4Ze212 Printed Material: 4Ze206-4Ze212 Miscellany 4Ze206-4Ze212 Newspaper clippings. Photographs 8 feet, four inches: 4436 photographic prints, color, sepia, black and white. 24 photo albums. 1725 negatives. 22 color slides.

Photographs document the career of Thompson (1892-1966) as mayor of Amarillo (1929-1932), as railroad commissioner (1932-1965), as a member and chairman of the Interstate Oil Compact Commission (1935-1965), and candidate for governor against Wilbert Lee O'Daniel in 193[UNK] and 1940, and pertain also to his military career in World War... and World War I... as well as his service in the Texas National Guard.

Collection also contains photographs of Thompson's family including his two wives May Peterson and Myda Bivins and many friends and of well-known personalities such as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Lyndon Baines Johnson, and Sam Rayburn.

 3Y401 Ernest Othmer Thompson, May Peterson Thompson, 1907-1919 and undated 3Y402 May Peterson, 1915-1956 and undated 3Y403 Thompson, May Peterson, 1917-1956 and undated, including campaign and Texas National Guard photos 3Y404 Thompson with family, undated 3Y404 Places and events, 1917-1959

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 3Y404 Petroleum survey, March-June 1945

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 3Y405 Thompson, May Peterson, 1924-1950 3Y406 Thompson and Thompson/Peterson families, 1935 and undated, including Thompson giving speech on oil 3Y406 Politicians and other personalities, 1926-1956 3Y407 Photo album on miscellaneous topics, 1932-1946

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 3Y407 Tanker Rhea when loaded with first cargo of export oil, Corpus Christi, Texas, 1936

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 3Y407 "Old Faithful Inn, Haynes, St. Paul" 3Y408 Thompson, Myda Bivins, 1933-1962 and undated 3Y408 May Peterson, undated, including publicity photos 3Y409 Campaign photos: Thompson for Governor, and for Railroad Commissioner, 1938 and undated 3Y409 Thompson, May Peterson, and places, 1947-1949 3Y410 Thompson, May Peterson, and places, 1949-1956 and undated 3Y411 Thompson, May Peterson, and places, 1950 and 1952 3Y412 Thompson, May Peterson, 1917-1959 and undated 3Y413 May Peterson, undated 3Y414 May Peterson, publicity photos, undated 3Y415 Hunting parties, 1954 and 1955 3Y416 Hunting parties, undated 3S221 Thompson, May Peterson, 1913-1934 3S221 Lucas Gusher, Spindletop, January 10, 1901 3S222 Hunting parties, December 1951 and undated 3S223 Prints and drawings, 1926, 1933, and undated 0D1313 Panoramic Views: 0D1313 Dedication of the Liberty Memorial during the Convention of the American Legion, at Kansas City, Mo., November 1, 1921 0D1313 Kiwanis International 9th Annual Convention, St. Paul, Minn., June 22 to 25, 1925 0D1313 344th Machine Gun Battalion, National Army, Major Ernest O. Thompson Commanding, undated 3Y417 Negatives 3Y417 Color slides 3Y418 Photo Albums: 3Y418 "Arranged in Paris," 1907-1912 3Y418 Europe, 1912-1914 3Y419 Hon. E. O. Thompson, Mayor, Amarillo, Texas, 1931 3Y419 Texas Railroad Association dinner honoring members Texas Railroad Commission, Austin Club, Austin, Texas, December 13 3Y419 Texas Railroad Commissioners dinner, Austin Club, Austin, Texas, December 19, 1953 3Y419 "A Fishing Job," undated 3Y419 United States Army Air Force, undated 3Y420 Thompson, May Peterson, 1937-1938 and 1947 3Y421 Hunting parties, Blackwell and Hamilton ranches, others, 1949-1960 and undated 3Y422 Texas Railroad Association Honoring Railroad Commission of Texas, Austin Club, Austin, Texas, June 3, 1952 3Y422 "In appreciation to Lt. Gen. Ernest O. Thompson for his Visit to the Sixty-third Fighter Wing, August 20, 1949, San Marcos Air Force Base" 3S224 Paintings: 3S224 22" × 18" painting pf Longhorns by H. D. Bugbee. Because of its fragile condition, this item is restricted. Permission from the Director is needed. 3.325/V 48" × 33" painting of Ernest Othmer Thompson in World War I uniform, artist unknown. Framed.