Thompson, Maurice, 1844-1901

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Maurice Thompson was an American author and critic who worked in a number of fields. Born in Indiana, his family moved to Georgia in his youth, where he was home schooled, and served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. After the war he worked a variety of jobs before moving back to Indiana, eventually opening a law office. As a young lawyer he began publishing articles, popular poetry, and old-fashioned adventure novels; his greatest success was probably a series of articles popularizing archery. As a critic, he was uncomfortable with modern literature, preferring old-fashioned values. He derided realism, and sought to turn tastes away from Zola, back to Scott. He also served in the Indiana State Legislature, and as state geologist of Indiana.

From the description of Maurice Thompson letter to My dear Mr. Lovejoy, 1887 March 22. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 70662210

American author; State geologist of Indiana and chief of the Dept. of Natural History.

From the description of An archer on the Kankakee, [1900 June]. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 55057773

American writer.

From the description of Letter to "North America Review," [manuscript], 1888 August 15. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647806182

James Maurice Thompson, attorney, author, editor, naturalist, and geologist, was born 9 September 1844, in Fairfield, Indiana, and died 15 February 1901, at Sherwood Place, in Crawfordsville, Indiana. His family came to the Coosawattee River valley of north Georgia about 1854, and Thompson served in the Confederate Army as a scout. After the war, he explored and studied south Georgia and Florida, then went to Crawfordsville, Indiana, with his brother Will Thompson, where he worked as a civil engineer, married Alice R. Lee (1868), and practiced law (1871-1884). After Thompson published a book of poems, SONGS OF FAIR WEATHER (1883), he gave up law to write full-time (1884), became state geologist of Indiana (1885-1888), an editor for the New York INDEPENDENT (1889-1901), and wrote ALICE OF OLD VINCENNES (1900) and other historical romances. He spent winters on the Gulf Coast throughout his life, and many of his novels, stories, and articles have Southern settings.

From the description of Maurice Thompson papers, 1867-1940. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122552326

American novelist.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Crawfordsville, Ind., to Joseph B. Gilder, 1884 Aug. 15. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 645500134

Maurice Thompson was an American author and critic who worked in a number of fields. As a young lawyer he began publishing articles, popular poetry and old-fashioned adventure novels; his greatest success was probably a series of articles popularizing archery. As a critic, he was uncomfortable with modern literature, preferring old-fashioned values. He derided realism, and sought to turn tastes away from Zola, back to Scott. He also served in the Civil War, in the Indiana State Legislature, and as state geologiist of Indiana.

From the description of Maurice Thompson letter to E.C. Stedman, 1892. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 55482645

American author.

From the description of Maurice Thompson letter to Thomas D. Supplee, 1884 October 16. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 276999274

James Maurice Thompson (1844-1901), poet and author, was born on September 9, 1844, in Indiana. His family moved outside of Rome, Georgia, in 1854. At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the Confederate States Army and served for three years. In 1868 he moved back to Indiana and became chief engineer for a railroad that was under construction. He married Alice Lee in 1868. Thompson was elected to the state legislature in 1879 and served as State Geologist of Indiana. He was also a staff writer for the New York Independent. Thompson died in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

From the description of James Maurice Thompson letter, 1868. (Georgia Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 144570308

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn William Roscoe Thayer papers, 1762-1927 (inclusive), 1872-1921 (bulk) Houghton Library
referencedIn Woodberry, George Edward, 1855-1930. Correspondence and compositions, 1859-1930. Houghton Library
creatorOf Century Magazine. Correspondence of the editors of the Century Magazine [manuscript], 1883-1900. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Thompson, Maurice, 1844-1901. Jere Jones' ride, [18--]. Dartmouth College Library
creatorOf Thompson, Maurice, 1844-1901. An archer on the Kankakee, [1900 June]. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Thompson, Maurice, 1844-1901. The final thought : poem, [1876-1900?], Crawfordsville, Ind. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Thomas Bailey Aldrich papers, 1837-1926. Houghton Library
referencedIn Howells family papers, 1850-1954 (inclusive). Houghton Library
creatorOf Thompson, Maurice, 1844-1901. Autograph letter signed : Crawfordsville, Ind., to Joseph B. Gilder, 1884 Aug. 15. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Wallace, Lew, 1827-1905. Papers, 1799-1923 (bulk 1846-1906). Indiana Historical Society Library
creatorOf Thompson, Maurice, 1844-1901. Letter to "North America Review," [manuscript], 1888 August 15. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Baskervill, William Malone, 1850-1899. Papers, 1886-1901. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Mark Anthony De Wolfe Howe additional papers Houghton Library
creatorOf Thompson, Maurice, 1844-1901. James Maurice Thompson letter, 1868. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Thomas Wentworth Higginson correspondence Houghton Library
referencedIn Autograph File, T, 1580-1975. Houghton Library
referencedIn Collection of autograph letters, ca. 1829-1915. Houghton Library
creatorOf Thompson, Maurice, 1844-1901. Maurice Thompson letter to Thomas D. Supplee, 1884 October 16. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Harper, Francis, 1886-1972. Francis Harper papers, 1902-1968 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company contracts, 1831-1979 (inclusive) 1880-1940 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Thompson, Maurice, 1844-1901. Smithers : typescript, [18--] Houghton Library
creatorOf Fawcett, Edgar, 1847-1904. Letters, 1875-1897. Indiana University
creatorOf Fawcett, Edgar, 1847-1904. Letter to Maurice Thompson. New York, NY. [18--] June 8. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Hale, Edward Everett, 1863-1932. Correspondence, 1889-1906. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Thompson, Maurice, 1844-1901. Maurice Thompson papers, 1867-1940. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Thompson, Maurice, 1844-1901. Maurice Thompson letter to My dear Mr. Lovejoy, 1887 March 22. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
creatorOf Rose, Edward E. (Edward Everett), 1876-1939. Alice of old Vincennes. [Dramatized from Maurice Thompson's novel of the same name. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Lanier, Sidney, 1842-1881. Autograph letter signed : Baltimore, to James Maurice Thompson, 1875 Mar. 22. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Adams, James Truslow, 1878-1949. Barrett assorted authors collection, 1814-1947 University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Bacheller, Irving, 1859-1950. Papers of Irving Bacheller [manuscript] 1900-1947. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Thompson, Maurice, 1844-1901. Maurice Thompson letter to E.C. Stedman, 1892. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
creatorOf Thompson, Maurice, 1844-1901. In Odell's woods / by Maurice Thompson. Franklin College, Hamilton Library
creatorOf Thompson, Maurice, 1844-1901. Letter to George H. Cook [?] : Indianapolis : ALS, 1885 Sept. 23. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Schirmer, Rudolph Edward, 1859-1919. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to Mr. [Harry Harkness] Flagler, [n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Thompson, Maurice, 1844-1901. Papers of Maurice Thompson, 1867-1901. University of Virginia. Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Aldrich, Thomas Bailey, 1836-1907 person
associatedWith Bacheller, Irving, 1859-1950. person
associatedWith Ballard family. family
associatedWith Ballard, Jessie Lee Thompson. person
associatedWith Baskervill, William Malone, 1850-1899. person
associatedWith Bobbs, William Conrad, 1861-1926. person
associatedWith Bowen, Henry Chandler, 1813-1896, person
associatedWith Cable, George Washington, 1844-1925. person
associatedWith Century Magazine. corporateBody
associatedWith Cook, George Hammell, 1818-1889. person
associatedWith Crawfordsville (Ind.) Athenian Club. corporateBody
associatedWith Daniels, Josephus, 1862-1948. person
associatedWith Davidson, Julian Oliver, 1853-1894. person
associatedWith Dawson, R. L., fl. 1886. person
associatedWith Fawcett, Edgar, 1847-1904. person
associatedWith Fearing, Daniel B. (Daniel Butler), 1859-1918 person
associatedWith Field, Eugene, 1850-1895. person
associatedWith Gilder, Joseph Benson, 1858-1936, person
associatedWith Hale, Edward Everett, 1863-1932. person
associatedWith Harper, Francis, 1886-1972. person
associatedWith Harris, Joel Chandler, 1848-1908. person
associatedWith Hayne, Paul Hamilton, 1830-1886. person
associatedWith Higginson, Thomas Wentworth, 1823-1911 person
associatedWith Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894. person
associatedWith Holt, Henry, 1840-1926, person
associatedWith Houghton Mifflin Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920. person
correspondedWith Howe, M. A. De Wolfe (Mark Antony De Wolfe), 1864-1960 person
associatedWith Hutchinson, Thomas. person
associatedWith Lanier, Sidney, 1842-1881. person
associatedWith McClure, S. S. (Samuel Sidney), 1857-1949, person
associatedWith Mifflin, Lloyd, 1846-1921. person
associatedWith Nicholson, Meredith, 1866-1947. person
associatedWith Page, Walter Hines, 1855-1918. person
associatedWith Phi Beta Kappa. corporateBody
associatedWith Reid, Whitlaw. person
associatedWith Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. person
associatedWith Rose, Edward E. (Edward Everett), 1876-1939. person
associatedWith Schirmer, Rudolph Edward, 1859-1919. person
associatedWith Southern Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Stedman, Edmund Clarence, 1833-1908, person
associatedWith Stoddart, Mr., fl. 1892, person
associatedWith Stone, Herbert Stuart, 1871-1915, person
associatedWith Supple, Thomas D. person
correspondedWith Thayer, William Roscoe, 1859-1923 person
associatedWith Thompson family. family
associatedWith Wakeman, Antoinette Prudence. person
associatedWith Walker, John Brisben, 1847-1931, person
associatedWith Wallace, Lew, 1827-1905. person
associatedWith Wallace, Susan Arnold Elston. person
associatedWith Ward, William Hayes, 1835-1916, person
associatedWith Willard, Frances Elizabeth, 1839-1898. person
correspondedWith Woodberry, George Edward, 1855-1930 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Florida
Southern States
Okeechobee (Fla.)
Indiana
Crawfordsville (Ind.)
Okefenokee Swamp (Ga. and Fla.)
New Jersey
Subject
American literature
Publishers and publishing
African Americans
Authors, American
Authors, American
Poets, American
Authors and publishers
Women authors
Babylon (Extinct city) in the Bible
Geology
Lectures and lecturing
Literature
Nature stories, American
Paleontology
Poetry
Poetry
Syndicates (Journalism)
Women's rights
Occupation
Authors
Editors
Geologists
Lawyers
Naturalist
Activity

Person

Birth 1844-09-09

Death 1901-02-15

Americans

English

Information

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