ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

EDITH THOMPSON PAPERS

COLLECTION: OGL#167

DATES: 1885 - 1931

SIZE: 2 folders

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: The Edith Thompson Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection. The acquisition records are unavailable.

ACCESSION: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Edith Thompson was born November 5, 1885 to Will and Eugenia (Harris) Freeman. In 1904 she graduated from River Falls Wisconsin Teachers’ College. On June 24, 1908 she married Theodore Thompson at Maxbass, North Dakota. A year later their first and only daughter, Dorothea, was born.

Best touted as an early Grand Forks resident, her contributions to the community reach into the city’s developing years. Soon after graduating from college, Thompson began teaching at Thorpe, Wisconsin (1904-05) and later in Grand Forks, North Dakota (1905-07). In May of 1927 she became Grand Forks Herald Society editor. During her 36 years at the paper (1927-1963), she was honored as the “Woman of Achievement” in North Dakota journalism by the North Dakota Press Woman in 1961. The North Dakota Council of Administrative Women also recognized Thompson for outstanding contributions to Education.

Thompson was YWCA director for 14 years and co-chairman of the Y building committee. She was secretary-treasurer of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Grand Forks. She also served in several offices of the local chapter of Business and Professional Woman.

Edith Thompson died on October 22, 1981. She is buried in Buxton, North Dakota.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Edith Thompson Papers contain two books, one program and a scrap album. The "Manual and Directory for the City of Grand Forks, 1885" was the first Grand Forks City directory. The "History of Grand Forks County," (1900) emphasizes the city of Grand Forks' first ten years. The program is the "Fiftieth Anniversary Banquet," October 31, 1931. This contains a list of residents who had lived in Grand Forks for 50 years or more as of 1931. A World War I scrap book, dated September 10, 1917 - March 8, 1918, consists of newspaper clippings about drafted individuals and personal comments from Phillip R. Bangs. Bangs was continually denied military service due to defective vision. He recorded these experiences in his scrap album.

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

Box 1
Folder

1. "Grand Forks, North Dakota Directory," 1885
   "History of Grand Forks County," 1900. Written by H.V. Arnold
   "Fiftieth Anniversary Banquet" program, 1931
2. World War I scrap book made by Phillip R. Bangs

SEPARATIONS RECORD

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