Thomson, James l. and Dorothy, papers A Guide to the James L. and Dorothy Knowles Thomson papers, 1936-1987 2004.May.6 A Collection in Special Collections and Archives, Health Sciences Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, accession number 2004.05.06

A Guide to the James L. and Dorothy Knowles Thomson papers, 1936-1987 2004.May.6

A Collection in Special Collections and Archives, Health Sciences Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, accession number 2004.05.06


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VCU Health Sciences Library

Special Collections and Archives 509 N 12th St
Box 980582
Richmond, Virginia 23298
Business Number: (804) 828-9898
libhssca@vcu.edu
URL: https://www.library.vcu.edu/research-teaching/special-collections-and-archives/locations/

Jody Romero

Repository
VCU Health Sciences Library
Identification
2004.May.6
Title
James L. and Dorothy Knowles Thomson papers 1931-1985
URL:
http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vcu-tm/vircuh00012.xml
Quantity
0.8 Linear Feet
Creator
Thomson, James L.
Creator
Thomson, Dorothy Knowles
Language
English .

Administrative Information

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Preferred Citation

Papers of James L. and Dorothy Knowles Thomson, 2004/May/06, Special Collections and Archives, Health Sciences Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.

Acquisition Information

Donated by the Thomson family.


Biographical / Historical

Dr. James L. Thomson was a nationally-known neurosurgeon. He graduated from the Medical College of the University of Cincinnati in 1934 and taught neurological surgery at the Medical College of Virginia from 1938-1941. He served in World War II as neurosurgeon to the 45th General Hospital in Morocco and Italy. He was one of seven officers in the unit awarded the Bronze Star. After the War, Thomson practiced in Norfolk, Va. He was the first neurosurgeon to practice in the Tidewater area and saw patients at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth and the Marine Public Health Hospitals in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, and Suffolk. Thomson was a charter member of the Excelsior Surgical Society, a group of 80 medical officers who met for the first time in 1945 at the Excelsior Hotel, Rome, Italy. He also helped organize the Neurosurgical Society of the Virginias and was its first president. In 1959, Thomson was cited by the President's Committee for the Physically Handicapped for his efforts to employ those with physical handicaps while a member of the Medical Advisory Board of the State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. At the time of his death in 1973, he was Chief of Neurosurgery at Norfolk General and DePaul Hospitals, a diplomat of the American Board of Neurological Surgery, and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. James L. Thomson married Dorothy Mae Knowles on 15 May, 1940. They had two children, Martha and James. Dorothy Mae Knowles grew up in Woodard, North Carolina and graduated from the Medical College of Virginia's nursing program in 1934. From 1937-1940, Knowles was an Instructor and Supervisor of Operating Room Technique at MCV. With her husband, she was a charter member of the Excelsior Surgical Society. In 1995, she established the James L. Thomson, MD and Dorothy Knowles Thomson, RN Fund for the School of Nursing to heighten awareness alternative and complementary therapies.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains papers of Dr. James L. Thomson and his wife, Dorothy Knowles Thomson. Dr. Thomson's papers include World War II memorabilia and photographs as well as papers from the Excelsior Club, a group of surgeons brought together by the war. The papers of Mrs. Thomson, an instructor of operating room nursing at the Medical College of Virginia, include teaching materials and personal effects.

Arrangement

Records are in chronological order.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Medical College of Virginia -- Archives
  • Neurosurgeons -- Archives -- Virginia -- Richmond
  • Neurosurgery -- history.
  • Nurses -- Archives -- Virginia -- Richmond
  • Nurses -- Virginia.
  • Operating room nursing.
  • Physicians -- Virginia.
  • Thomson, Dorothy Knowles
  • Thomson, James L.
  • World War II.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Archives -- Veterans

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Thomson, Dorothy Knowles
  • Thomson, James L.

Container List

Dorothy Knowles Thompson - Nursing papers, MCV
Mixed Materials Box-folder: 1 1931 - 1944
  • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 1.1- 1.3
    Operating Room Guide
    Scope and Contents

    This is the first part of a series of three folders encompassing the handwritten, typed, guidebook used by Mrs. Thompson during her years as a surgical nurse.

    • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 1.3
      "Urological Instruments "
      1941
    • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 1.3
      "How to Obtain Maximum Service from Hypodermic Syringes, Needles, Clinical Thermometers and Ace Bandages. "
      1940
    • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 1.3
      New Dermatoma for Cutting Calibrated Skin Grafts
      1939
    • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 1.3
      Photograph
      Scope and Contents

      Photograph of a proper surgical tool layout.

  • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 1.4
    Teaching Manual
    1940-1942
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains the teaching manual for Mrs. Thompson's course on Operating Room techniques. typed, mimeograph, and handwritten pages.

  • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 1.5
    Course outline and exams
    1942
  • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 1.6
    Related source material.
    • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 1.6
      "Problems of Curriculum Administration. Proposed Revision of the Curriculum for Nursing Schools. "
      1936
    • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 1.6
      "Factors Determining the Development of Nursing and Schools of Nursing. "
      1932
  • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 1.7
    Letter of Acceptance
    24 Jun, 1931
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains a copy of the Mrs. Thompson's acceptance into MCV's nursing school.

  • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 1.8
    Supplemental source material
    Scope and Contents

    Autoclaving Surgical Supplies and Instruments , Boiling Instruments and Utensils , Chemical Sterilization vs. Alcohol , Bard. Parker Formaldehyde Germicide , "Phenylmurcuric Compounds. "

James L. Thompson, Personal and military memorabilia
Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2
  • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.1
    Memorabilia, Misc.
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains mulitiple assorted memorabilia including stamps, currency, playbills and maps.

  • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.2
    Memorabilia: Trip to Rabat, Oman.
    1943
    • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.2
      Postcards
      Scope and Contents

      Images of local people, the Fountain Arabe, and several pen and ink images of local places.

    • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.2
      Translation
      Scope and Contents

      Paper with English to Arabic translations.

    • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.3
      Business cards of local folks.
      Scope and Contents

      Docteur Canto (French), Ahmed Bennani (Moroccan), Tomail Mahdi Khattab (Egyptian).

    • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.2
      Perfume tags
  • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.3
    WW2 GI Comic books.
    • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.3
      "Mud, Mules and Mountains "
      Scope and Contents

      by Bill Mauldin

    • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.3
      This Damn Tree Leaks
      Scope and Contents

      by Bill Mauldin

  • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.4
    Memorabilia: Trip to Switzerland
    1945
    Scope and Contents

    This file contains various items including offical military instructions, travel papers, hotel tags and broucures, postcards, and other documentation.

  • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.5
    "Frac. dislocation of cervical spine in infancy. Px by skeletal traction "
    1937
    Scope and Contents

    Typed and handwritten article

45th General Hospital Group
Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3
  • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.1
    US Army Office of the Surgeon: Circular Letter
    1944-1945
    Scope and Contents

    (1944) 30, 36, 48 (1945) 8

  • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.1
    Outline, US Army program for Plastic and Maxilliofacial surgery
    1945
  • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.1
    Outline, US Army program for Plastic and Maxilliofacial surgery
    1935
    Scope and Contents

    U of Cincinnati

  • Mixed Materials folder: 3.2
    Newspaper clippings of Unit
    1944-1945
    Scope and Contents

    All Richmond Times Dispatch unless noted.

    • Mixed Materials folder: 3.2
      "Allied Hospital Area Hit In Beachhead Area "
      Scope and Contents

      Picture caption

    • Mixed Materials folder: 3.2
      Unknown
      Scope and Contents

      Written in Arabic

    • Mixed Materials folder: 3.2
      "Modern Street Scene "
      17 Nov, 1945
      Scope and Contents

      Picture caption (Tel Aviv)

    • Mixed Materials folder: 3.2
      "Jewish City Is Cultural, Industrial "
      Scope and Contents

      Picture caption. (Tel Aviv)

    • Mixed Materials folder: 3.2
      "Springtime in Italy Finds War Fought to Stalemate "
      2 Apr, 1944
    • Mixed Materials folder: 3.2
      "Zionists Raid Arms Depot Near Tel Aviv "
      11 Oct, 1945
  • Mixed Materials folder: 3.3
    Playbills, Christmas booklets, telegrams
    • Mixed Materials folder: 3.3
      Telegrams (2) Birthday, promotion
    • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.3
      Christmas programs
      1942, 1944
      Scope and Contents

      Camp Lee, 1942; Italy, 1944

    • Mixed Materials folder: 3.3
      Thanksgiving programs
      1942, 1944
      Scope and Contents

      Camp Lee, 1942; Italy, 1944

    • Mixed Materials folder: 3.3
      Armistice Day program
      Scope and Contents

      MCV 1942

    • Mixed Materials folder: 3.3
      Playbill
      Scope and Contents

      "This Is The Army " by Irving Berlin

Mixed Materials folder: 3.4
Newsprint
  • Clippings about awards won
    Scope and Contents

    Newsprint

    • Mixed Materials folder: 4.1
      General Orders #163
      Scope and Contents

      Award of Bronze Star and Legion of Merit

    • Award of Meritorious Service Unit Plaque
      25 Jun, 1945
      Scope and Contents

      People listed include: People listed include: Maj. R. D. Butterworth, Maj. James L. Thompson, Maj. B. W. Rawles Jr, Cpt. B. B. Clay, Cpt. E. C. Toone, Cpt. A. G. Brown III, Cpt. J. R. Massie, Lt. Col. Morton M. Pickney, 1st Lt. Mary Louise Roberts, 2nd Lt. Elaine Arletta Roe, 2nd Lt. Rita Virginia Roarke.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 4.2
    Original orders, receipts and tags
    1942-1943, 1945
    Scope and Contents

    Original orders, receipts and tags.

    • Mixed Materials folder: 4.2
      Memo to Officers About to Embark for Overseas
      30 Nov, 1942
    • Mixed Materials folder: 4.2
      Extract of Special Order 34
      9 Feb, 1943
    • Mixed Materials folder: 4.2
      Extract of Special Order 29
      2 Feb, 1943
    • Mixed Materials folder: 4.2
      War Department address card
      31 Mar, 1943
    • Mixed Materials folder: 4.2
      Room assignment for transatlantic trip aboard HMS Andes
    • Mixed Materials folder: 4.2
      Welcome Home
      7 Sep, 1945
Mixed Materials folder: 5
Report on Italy
Scope and Contents

This report contains many photographs taken by her father, James Thompson while on assignment at the 45th General Hospital.

Excelsior Surgery Club
Mixed Materials folder: 6
  • Mixed Materials folder: 6.1
    Photographs
    12 Oct, 1985
    Scope and Contents

    39th Excelsior club meeting

  • Mixed Materials folder: 6.2
    Yearbook, invitations to 29th meeting
  • Mixed Materials folder: 6.3
    Memorabilia
    Scope and Contents

    Copy of 39th Meeting program, Copy of 25th Meeting program, 45th G.H. Newsletter May/1999, clipping of finishing of girder work on what is now West Hospital. Special letters and rolls.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 6.4
    Memorabilia
    Scope and Contents

    Letters and recommendations, meeting memorabilia, Guideposts featuring Dr. Michael De Bakey, a member. Copy of the 28th Meeting program.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 6.5
    Letters and memorabilia
    Scope and Contents

    Minutes of annual meetings 1963, 1966, 1971. Copy of the 2nd and 4th annual meetings.

Photographs
Mixed Materials folder: 7
  • Mixed Materials folder: 7.1
    Nursing School
    1932 - 1944
    Scope and Contents

    This set involves the nursing school education of Dorothy Knowles. The photographs are of her and other students, generally on the rooftops of the main hospital buildings. People indicated include Dr. James Baker, Dr. James L. Thompson, Dr. Kenneth Cherry, Dr. Beverly Clary, Ruth Kipps, Meredith Gladding, Marian Cassiday, Ruth Warner, Jannie Buchanan, Evelyn Neal, Elizabeth Watkins, Queenie Victoria Jones, G.H. Addleman, Virginia Lewter, Sarah Ingold, Polly Carlton, Alma Paucake, Muriel Price.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 7.2
    Nursing School: Large Photographs
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains the large photographs of the above set

  • Mixed Materials folder: 7.3
    Richmond Skyline
    Scope and Contents

    This series includes several pictures taken from the rooftop of one of the hospitals. Also there are street photographs after a snowstorm including one of snow in an open topped car.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 7.4
    MCV Hospital
    Scope and Contents

    This series has photographs of what is now the West Hospital and an ivy covered Egyptian Building.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 7.5
    Dr. David Tucker
    1939
    Scope and Contents

    This series has a photograph of the donation of the portrait of Dr. David Tucker by members of his family to MCV.

Photographic Collection - James Thompson
Mixed Materials folder: 8 1944 - 1945
  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.1
    Photographs - Ischice
    Scope and Contents

    This series shows Dr. Thompson and others aboard a ship viewing Italian ruins from the water. The photographs are not labeled and no people are identified.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.2
    Biah
    1944
    Scope and Contents

    This series is of local images around the town where the 45th was stationed. Photographs include liberty ships, a sunken hospital ship, and images from Naples (Italy) harbor. People indicated include Sgt. Tucker Carter, Duncan Caulder, Bill Daner, Capt. Tommy (Tee) Thompson.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.3
    Amalphia Drive - Italy
    1944
    Scope and Contents

    This series shows images taken from an estate atop a steep cliff. People indicated include Capt. Larry Massey and Russel.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.4
    Mt. Vesuvius, 1944. Tommy, Guy Horsley, Jud Butterworth and others.
    1944
    Scope and Contents

    This series shows a trip to Mt. Vesuvius by the three indicated in the title. People indicated include Guy Horsley, Jud Butterworth, Kels Boland (43rd G.H. Atlanta)

  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.5
    Mueller Living Quarters, Naples Italy
    1944-1947
    Scope and Contents

    This series includes images of the family that Dr. Thompson boarded with while in Italy. Commentary discusses price of wine after the war, and images from a party. People indicated include the Mueller family, Angelo, Josephine, Rosa, and Mr. and Mrs. Mueller

  • Mixed Materials folder: 1944
    Sorrento
    1944
    Scope and Contents

    This series includes photographs of Mt. Vesuvius and the immediate vicinity of the Victoria Hotel.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.7
    Photographs - Venice
    1945
    Scope and Contents

    This series includes images of Venice, Italy including St. Marco's church and the Venice bell tower. There are images of gondolas and canals as well. People indicated include Tee Thompson and Jim Baker.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.8
    Rome 1944
    1944
    Scope and Contents

    This series includes images of Rome Italy after WW2 including Vatican City, St. Peter's basilica, bridges over the Tiber River, the gravesite of the poet Keats, and the Castle of St. Angelo.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.9
    Photographs - Anzio, Cassina, and Capua
    1944
    Scope and Contents

    This series includes images from the ruins of three Italian cities. Anzio images depict tombstones from a cemetery. Cassina and Capua images are of damaged buildings, bridges, and warning signs.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.10
    Photographs - Trip to Cairo - Athens, Greece - Wailing Wall, Jerusalem
    1944
    Scope and Contents

    This series includes images of the Egyptian pyramids, the Sphinx, the Wailing Wall, and the Acropolis in Athens. Also included are many photos taken within the transport plane. People indicated include 1st Lt. Jean Jack, Capt. Dorothy Volker, 1st Lt. Mildred Littlejohn, 1st Lt. Jane Atyett, 1st Lt. Ann Shanaly, 1st Lt. Marjorie Hollingsworth, 1st Lt. Axtell, Capt. Tee Thompson, Capt. Robert Massey, Major Buckles, Capt. Larens, and Lt. Col. Sandzen.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.11
    Photographs - Trip to Cairo - Athens, Greece - Wailing Wall, Jerusalem. Large Photographs.
    Scope and Contents

    This series includes the larger photographs of the above collection.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.12
    Photographs - Dr. James L. Thompson
    1944, 1945
    Scope and Contents

    This series includes photographs taken from the side of the road. People indicated include Tee Thompson.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.13
    Base Hospital #45
    1944-45
    Scope and Contents

    This series includes images of the Hospital complex, buildings, tents and staff who were assigned to this Hospital. People indicated include Mike Pinchney and Powell Williams.

  • Mixed Materials Box-folder: 8.14
    Base Hospital #45: Large Photographs
    1944-45
    Scope and Contents

    This series includes the larger photographs of the above series.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.15
    Photographs Neurosurgical Italy
    1944
    Scope and Contents

    This series includes images from the neurosurgery ward at the 45th G.H. Also included are photographs of a garden planted between two of the far buildings. People indicated include T/5 Emmitt Luchard, Doris Shaffer, Florence Feik, John Marshall (ward boy), T/5 Chilter, T/5 Campbell, PFC Hatcher

  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.16
    Untitled
    1941-1945
    Scope and Contents

    This series is a collection of loose photographs that may have come from the other series but are put together here. There are images of the 45th hospital complex, cityscapes, City of Pompei ruins, and local scenery. People indicated include Tee Thompson, Dr. Guy Horsley, Dr. Beu Rawls, Dr. W.T. Thompson, Doris Shaffer, Capt. Lawrence Hurt, and Dr. C. C. Coleman.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.17
    Untitled - Large Photographs
    1941-1945
    Scope and Contents

    This series contains the larger photographs of the above series.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.18
    Oran, Algeria
    Scope and Contents

    This series contains photographs of artwork, and architecture.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.19
    Oran, Algeria - Large Photographs
    Scope and Contents

    This series contains the larger photographs of the above series.

  • Mixed Materials folder: 8.20
    Medical Procedures
    Scope and Contents

    This series includes x-rays, diagrams, and examples of prosthetics used by the Army during WW2.