Resource: R. M. Thomson Company letter books | ArchivesSpace Public Interface

Scope and Contents

Blotter book copies of personal and business correspondence, including the Thomson and Donman Company in Austin, Texas. The correspondence is both typed and handwritten.

Dates

Creation: 1878-1925

Language of Materials

The collection is in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research.

Biographical or Historical Information

Rector McDonald Thomson (R. M.) was born in January 1849 to Thomas Coke Thomson and Mary Jane Chriesman. He was the grandson of Horatio Chriesman, the chief surveyor for the Stephen F. Autin Colony and served as Alcalde in the Colony. Thomson married Mary Belle Bowers in 1881. He died in Austin, Texas on April 11, 1944.

Thomson was a prominent cattleman of Texas in the early days. During his early manhood he held a contract with the state in location of 1,000,000 acers of land for the University of Texas under an act of the legislature granting that institution a land grant of that size. On part of the land that Thomson located is the famous Reagan County oil field which had yielded immense royalties to the university.

Note from the 'Austin American' newspaper, April 12, 1944.

Extent

6.50 Cubic Feet

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection consists of 37 letter books and one index book of land grants. The books are housed in six banker's boxes. Each book is in an archival folder.