Converted to EAD3 : Encoded Archival Description (EAD), Version 3 : Release: 1.1.1 : Release Date: 2019-12-16. Validating against latest version of schema.
Contact information: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/mss.contact
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/mm79042804
Collection material in English
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
The papers of Ambrose W. Thompson, businessman, were given to the Library of Congress in 1959 by his son, John A. Thompson. Small additions were donated by Paul J. Scheips in 1960.
The papers of Ambrose W. Thompson were arranged and described in 1960. The finding aid was revised in 2012. The finding aid was updated in 2023 by Maria Farmer as part of a division-wide remediation project by the Inclusive Description Working Group.
The collection was described in the Library's
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Ambrose W. Thompson is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
The papers of Ambrose W. Thompson are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container number, Ambrose W. Thompson Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
The papers of Ambrose W. Thompson span the years 1847-1960, with the bulk of the material concentrated in the period 1860-1882. The collection focuses on his business undertakings in railroads, canals, steamships and land speculations. The papers are fairly evenly distributed from 1860 until Thompson's death in 1882, with a slight concentration during the years from 1865 to 1875. The collection is organized into nine series: Memoranda Book , Family Correspondence , General Correspondence , Letterbooks , Business Papers , Chiriqui Improvement Company File , Financial Papers , Miscellany , and Oversize .
The first part of the Chiriqui Company File , 1851-1882, contains the company's papers until Thompson's death, and the second portion, dated 1883-1960, relates to various attempts to revive the firm in the 1940s. Correspondence has been removed from the first portion of the company papers and filed in the General Correspondence series together with Thompson's other business-related communications.
Included in the Family Correspondence are letters to and from Ambrose's son, Ambrose, Jr., who was also involved in his father's enterprises and did a considerable amount of traveling and negotiating to promote them.
Prominent correspondents include James Mitchell Ashley, Edward Fitzgerald Beale, Simon Cameron, John A. Dix, William Maxwell Evarts, Lucius Fairchild, Gustavus Vasa Fox, William H. Hulbert, Thomas Francis Meagher, Francis B. Pierpont, S. C. Pomeroy, David D. Porter, Fitz-John Porter, Samuel Shellabarger, Franz Sigel, Caleb B. Smith, Richard W. Thompson, John Palmer Usher, and Henry A. Wise.
This collection is arranged in nine series:
Occasional memoranda regarding appointments and events.
One volume.
Letters received.
Arranged chronologically and therein alphabetically by name of correspondent.
Letters received.
Arranged chronologically and therein alphabetically by name of correspondent.
Letterpress copies of outgoing letters.
Arranged chronologically by beginning date of volumes categorized in general, business, and family groupings.
Memoranda, reports, statistical tables, drawings, patent papers, stocks and bonds, maps, circulars, pamphlets, and printed material.
Arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically therein.
Correspondence, business papers, maps, biographical notes and other material.
Arranged in two groups: Set I, 1851-1882; and Set II, 1883-1960. Correspondence
was removed from the first group and filed in the
Checks, bills, and receipts.
Arranged by type of material.
Maps, engineering drawings, pamphlets, clippings and advertisements.
Arranged by type of material, name of company, or subject.
Maps and engineering drawings.
Arranged and described according to the series and container from which they were removed.