Jerry Thompson collection of New Mexico Civil War research
Collection
Identifier: Ms-0518
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the Jerry D. Thompson papers consists of research materials Thompson accumulated while writing his book A Civil War History of the New Mexico Volunteers and Militia. The majority of these materials consist of photocopied archival materials that he used while researching for his book. The collection also consist of a small amount of photos, newspapers, and maps used by Thompson as well as his personal papers.
The personal papers of Jerry D. Thompson consist of his personal correspondences as well as his hand written and typed notes. Correspondences arranged alphabetically by last name and the notes are arranged into two categories: handwritten and typed, and then again by any concern able subject matter.
The research files consist of folders of research done on individuals organized alphabetically by last name. Photocopied correspondences of members involved in the Civil War in New Mexico arranged alphabetically by last name. Photocopied military records organized by military command and location Photocopied publications (newspapers, journal articles, and book sections) organized by publication. As well as other sources of non-published research organized by person and theme.
The collection contains printed findind aids that Thompson used while reasearching the war as well as a series of archaelogical reports that are orginized by location.
The photographs in the collection consist of photographs of military tombstones of some of the persons researched by Thompson. The maps consist of a few photocopied period maps of New Mexico a, photocopied hand written map, some battle maps, and a large area map of the Santa Fe area.
Dates
- 1960 - 2000
Conditions Governing Use
Open. All materials in this collection are available for research under supervised conditions in the Research Room. Researchers should contact the department in advance to make arrangements to view unprocessed materials, as these may need to be screened before use.
Biographical / Historical
Jerry D. Thompson is a writer and history professor at Texas A&M International University. He was born November 21, 1942 in Springerville, AZ and raised in an area of Catron County Arizona known as Quemado, an Unincorporated Community with a population of only about 200 people today. Thompson earned his Bachler of Arts from Western New Mexico University in 1964, a Master of Arts from University of New Mexico in 1968, and his Doctor of Arts from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1982. Beginning in 1971, Thompson has written countless articles for many different historical journals and authored or edited over 20 books on the American Civil War in the Borderlands and other Borderlands histories. His writing has earned him numerous awards and nominations and in 2001, Texas A&M International University named Thompson Regents Professor of History.
Extent
18 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Jerry D. Thompson papers document the research done by Thompson on the American Civil War in New Mexico. The collection includes his extensive archival research of wartime correspondences and military records, as well as other published sources on the Civil War pertaining to New Mexico. The collection also includes some maps, photographs, and finding aids Thompson used during his research.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Eric Ellis and under the direction of Jennifer Olguin, September-December 2018.
- Title
- Guide to the Jerry D. Thompson papers
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Finding aid by Eric Ellis and Jennifer Olguin
- Date
- 2019-02-05
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository