Last Will and Testament of Moses Thompson
The Last Will and Testament of Moses Thompson offers a glimpse into exactly how much the Thompson family owned of the land in Centre and neighboring counties. There are also modifications made based on members of the family that might have passed on since it was originally drafted, which helps provide a little bit of a timeline for the Thompson family.
View the Last Will and Testament of Moses Thompson. This document is courtesy of the Pennsylvania State University: Digital Library Collection.
Letter Offering Land for Farmers' High School
General James Irvin's 1855 Letter offering Centre Furnace land for the foundation of the Farmers' High School is an important document in Centre County history. This offer of land and additional funds for the school from Moses Thompson and James Irvin persuaded the school's Board of Trustees to put the school in Centre County. Its creation paves the way for what is known today as the Pennsylvania State University.
View the Letter Offering Land for Farmers' High School. This document is courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society's Thompson and Related Families Collection.
This document is the certificate registering John Hamilton as a Sergeant Major in the Company of the First Regiment of the Pennsylvania Reserves Cavalry on May 1, 1853. This marked the beginning of John Hamilton's military service that would eventually lead him to fight in the Civil War.
View Hamilton Military Enlistment. This document is courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society's Thompson and Related Families Collection.
Hamilton Letter of Resignation
This letter to the Secretary of Agriculture from John Hamilton informs him of Hamilton's resignation from the position of Farmers' Institute Specialist. This position entailed traveling the country and assessing various agricultural schools and keeping statistics on them.
View the Hamilton Letter of Resignation. This document is courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society's Thompson and Related Families Collection.
Hamilton Invitation to White House
This invitation was sent to John Hamilton and his wife asking them to the White House under President Theodore Roosevelt in conjunction with Hamilton's work at the US Department of Agriculture.
View Hamilton Invitation to White House. This document is courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society's Thompson and Related Families Collection.
Stock Certificate from Seed Drill Regulator Company
This document is a stock certificate from the Seed Drill Regulator Company. It is issued to John Hamilton, who is also the President of the company. One will also see that John L Thompson Jr. is the Secretary of this enterprise demonstrating that the Thompson family engaged in many business ventures together.
View the Stock Certificate from Seed Drill Regulator Company. This document is courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society's Thompson and Related Families Collection.
Stock Certificate from Agricultural College and Junction Turnpike Road Co.
This Stock Certificate for the Agricultural College and Junction Turnpike Road Co. dated September of 1871 demonstrates Moses Thompson's desire to invest in order to help improve transportation conditions in the Centre County region. Improving roadways meant it was easier to transport materials to and from his iron furnace, Centre Furnace. One can also notice that his son John I. Thompson served as Treasurer displaying a familial nature to Moses' investments.
View the Stock Certificate from Agricultural College and Junction Turnpike Road Co. This document is courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society's Thompson and Related Families Collection.
Red Cross Letter about Alice Thompson's Service
This letter to Mrs. Charles Thomas Stahl from Melvin A. Glasser at the American Red Cross describes the valiant service of Alice Thompson. Alice was Mrs. Stahl's sister. This letter informs Mrs. Stahl of Alice's service in regard to freeing the Filipinos from the Japanese. It emphasizes that members of the Thompson family have impacted matters far beyond Pennsylvania's borders.
View the Red Cross Letter about Alice Thompson's Service. This document is courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society's Thompson and Related Families Collection.
Letters about the Death of Alice Thompson
The following includes three letters of condolence written upon the death of Alice Thompson in 1950. The first letter is to Hilda Patton Thompson from Charles Gamble. The second letter is to Alice's other sister, Mrs. Stahle from a Red Cross Administrator for Personal Services, named Norman A. Durfee. The third letter was addressed to both of Alice's sisters and is from K.H. Berns. All three letters highlight the important achievements of Alice's career and demonstrate how broadly her loss was felt.
View the Letters about the Death of Alice Thompson. These documents are courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society's Thompson and Related Families Collection.
Speech from Dedication of Thompson and Hamilton Halls
This document is a typescript of the speech delivered by Milton Stover Eisenhower in 1950 to commemorate the opening of three new dormitories on campus: Hamilton, Thompson, and McKee. Thompson dorm is named for Moses Thompson and his contributions to the foundation of the Farmers' High School. Hamilton Hall is named to commemorate all of the agricultural advancements John Hamilton brought to the school.
View Speech from Dedication of Thompson and Hamilton Halls. This document is courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society's Thompson and Related Families Collection.
Thompson Family History (unavailable at this time -- see Centre Furnace Mansion site)