Zadock Thompson Papers
Scope and Content Note
The Zadock Thompson Papers are comprised mainly of historical descriptions of towns in Vermont, sent to Thompson for inclusion in his Gazetteer of 1824, and for Part III of his History of 1842. In addition, there are some similar town descriptions submitted in 1814 to Josiah Durham of Windsor, Vt., for a proposed Vermont gazetteer that was never published. There are several small groups of photocopies of Thompson correspondence for the years 1838-56, most of which concern Vermont history and natural history. There are also some photocopies of Thompson family papers, including Zadock Thompson notebooks and memoranda books, poems by Zadock and his wife Phebe, historical notes by Thompson, etc. The Zadock Thompson papers are completed by a small group of photocopies of miscellaneous newspaper clippings, articles, eulogies, and other primary and secondary material pertaining to Thompson and his writings.
Dates
- 1813-1977
Creator
- Thompson, Zadock, 1796-1856 (Person)
Access:
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights:
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
Vermont historian, clergyman, natural historian, and educator, Zadock Thompson was born in Bridgewater, Vermont on May 23, 1796. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1823, and taught at UVM and other Burlington schools until 1833, when he moved to Canada. Thompson remained in Canada until 1837, teaching in Hatley and Sherbrooke, and then returned to Burlington. Ordained an Episcopal deacon in 1835, he preformed occasional clerical duties in northern Vermont and Canada the rest of his life. Thompson served as Assistant State Geologist 1845-48, and as Vermont State Naturalist 1853-56. In addition, he taught chemistry and natural history at UVM again from 1851 to 1856, and served as Curator of the University's natural history and geology cabinet. Zadock Thompson died in Burlington on January 19, 1856.
Zadock Thompson is best-known for his numerous books and articles, most of which dealt with Vermont subjects: Gazetteer of the State of Vermont (1824); History of the State of Vermont (1833); History of Vermont, Natural, Civil, and Statistical (1842); Northern Guide (1845); Geography and Geology of Vermont (1848); First Book of Geography for Vermont Children (1849); Natural History of Vermont (1850); and several articles on Vermont natural history. He supplied the astronomical calculations for numerous Vermont almanacs, most notably for the Walton's series for Montpelier from 1822 through 1857. In addition, Thompson published several books on other subjects, the most popular of which was an arithmetic text, The Youth's Assistant, issued in more than a dozen editions from 1825 through 1848.
Extent
1.6 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Zadock Thompson Papers are comprised mainly of historical descriptions of towns in Vermont, sent to Thompson for inclusion in his Gazetteer of 1824, and for Part III of his History of 1842.
Physical Location
Library Research Annex; contact uvmsc@uvm.edu for access.
- Title
- Guide to the Zadock Thompson Papers, 1813-1977
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- 2003
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the University of Vermont Libraries, Special Collections Repository
Silver Special Collections Library
48 University Place, Room B201
Burlington Vermont 05405 U.S.A. US
(802) 656-2138
(802) 656-4038 (Fax)
uvmsc@uvm.edu
