George Jarvis Thompson papers, 1906-1957.
Collection Number: 18-2-1173

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
George Jarvis Thompson papers, 1906-1957.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
18-2-1173
Abstract:
Collection includes student and professional papers from several schools and travels.
Creator:
Thompson, George Jarvis, 1886-1957.
Burr, R. A.
Quanitities:
6.8 cubic feet.
Language:
Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Professor of law.
George Jarvis Thompson received a B.S. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1909, an LL.B. from Harvard University in 1912 and an S.J.D. in 1918. From 1914-1917 he taught Anglo-American Law at Peiyang University, now Tianjin University in Tianjin China. While there he was admitted to the bar of the United States extraterritorial court for China. In 1917 Thompson served as one of the blind-folded drawers of draft numbers for the first draft in World War I. He was appointed Thayer Teaching Fellow at Harvard, 1918-1919, also practicing in Boston with public utility law firms. From 1919-1926, he held a professorship at the University of Pittsburgh, and then went to Cornell University where he taught courses in Procedure, and later in Contracts and Business Regulation. Thompson made his chief contribution to the field as associate editor of the eight-volume REVISED EDITION OF WILLISTON ON CONTRACTS, 1936-1938. At Cornell, he was also active in the American Association of University Professors, Phi Kappa Phi, and the Cornell-in-China program. Thompson's wife Ruth served as the Secretary of the American Red Cross Committee in China during their stay in China.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Collection includes student papers from the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Law School; lecture notes, passports, and correspondence (including a chart of Chinese kinship nomenclature and law diagrammed by a student) from Thompson's tenure at Pei Yang (Tianjin) University in Tientsin (Tianjin), China; correspondence and other papers relating to the Cornell University Law School, with letters from former students, some of whom were serving in the Armed Forces in World War II; correspondence, bills, and legal papers relating to a textbook on contract law on which he collaborated with Professor Samuel Williston; papers and articles by Thompson, including "Introductory Lectures in Procedure," 1934; personal correspondence, and correspondence about Indian relics which Thompson collected and cases involving Indian land claims. Also, diplomas and certificates.
Additional photographs and letters relating to the Thompsons' trip to China, and a typescript Report on the Condition of the Military and Civil Prisoners of War in Siberia by R.A. Burr, dedicated to Ruth Thompson.

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:

George Jarvis Thompson papers, #18-2-1173. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

SUBJECTS

Names:
Thompson, Ruth Warren Barnes.
Cornell University -- : Faculty.
Cornell Law School
Harvard University -- : Students.
Bei yang shi fan xue tang (Tianjin, China)
University of Pennsylvania -- : Students.
American Red Cross. Committee in China for the Relief of Prisoners of War in Siberia
Tianjin da xue
Places:
Tianjin (China)
China -- Education.
Subjects:
Law teachers.
College teachers.
World War, 1939-1945.
Draft.
Law -- Study and teaching -- United States.
Law -- Study and teaching -- Great Britain.
Kinship (Law) -- China.
Indians of North America -- Land tenure.
Indians of North America -- Antiquities -- Private collections
Contracts.
Form and Genre Terms:
Lecture notes.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Series I. Biographical Information
Box 1 Folder 1
Articles by and about George J. Thompson
Scope and Contents
Contains "Glimpses of China Days" by Prof. Thompson, and news report "Dr. Thompson Gives Summer Law Courses"
Box 1 Folder 2
Biographical Data of Prof. Thompson
Scope and Contents
Materials collected for the Sixth Edition of Who Knows-and What, Directory of American Scholars, and other publications
Box 1 Folder 3
Bibliography of Prof. Thompson's Writings
Box 1 Folder 4
Memorial Service for Prof. George J. Thompson
1957
Series II. Correspondences
Business Correspondence
Box 6 Folder 24
Admission to the Allegheny County Bar
1924
Box 6 Folder 25
American Machinery and Export Company, Tianjin, China: Correspondences and Materials
1919-1927
Scope and Contents
Stockholders information
Box 1 Folder 5
Bills
1933-1935
Box 1 Folder 6
Bills
1936
Box 1 Folder 7
Bills
1937
Box 1 Folder 8
Bills
1938
Box 1 Folder 9
Bills-Revised Edition of Williston on Contracts
1938-1940
Box 1 Folder 10
Callaghan & Company Law Publishers
1939-1951
Box 1 Folder 11
Callaghan & Company Law Publishers
1944-1952
Box 1 Folder 12
Congressmen, Letters to
1935-1946
Box 1 Folder 13
Congressmen, Letters to
1947-1952
Box 1 Folder 14
Correspondence re Revised Edition of Williston on Contracts
Box 1 Folder 15
Correspondence re Williston on Contracts, Student's Edition
1938
Box 1 Folder 16
Revised Edition of Williston on Contracts-Miscellaneous
Box 1 Folder 17
Royalty Settlement on Revised Edition of Williston on Contracts-Miscellaneous
Personal Correspondence
Box 6 Folder 1
Correspondences
1915
Scope and Contents
Primarily to Albert W.Ware about personal and family concerns, and descriptions of life in China
Box 6 Folder 2
Correspondences
1916
Scope and Contents
Primarily to Albert W.Ware about personal and family concerns, and descriptions of life in China
Box 6 Folder 3
Correspondences
1917
Scope and Contents
Primarily to Albert W.Ware about personal and family concerns, and descriptions of life in China
Box 6 Folder 4
Correspondences
1918
Scope and Contents
Letter to Thompson from Chinese friends including Sze Chao Kuei
Box 6 Folder 5
Correspondences
1920
Scope and Contents
Letters from Sze Chao Kuei
Box 6 Folder 6
Correspondences
1922
Scope and Contents
Letters from Sze Chao Kuei about scholarship aid for Chinese students
Box 6 Folder 7
Correspondences
1923
Scope and Contents
Letters from Charles S. Thompson about economic situation in Far East
Box 6 Folder 8
Correspondences
1924
Scope and Contents
Correspondence GJT and H.K. Chang about Chinese rugs; pamphlet from missionary
Box 6 Folder 9
Correspondences
1929
Scope and Contents
Letter and photo from Yui Ming (Mung Yee Yap) about Law School of Soochow
Box 6 Folder 10
Correspondences
1930
Scope and Contents
Correspondences with Yui Ming (Mung Yee Yap), Cornell-in-China materials
Box 6 Folder 11
Correspondences
1931
Scope and Contents
Cornell-in-China acknowledgment
Box 6 Folder 12
Correspondences
1932
Scope and Contents
Correspondence with Sze Chao Kuei about political events in Europe and the Far East
Box 6 Folder 13
Correspondences
1937
Scope and Contents
Letters from C.G Marshall, United Sated News about a possible article by Thompson
Box 6 Folder 14
Correspondence
1927-1950
Box 6
Correspondences
1914-1917
Scope and Contents
China Letters from George and Ruth Barnes Thompson
Box 7 Folder 1
Correspondences during Stay in China
1914-1915
Box 7 Folder 2
Correspondences during Stay in China
1915
Box 7 Folder 3
Correspondences during Stay in China
1915-1916
Box 7 Folder 4
Correspondences during Stay in China
1915-1916
Box 7 Folder 5
Correspondences during Stay in China
1915-1916
Scope and Contents
Contained in a small box
Box 7 Folder 6
Correspondences during Stay in China
1916
Box 7 Folder 7
Correspondences during Stay in China
1916
Scope and Contents
Contained in a small box, letters and telegrams
Box 7 Folder 8
Correspondences, etc.
1915-1917
Box 7 Folder 9
Correspondences
1919-1926
Box 1 Folder 18
Knott Memorial
1944-1956
Scope and Contents
Contains correspondence with George H. Knott, James C. Knott, etc.
Box 1 Folder 19
Malott, Deane. Former President of Cornell University
1951-1956
Box 1 Folder 20
Willcox, Walter
1942-1949
Box 1 Folder 21
Williston, Samuel 1
1930-1939
Scope and Contents
Samuel Williston was an American lawyer and law professor
Box 1 Folder 22
Williston, Samuel 2
1930-1939
Box 1 Folder 23
Williston, Samuel 3
1930-1939
Box 1 Folder 24
Williston, Samuel 4
1930-1939
Box 1 Folder 25
Williston, Samuel 5
1930-1939
Box 1 Folder 26
Williston, Samuel 6
1930-1939
Box 1 Folder 27
Williston, Samuel 7
1930-1939
Box 1 Folder 28
Williston, Samuel 8
1930-1939
Box 1 Folder 29
Williston, Samuel
1933-1940
Box 1 Folder 30
Williston, Samuel
1940-1951
Box 1 Folder 31
Personal Correspondence
1922-1948
Box 1 Folder 32
Personal Correspondence
1925-1938
Box 1 Folder 33
Personal Correspondence
1939-1942
Box 2 Folder 1
Personal Correspondence
1942-1944
Box 2 Folder 2
Personal Correspondence
1944-1950
Box 2 Folder 3
Personal Correspondence
1948-1950
Box 2 Folder 4
Personal Correspondence
1948-1953
Box 2 Folder 5
Personal Correspondence
1951-1955
Box 2 Folder 6
Personal Correspondence
1953-1956
Box 2 Folder 7
Personal Correspondence
1953-1956
Correspondence with Students
Box 2 Folder 8
Former Students
1932-1946
Box 2 Folder 9
Former Students
1946-1948
Box 2 Folder 10
Former Students
1948-1953
Box 2 Folder 11
Former Students
1953-1956
Box 2 Folder 12
W.W.II-Correspondence with Former Students
1942-1944
Box 2 Folder 13
W.W.II-Correspondence with Former Students
1944-1946
Box 2 Folder 14
Letters from Students-China
1915-1921
University Correspondence and Materials
Box 2 Folder 15
Cornell Law School
1945-1955
Box 2 Folder 15-a
Cornell Law School
1955-1956
Box 2 Folder 16
Cornell University-Appointments and Salary
1926-1955
Box 2 Folder 17
Cornell University-Law Faculty Deanship and Recruitment
1954-1955
Box 2 Folder 18
Cornell University-Miscellany
Box 2 Folder 19
Harvard University. Class of 1912
1942-1950
Box 2 Folder 20
Harvard University. Class of 1912
1950-1957
Box 2 Folder 21
Hastings College of Law, Dean David E. Snodgrass
1956
Box 2 Folder 22
Pennsylvania, University of. Class of 1909
1939-1955
Box 2 Folder 23
Pittsburgh, University of
1919-1941
Miscellaneous
Box 2 Folder 24
Correspondences
1913-1919
Box 2 Folder 25
Correspondences
1921-1929
Box 2 Folder 26
Correspondences
1930-1938
Box 2 Folder 27
Correspondences
1931-1932
Box 2 Folder 28
Correspondences
1933-1941
Box 2 Folder 29
Correspondences
1940-1943
Box 3 Folder 1
Correspondences
1943-1949
Box 3 Folder 2
Correspondences
1950-1953
Box 3 Folder 3
Correspondences
1950-1956
Box 3 Folder 4
Correspondences
1954-1959
Box 3 Folder 5
Correspondence, Letters of Introduction, Miscellany-China
1914-1920
Box 3 Folder 6
Letters of Tribute to Prof. Thompson
1955
Series III. Lecture Notes and Materials
Box 6 Folder 26
Lecture notes-China 1
Box 6 Folder 27
Lecture notes-China 2
Box 6 Folder 28
Lecture notes-China 3
Box 6 Folder 29
Lecture notes-China 4
Box 3 Folder 7
History of the Courts
1932-1936
Box 3 Folder 8
History of the Courts
1932
Box 3 Folder 9
Indian Cases
Box 3 Folder 10
Indian Relics and History
1939-1945
Box 3 Folder 11
Miscellaneous Legal Excerpts
Box 10
Introductory lectures in procedure
1934
Series IV. Papers, Publications, and Speeches
Box 3 Folder 12
Publications 1
Scope and Contents
Legislative Acts and Public Documents relating to the University of Pittsburgh, Complied by Prof. Thompson, 1923; "The Relation of Common Carrier of Goods and Shipper, and its Incidents of Liability"; "Challenging Frontiers", 1944.
Box 3 Folder 13
Publications 2
Scope and Contents
"Glimpse of China Days"; "The Next Step in Public Utility Regulation"; "Respective Rights of Preferred and Common Stockholders in Surplus Profits"
Box 3 Folder 14
Valuable Papers and Correspondences
Box 3 Folder 15
Student Papers
1906-1918
Scope and Contents
Prof. Thompson's papers and grades as a student
Box 3 Folder 16
Papers by Prof. Thompson
Box 3 Folder 17
"Legal Education at the mid-century" by Prof. Thompson
Box 3 Folder 18
Prof. Thompson's Speech "An Oriental Odyssey"
1944-1945
Box 10
Cornell Law Quarterly, Vol. 42 No. 2
Winter 1957
Box 10
The Development of the Anglo-American Judicial System
Undated
Series V. Legal Materials
Box 3 Folder 19
Copyright
Scope and Contents
Materials on the copyright of Prof. Thompson's publications
Box 6 Folder 30
Contract with Pei-yang University
1915
Box 6 Folder 31
Contracts for Williston on Contracts
1933-1943
Series VI. Notes
Scope and Contents
Mostly bound volumes of class notes taken while a student at Harvard Law.
Box 4
Bankruptcy by Professes Samuel Williston
1911-1912
Scope and Contents
Prof. Thompson's class notes during his study in Harvard University Law School
Box 4
Bills and Notes by Professor Joseph D. Brannen
1910-1911
Box 4
Class Notes taken in Professor Roscoe Pound's Lectures
1917-1918
Box 4
Common Carrier and Public Service Companies by Professor Bruce Wyman Vol. II
1911-1912
Scope and Contents
Notes taken in Harvard Law School
Box 4
Common Law Procedure, Prof. Thompson
Box 4
Conflicts of Laws by Professor Joseph Beal
1911-1912
Scope and Contents
Notes taken in Harvard Law School
Box 4
Conflicts of Laws by Professor Joseph Beal Vol.II
1911-1912
Box 4
Constitution Law by Prof. Eugene Wambaugh
1911-1912
Scope and Contents
Notes taken Harvard University Law School
Box 4
Conveyancing in Pennsylvania by Mr. Stern of the Philadelphia Bar
1912
Box 4
International Law by Professor Westergard
1917-1918
Box 5
Introduction to Law by Hutchins
1927-1928
Box 5
Law of Trusts by Professor Roscoe Pound Vol. II
1911-1912
Scope and Contents
Notes taken in Harvard Law School
Box 5
New York Practice
Scope and Contents
Notes taken in Harvard Law School
Box 5
New York Practice Vol. II
Box 5
Private Corporations by Professor Edward H. Warren Vol.I
1911-1912
Scope and Contents
Notes taken in Harvard Law School
Box 5
Private Corporations by Professor Edward H. Warren Vol.III
1911-1912
Scope and Contents
Notes taken in Harvard Law School
Box 5
Public Service Companies by Professor Bruce Wyman
Scope and Contents
Notes taken in Harvard Law School
Box 5
Roman Law by Professor Roscoe Pound
1917-1918
Box 5
Surety-ship and Mortgages by Professor Bruce Wyman
1911-1912
Scope and Contents
Notes taken in Harvard Law School
Box 5
Trusts by Professor Roscoe Pound
Series VII. Family Materials
Box 6 Folder 32
Letters from China by Ruth Barns Thompson
1915
Box 6 Folder 33
China-Writings
Scope and Contents
Contains The Bell of Peking and Others (a short story collection), "Glimpses of China Days" by George Jarvis Thompson, and My Chinese Honeymoon by Ruth Barnes Thompson
Box 3 Folder 20
Ruth B. Thompson Diary 1
Dec 1914-Jan 1916
Box 3 Folder 21
Ruth B. Thompson Diary 2
1916
Scope and Contents
Contains account of trip to Peking in April, Shan Hai Wan trip in August, and Red Cross work
Box 3 Folder 22
Ruth B. Thompson Diary 3
1916
Mapcase Folder 1
Simmons Female College: Bachelor Degree diploma of Ruth Warren Barns
June 14, 1861
Series VIII. Photos
Mapcase Folder 1
Law College Baseball Team
1908
Box 8 DVD-787, 788
DVD:Pictures taken by George J. and Ruth Barnes Thompson at Pei Yang University While teaching Anglo-American Law, Tianjin, China
1915-1917
Box 8 Folder 1
China Photos 1
Box 8 Folder 2
China Photos 2
Box 8 Folder 3
China Photos 3
Box 8 Folder 4
China photos, postcards, Train Time Table, and Stanley Club Program
Box 8 Folder 5
China Photo Album: "Xmas Greetings from China"
Box 8 Folder 6
Photos of the Summer Palace, Peking, China
1916
Box 8 Folder 7
Photo Album
Scope and Contents
Contains photos taken in Hawaii, China, Japan, Korea, and San Fransisco
Box 8 Folder 8
Photo Album
Scope and Contents
With Notes in the Front
Box 8 Folder 9
"Rail Trip Home through the Canadian Rockies"
July, 1917
Box 8 Folder 10
Framed photo of Miyajima, Japan
Box 8 Folder 11
Landscape Photo of an Unidentified Place
Box 8 Folder 12
Negative Album 1
Scope and Contents
Mostly taken in China
Box 8 Folder 13
Negative Album 2
Box 8 Folder 14
Negative Album 3
Box 8 Folder 15
Glass Plates, Mostly Taken in China
Box 8 Folder 16
Photos of Prof. Thompson
Box 8 Folder 17
Miscellaneous Photos, Postcards, and Films
Mapcase Folder 1
Group photo, Pei Yang University with George Thompson
1916
Mapcase Folder 1
Basketball team
1913
Mapcase Folder 1
Miscellaneous interior photograph
Undated
Series IX. Certificates, Awards
Mapcase Folder 1
Cornell University Phi Kappa Phi: Membership Certificate
Mapcase Folder 1
United State of America District of New Jersey: Certificate as an Attorney and Proctor
December 16, 1913
Mapcase Folder 1
Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Certificate of Admission
July 18, 1918
Mapcase Folder 1
United States of America, Southern District of New York: Certificate as Attorney, Proctor, Solicitor, Counsellor and Advocate of the District Court of the United State
July 20, 1914
Mapcase Folder 1
Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity: Certificate of Penna Delta Chapter
May 14, 1908
Scope and Contents
George J. Thompson is elected and initiated into the Penna Delta Chapter
Mapcase Folder 1
The State of New Jersey: Appointment as an Attorney at Law and Solicitor in Chancery
December 13, 1913
Mapcase Folder 1
University of Pennsylvania: Bachelor of Science in Economics Certificate
June 16, 1909
Mapcase Folder 1
Mount Holly State of New Jersey: Certificate of Graduation
June 7, 1906
Mapcase Folder 1
Harvard University, LB Degree diploma
June 10, 1912
Mapcase Folder 1
Harvard University, JD Degree diploma
June 10, 1913
Series X. Miscellany
Box 6 Folder 15
Miscellany
1917-1948
Scope and Contents
Published items by American in China, Peking Fellowship of Reconciliations, Cornell in China, Information collected on China's Legal System and Trade, etc.
Box 6 Folder 16
Miscellany
Scope and Contents
Contains Journals and correspondences, materials on American College Club Reunion, etc.
Box 6 Folder 17
Newspaper Clippings about China
Box 6 Folder 18
Miscellany
Scope and Contents
Contains a checkbook, United State Court for China Decennial Anniversary Brochure, and an account book
Box 6 Folder 19
Miscellany
191
Scope and Contents
Contains account books, My Chinese Honeymoon by Ruth B. Thompson, etc.
Box 6 Folder 20
Menus from Yeiko Maru (a Japanese ocean liner owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha)
1917
Box 6 Folder 21
Postcards from China, Japan, Canada
Box 6 Folder 22
Miscellany
Scope and Contents
Contains Introductory Lectures in Procedure by George J. Thompson (Revised Edition), and Certificate of Membership of the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity
Box 6 Folder 23
Correspondence and report
Scope and Contents
Contains Correspondences between Ruth B. Thompson and American Red Cross, and "Report on Condition of Military and Civil Prisonere of War in Siberia"
Box 6 Folder 34
Miscellaneous Program Invitations, etc.
Box 6 Folder 35
W.W.I Materials
1918-1921
Box 6 Folder 36
Passports-China
1914-1917
Box 6 Folder 37
Cornell Daily Sun Questionnaire
1953
Box 3 Folder 23
Account Book
1936-1957
Box 3 Folder 24
Prescriptions, correspondences
1914-1915
Box 3 Folder 25
Miscellany
Scope and Contents
Prof. Thompson's class schedule (1916-1917), Pei Yang University Examination Criminal Law (1917),Stanley Club and American College Club programs, etc.
Box 10
Cornell Barrister
1953
Series XI. Diaries
Box 9
Diaries
1909-1914
Scope and Contents
Dairies contain loose clippings and correspondence.
Box 9
Dairies
1934-1953
Scope and Contents
Dairies contain loose clippings and correspondence.
Box 10
Diaries
1954-1957