Thomas - Prescott Papers
00170

Summary Information

Repository
Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
Creator
Thomas family, (Benjamin H. Thomas, 1815-1887)
Title
Thomas-Prescott papers
ID
00170
Date [inclusive]
1824-1960
Extent
6.25 Cubic feet
Language
English

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: "Item title, Collection title, Collection Identifier, Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections, East Lansing, Michigan."

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Biographical Note

Thomas E. Thomas (circa 1788-1854) immigrated from South Wales to the United States in 1817, settling in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. He was ordained a Baptist minister in 1824 and became a naturalized citizen in 1828. His son, Benjamin H. (1815-1887) attended Granville College (circa 1845-1846) and was also a Baptist minister. In 1865, Benjamin Thomas became president of the Board of Trustees at the Reid Institute in Reidsburg, Pennsylvania. He married Eleanor L. Williams (1817-1904) and they had at least seven children: Elizabeth, Alfred, Shadrick, Amos W., Thomas E., Benjamin H., Jr. and Ella.

Amos W. Thomas was a soldier in the Civil War (11th Pennsylvania Cavalry) and died of smallpox in May 1863. Benjamin H. Thomas, Jr. (1853-1927) an ordained Baptist minister, was a pastor at several churches in Michigan and Ohio.

In 1879, Benjamin H. Thomas, Jr. married Rosannah T. Prescott (1860-1943). They had five children. Sara Eleanor Thomas, born in 1882 and eventually married to Robert Andrews. Effie Allene died in 1900 at age 16. Charles Benjamin (1886-1918) was aviation instructor who died in a plane collision while on active duty at Camp Selfridge, Michigan. He had a son, Charles Frederick, by his first wife, Louise Garten. Harold Wilbur (born 1896) married Louise Johnson in 1917, and was a graduate of Colgate University (1918). Harold served as a first lieutenant in the army during World War I. After the death of his brother, Charles Benjamin Thomas, Harold and Louise raised their nephew, Charles Frederick. Charles Frederick attended numerous private schools and was a graduate of the University of Michigan (1935).

Rosannah T. Prescott, the wife of Benjamin H. Thomas, Jr., was the daughter of Charles H. Prescott (1828-1913) and Sarah A. Barnard Prescott (1838-1912) of Bay City, Michigan. Charles Prescott, was an ordained Baptist minister, who became a millionaire through his involvement with lumbering, real estate, and stock raising.

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Scope and Contents note

The collection documents the lives of the Thomas and Prescott families of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. The collection contains biographical papers, genealogy/lineage records, and correspondence of family members. The bulk of the collection is the correspondence of Benjamin H. Thomas Jr., spanning the period from 1879 to 1927.

The biographical papers consist of obituary notices and correspondence which discuss eligibility to join the D.A.R. and the moral character of family members. The correspondence of the family members discuss religion, health, and daily activities.

The papers of Benjamin H. Thomas Jr. includes correspondence sermon notes, diaries, a notebook, travel summaries, and various church histories and documents. One travel diary describes his trip to the Orient. The notebook gives an account of daily activities, expenses, and information about family members.

Other correspondence includes letters related to the illness and subsequent death (13 May 1863) of Amos W. Thomas, a soldier in the Civil War (11th Pennsylvania Cavalry). During his illness he was cared for in the Small Pox Hospital, close to Camp Suffolk in Virginia. Friends, the nurse, and chaplain wrote letters home for him. Included are a map of his burial site in Virginia and a letter discussing the possible removal of the remains from Virginia to Michigan. These letters have been transcribed, scanned and placed online at http://civilwar.archives.msu.edu/collection/7-1C-42/thomas/.

The death of Charles B. Thomas in a plane collision is another large part of the collection. There are files containing his correspondence and documents, his aviation book, information concerning his death, including obituary notices, articles about the accident and correspondence to the family about his death.

Included among the church documents are the minutes from the annual Clairon Baptist Association meetings (1838-1888). Pennsylvania churches documented in the church histories include, Union Baptist Church in North Buffalo, Armstrong County; Greenville and Zion Baptist Churches in Clarion County; Leatherwood Church; and the Soldier Run Church in Reidsville, PA.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections May 1993

Conrad Hall
888 Wilson Road, Room 101
East Lansing , MI, 48824
517-355-2330
archives@msu.edu

Revision Description

 April 2015 September 2002

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Legal Status

Copyright: Michigan State University. Property Rights: Michigan State University.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • Daughters of the American Revolution.

Genre(s)

  • Diaries
  • Genealogies (histories)
  • Letters (correspondence)
  • Maps

Geographic Name(s)

  • Michigan
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865

Personal Name(s)

  • Andrews, Sara Eleanor Thomas, 1882-
  • Igoe, Lynn, 1937-
  • Prescott, Charles H., 1828-1913
  • Prescott, Sarah Barnard, 1838-1912
  • Thomas, Benjamin H., 1815-1887
  • Thomas, Benjamin Hampton, 1853-1927
  • Thomas, Charles Benjamin, 1886-1918
  • Thomas, Charles Frederick
  • Thomas, Eleanor Williams, 1817-1904
  • Thomas, Harold Prescott, 1896-1969
  • Thomas, Louise Johnson, 1897-1970
  • Thomas, Rosannah Prescott, 1860-1943
  • Thomas, Thomas E., 1788-1854

Subject(s)

  • Baptists
  • Sermons, American
  • Smallpox

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Collection Inventory

Box Folder

Biographical Papers 

 1
Box Folder

 1863-1919 

 1 1

 November 16, 1924 - 1943, Undated 

 1 2

Genealogy/Lineage Records 

 1
Box Folder

 1900 

 1 3

 1925 

 1 4

Thomas E. Thomas. Correspondence 

 1
Box Folder

 October 1824 - November 4, 1844 

 1 5

 April 27, 1845 - 1865 

 1 6

B. H. Thomas 

 1
Box Folder

Correspondence 

 1
Box Folder

 1836-1855 

 1 7

 1856 - May 11, 1863 

 1 8

 May 20, 1863 - 1866 

 1 9

 1867-1869 

 1 10

 1870-1871 

 1 11

 1872-1875 

 1 12

 1876 - June 30, 1878 

 1 13

 July 30, 1878 - 1879 

 1 14

 1880 - June 10, 1881 

 1 15

 October 15, 1881 - 1882 

 1 16

 1883-1885 

 1 17

 1886 - August 19, 1887 

 1 18

 August 22, 1887 - 1888 

 1 19

 1889-1891 

 1 20

 1892-1896 

 1 21

 1897-1899 

 1 22

 1900-1903 

 1 23

 1904-1909 

 1 24

 1910-1914 

 1 25

 1915-1922 

 1 26

 1923-1942 

 1 27

 Undated 

 1 28

partial dates 

 1 29

Church Related Correspondence 

 1
Box Folder

 1855-1859 

 1 30

 1860-1866 

 1 31

 1867-1869 

 1 32

 1870-1871 

 1 33

 1872-1873 

 1 34

 1874-1875 

 1 35

 1876-1879 

 1 36

 1880-1881 

 1 37

 1882-1883 

 1 38

 1884-1887 

 1 39

partial dates 

 1 40

 Undated 

 1 41

Partial Letters 

 1 42

Church Histories 1835-1926 

 2 1

Church Documents 

 2
Box Folder

 1838-1854 

 2 2

 1855-1904 

 2 3

Diary 

 2
Box Folder

 1886 

 2 4

 1906 

 2 5

Notebook 1917-1918 

 2 6

Sermon Notes 

 2 7 - 10

Poetry 

 2 11

Outlines 

 2 12

Travel Summaries 

 2 13

Miscellaneous Travel Notes 

 2 14

Postcards 

 2 15

Souvenir Booklets 

 2 16

Miscellaneous Booklets 

 2 17

Eleanor L. Thomas. Correspondence March 25, 1881 - June 2, 1900 

 2 18

Rosannah Tryphena Prescott Thomas. Correspondence 1881 

 2 19

Charles B. Thomas 

 2
Box Folder

Correspondence/Documents February 6, 1905 - March 13, 1908 

 2 20

Correspondence/Documents November 23, 1908 - July 27, 1918 

 2 21

Aviation Book November 3, 1917 - May 1, 1918 

 2 22

Military Correspondence February 4, 1908 - August 5, 1918 

 2 23

Death/Obituary /Correspondence September 11, 1918 - March 3, 1919 

 2 24

Charles Frederick Thomas. Correspondence/Grades April 28, 1896 - June 17, 1935 

 2 25

Harold P. Thomas/Louise Johnson Thomas. Correspondence January 2, 1922 - March 16, 1960 

 2 26

Sarah Eleanor (Thomas) Andrews. Correspondence 1887 

 2 27

Charles H. Prescott/Sarah B. Prescott Correspondence 1865-1871 

 2 28

Charles H. Prescott. Correspondence December 31, 1875 - February 13, 1893 

 2 29

Class Notebook 

 2 30

Miscellaneous Correspondence 

 2 31

Partial Letters 

 2 32

Miscellaneous 

 2 33
Box Volume

B.H. Thomas Bible 

 4 1

Photographs 

Oversize Photographs 
Box

Orville Prescott undated 

 2745

Helen Prescott undated 

 2745

Sally Prescott undated 

 2745

Sons of Orville Prescott undated 

 2745

Harold P. Thomas in Theta Xi Fraternity 1916 

 2745
Box Folder

Andrews family undated 

 3 1

Barnard family undated 

 3 2

Prescott family undated 

 3 16

Prescott men undated 

 3 3
Box Folder item

Prescott men (2) undated 

 3 17 1 of 3
Box Folder

Prescott women undated 

 3 4
Box Folder item

Prescott women (2) undated 

 3 17 2 of 3

Prescott groups undated 

 3 17 3 of 3
Box Folder

Prescott children undated 

 3 5

Smith women undated 

 3 7

Charles Frederick Thomas undated 

 3 9

Benjamin H. Thomas undated 

 3 18
Box Folder item

Benjamin H. Thomas (2) 1875, 1918, undated 

 3 19 1 of 5

Siblings and In-Laws of Benjamin H. Thomas undated 

 3 19 2 of 5

Benjamin Hampson Thomas Sr. (father of Benjamin H. Thomas) undated 

 3 19 3 of 5

Mother of Benjamin H. Thomas undated 

 3 19 4 of 5

Grandfather of Benjamin H. Thomas undated 

 3 19 5 of 5
Box Folder

Harold P. Thomas & Louise J. Thomas 1917, undated 

 3 20
Box Folder item

Harold P. Thomas in groups undated 

 3 21 1 of 4

Louise J. Thomas 1919, 1962, undated 

 3 21 2 of 4

Harold P. Thomas (earlier years) 1917, 1919, undated 

 3 21 3 of 4

Harold P. Thomas (later years) undated 

 3 21 4 of 4

Charles Thomas 1917, 1918, undated 

 3 22 1 of 3

Fred Thomas (son of Charles Thomas) 1914, 1930, undated 

 3 22 2 of 3

Fred Thomas graduation 1931, undated 

 3 22 3 of 3
Box Folder

Eleanor Thomas undated 

 3 8

Thomas women undated 

 3 10

Thomas women (2) 1945, undated 

 3 23
Box Folder item

Rosa Thomas (wife of Benjamin H. Thomas) 1917, 1920, undated 

 3 24 1 of 2

Thomas daughters 1944, undated 

 3 24 2 of 2
Box Folder

Waters women undated 

 3 11

Unidentified men undated 

 3 6

Unidentified men (2) undated 

 3 25
Box Folder item

Unidentified men (3) undated 

 3 26 1 of 2

Unidentified men (4) 1911, 1930, undated 

 3 26 2 of 2
Box Folder

Unidentified women undated 

 3 13

Unidentified women (2) undated 

 3 27
Box Folder item

Unidentified women (3) undated 

 3 28 1 of 2

Unidentified women (4) undated 

 3 28 2 of 2
Box Folder

Unidentified children 1951, undated 

 3 29
Box Folder item

Unidentified children (2) undated 

 3 30 1 of 2

Unidentified children (3) 1924, 1930, undated 

 3 30 2 of 2
Box Folder

Groups of people undated 

 3 12

Groups of people (2) undated 

 3 31
Box Folder item

Groups of people (3) 1928, 1930, undated 

 3 32 1 of 2

Groups of people (4) 1920, undated 

 3 32 2 of 2
Box Folder

Multiple people - incl. Andrews, Graham, Harmon, & Thomas undated 

 3 14
Box Folder item

David R. Thomas undated 

 3 15 1 of 2

Multiple people - incl. Andrews, Harmon, & Graham undated 

 3 15 2 of 2
Box Folder

Weddings 1950s (?), undated 

 3 33
Box Folder item

World War I 1917-1918, undated 

 2 34 1 of 2

World War II 1943, undated 

 2 34 2 of 2

Photographs taken by Allen B. Prescott 1914-1915 

 2 35 1 of 2

Photographs taken by Benjamin H. Thomas undated 

 2 35 2 of 2
Box Folder

Nature Scenes undated 

 2 36
Box Folder item

Ski Trip undated 

 2 37 1 of 2

Bodies of Water undated 

 2 37 2 of 2
Box Folder

Buildings and Houses undated 

 2 38
Box Folder item

Buildings - Exteriors 1 undated 

 2 39 1 of 4

Buildings - Exteriors 2 undated 

 2 39 2 of 4

Buildings - Interiors undated 

 2 39 3 of 4

Houses - Interiors & Exteriors undated 

 2 39 4 of 4

Cemeteries undated 

 2 40 1 of 2

Cemetery Stereoscope undated 

 2 40 2 of 2
Box Folder

Foreign Scenery undated 

 2 41
Box Folder item

Algiers undated 

 2 42 1 of 4

California, Florida, Michigan, Arizona undated 

 2 42 2 of 4

Tawas City undated 

 2 42 3 of 4

Unidentified Scenery undated 

 2 42 4 of 4

Postcards (1) 1906-1919 

 2 43 1 of 2

Postcards (2) 1906-1919 

 2 43 2 of 2
Box Folder

Negatives (2 small folders and original envelope) undated 

 2 44

Negative Book 
Box Folder

Photocopy of Index List 

 5 3

1 - atig on way to Alpena 

 5 4

2 - Fred & Jirzah 

 5 4

3 - Zoo - Lakes 1913 

 5 4

4 - 1913 Salt Co. Dock 

 5 4

5 - Cleveland 1913 

 5 4

6 - Portage 1913 

 5 4

7 - 1913 approaching Duluth 

 5 4

8 - Aerial Bridge 

 5 4

9 - Trolley Duluth 

 5 4

10 - Ore Dock 2 Harbors 

 5 4

11 - Coal Dock 2 H. 

 5 4

12 - Loading Coal 2 H 

 5 4

13 - Heaving Coal 1913 

 5 4

14 - Au Barge 1913 

 5 4

15 - Au Barge 1913 

 5 4

16 - Au King 1913 

 5 4

17 - Arthur 

 5 4

18 - High School 1914 

 5 4

19 - High School 1914 

 5 4

20 - 1914 Mackinac fort 

 5 4

21 - Swimming Mackinac 

 5 4

22 - leaving Mackinac 

 5 4

23 - Block House 

 5 4

24 - Lovers Leap 

 5 4

25 - Sugar Loaf 

 5 4

26 - Wishing Spring 

 5 4

27 - Miscellaneous Mackinac 

 5 4

28 - Arch Rock 1914 

 5 4

29 - Trip from Nice to Grenoble 

 5 4

30 - Grenoble - en route 

 5 4

31 - St. Gmgolph - Evian 

 5 4

32 - Les Bams & territory 

 5 4

33 - around Lake Geneva 

 5 4

34 - Chamonix 

 5 4

35 - territory around Mont Blanc 

 5 4

36 - territory around Mont Blanc 

 5 4

37 - Nice and Monte Carlo - 1917-18 & 19 

 5 4

38 - Nice and Monte Carlo - 1917-18 & 19 

 5 5

39 - Nice and Monte Carlo - 1917-18 & 19 

 5 5

40 - Nice and Monte Carlo - 1917-18 & 19 

 5 5

41 - Nice and Monte Carlo - 1917-18 & 19 

 5 5

42 - Nice and Monte Carlo - 1917-18 & 19 

 5 5

43 - Trip from Nice to Grasse via - 1917-18 & 19 

 5 5

44 - Trip from Nice to Grasse via - 1917-18 & 19 

 5 5

45 - Gorges du Loupe 

 5 5

46 - Gorges du Loupe 

 5 5

47 - Chinks at Mulhouse 

 5 5

48 - Swiss Border (wine) 

 5 5

49 - Coming Home 

 5 5

50 - Gens & trip to Mulhouse 

 5 5

51 - Gins & trip to Rhine River - 1917-18 & 19 

 5 5

52 - Gins & trip to Rhine River - 1917-18 & 19 

 5 5

53 - Gibraltar 1917-18 & 19 

 5 5

54 - Gibraltar 

 5 5

55 - Gibraltar - 1917-18 & 19 

 5 5

56 - Madison Barracks 

 5 5

57 - Cleveland - 1920 

 5 5

58 - Louise 

 5 5

59 - Cleveland - 1920 

 5 5

60 - Louise - 1920 & 1921 

 5 5

61 - Cleveland 

 5 5

62 - Louise 1920 & 1921 

 5 5

63 - Tawas City - summer - 1920 

 5 5

64 - Tawas City - summer - 1920 

 5 5

65 - Vesoul - France and vicinity 

 5 5

66 - Vesoul - France and vicinity 

 5 5

67 - 1918-19 

 5 5

68 - 1918-19 

 5 5

69 - 1918 - going across 

 5 5

70 - St. Gmgolph - Evian Les Bams & territory 

 5 5

71 - Gins & trip to Rhine River - 1917-18 & 19 

 5 5

72 - Trip from Nice to Grenoble - en route 

 5 5

73 - Chamonix & territory around Mont Blanc 

 5 5

74 - Chamonix & territory around Mont Blanc 

 5 5

Eastman Negative Album 

 5 6
Box Folder

Photo album - Jerusalem, Olivet, Gethsemane, River Jordan, Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, Damascus, Egypt, Oregon, California, Michigan 1906 

 4 1

Photo album - lake, houses (exteriors & interiors), portraits of unidentified men, women, children, and groups undated 

 1 43

Photo album - houses (exteriors), portraits of men, women, and children undated 

 5 7
Box

Photo album - "Fred Thomas: Thomas and Prescott ancestors, Harold P. Thomas, Charles F. Thomas, For your children and grandchildren" - War Scenes (trenches, destroyed/bombed buildings, graves, tanks), WWI postcards & photos, houses (exteriors & interiors), portraits (men, women, children, groups), cars, tennis, waterfalls, monuments, church interior, horses, Colgate College & college life, trains, ships, Winter Carnival 1916, shoveling snow, laboratories, track meet, romance, cows, swimming, pets, football, Dorm Rooms (ca. 1918), alligators, fort, WWI camp life, Camp Stewart (June 28, 1918), Europe scenes, airplane, chickens 1916, 1918, undated 

 6
Box Volume

"In the Orient and On the Continent" Vol. I. Benjamin H. Thomas trip to: Azores, Gibraltar, Naples, Pompeii, Capri, Port Said, Cairo, Denderah, Karnak, Luxor, Thebes, Assuan, Philae, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Damascus, Baalbek, Samos, Smyrne, Ephesus, Constantinople, Athens 1906 

 4 2

"In the Orient and On the Continent" Vol. I. Benjamin H. Thomas trip to: Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Luzern, Grindelwald, Geneva, Paris, London, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, Luxor, Assouan 1906 

 4 3
Box Folder item

Stamped wallet of Lieutenant Harold P. Thomas undated 

 5 1 1 of 2

Photograph of Louise J. Thomas from inside stamped wallet undated 

 5 1 2 of 2

Photo wallet of Major Harold P. Thomas undated 

 5 2 2 of 2

Unidentified photographs from inside photo wallet & Major Harold P. Thomas Identification Pass 1943 (?), undated 

 5 2 1 of 2
Box

Nine framed daguerreotype portraits of unidentified men, women, and children undated 

 7
Box Folder

One tintype portrait of two girls undated 

 7 1

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