Arthur Haskell Thomas Papers 1920-1935

Summary
Contents
Names/subjects
Using these materials
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.
Creator
Thomas, Arthur Haskell, 1902-1989
Size
1 linear foot (2 archival boxes)
Call number
MC 00058

The collection consists of Thomas' student life memorabilia, as well as several textbooks and academic materials. Academic materials consist of the contents of six textbooks used for courses in the School of Textiles, including typed lessons and lectures; cloth analyses, hand colored weave patterns on graph paper, and fabric samples; and handwritten notes, assignments, essays and sketches. The student life material includes a number of university newsletters and other publications. Materials also document Thomas' involvement in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (R.O.T.C.), including a photograph of Thomas in uniform. His sports activities while at North Carolina State College are also included, such as playbooks, newspaper clippings, and a felt monogram.

Arthur Bull Haskell Thomas (1902-1989) graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Textiles Manufacturing from the School of Textiles at North Carolina State College in 1926. He lived in Durham, North Carolina at the time of graduation, and was active in sports, military, and academics on campus. He went to Danville, Virginia after graduation to work for Riverside Mill. He retired from the textile industry and moved to Gastonia, North Carolina, where he lived until his death in 1989.

Biographical/historical note

Arthur Bull Haskell Thomas (1902-1989) graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in textiles manufacturing from the School of Textiles at North Carolina State College in 1926. He lived in Durham, North Carolina at the time of graduation, and was an active student in the college. Thomas played on North Carolina State's freshman and varsity football teams throughout his college experience, and became the star quarterback of the varsity football team in his senior year. He was also an Assistant Manager and eventually Manager Elect of the college's varsity track team. He played baseball as a freshman and joined the varsity team his sophomore year. He joined the wrestling team and also the monogram club for his junior and senior years. Along with his participation in sports, he was involved with the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) on campus to become the Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion by his senior year, and was an active member of the Camp McClellan Club (an R.O.T.C. summer camp). Thomas also maintained involvement in textiles as a member of the Phi Psi honorary textile fraternity, and the Tompkins Textile Society. He went to Danville, Virginia after graduation to work for Riverside Mill. He retired from the textile industry and moved to Gastonia, North Carolina, where he lived until his death in 1989.

Scope/content

The collection consists of Arthur Haskell Thomas's academic materials. Several textbooks relating to Thomas' courses in the North Carolina State CollegeSchool of Textiles, including Textiles I and II, Design, Carding and Spinning, Engineering, and Weaving. The textbooks include fabric samples, hand colored weave patterns, notes, sketches and illustrations, and laboratory experiment reports. His student life memorabilia includes issues of The Wataugan, Alumni News, and the Technician; The Camp McClellan Messenger, a photograph of Thomas, and other material relating to the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (R.O.T.C.); and material relating to his sports activities, football playbooks, track meet program, and a North Carolina State College felt monogram.

Arrangement

The collection is composed of 2 series: 1. Academic, 1920-1935; 2. Student Life, 1922-1926.

Use of these materials

The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Arthur Haskell Thomas Papers, MC 00058, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Source of acquisition

Donated by Arthur Haskell Thomas in May 1972 (Accession no. 1972-0011).

Processing information

Processed by Terra Kridler, June 2005

Encoded by Terra Kridler, June 2005

Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

The collection is organized into two principal series:

Textbooks and Notebook 1920-1935 (MC00058 series 1)

This series consists of the contents of five textbooks and a notebook Arthur Haskell Thomas used for courses in the North Carolina State CollegeSchool of Textiles. Textiles I and II include lecture notes and cloth analyses, as well as essays on citizenship and physics experiments stamped by the Bailey Military Institute. A textbook on Carding and Spinning includes lessons and notes on the use of textile machinery. The Weaving textbook discusses yarn production, including discussion on different types of wool, and a history of silk, as well as dyeing, finishing, and color mixing. The Design textbook includes approximately 62 hand colored patterns to illustrate color effects, and different types of weaves and patterns, as well as a few yarn samples. And an engineering lecture notebook provides a detailed description of the construction and operation of a textile mill, a discussion of the history of textiles, and its influence on American industry and commerce.

Carding and Spinning textbook ca. 1924-1925

Typed lectures on yarn production concerning ring spinning, frame production and operation, frame cylinders and spindles, twist and breaking calculations, gearing, humidity in cotton mills, yarn diameter, and related topics. Chapters are typed with handwritten notes and sketches throughout the volume. Diagrams illustrating spinning frame machinery and operation supplement most chapter discussions. Also included is a reprinted article by author Flange titled The Spinning Ring from the October 1930 issue of Cotton, stamped by the Whitinsville Spinning Ring Company in Whitinsville, Massachusetts.

Box 1, Folder 1-2
Designing textbook ca. 1924-1925

Approximately 62 hand colored weave patterns on design (graph) paper illustrating types of weaves (such as rib, twill, leno, etc.) and color effects (checks, pique, etc.), all including discussion in typed text and design practice exercises. Some include fabric samples, hand drawn floral patterns and other sketches, several pages of pasted diagrams describing leno fabrics and illustrating jacquard machine operation. Four yarn samples also included.

Box 1, Folder 3-5
Engineering lecture notes 1922

Five by seven inch notebook, approximately 50 written pages, includes a detailed description of textile mill construction and operation, influence of textiles on American industry and commerce, transfer of textile industry center from New England to the South, history of textile industry and textiles back to ancient Egypt, and description of vegetable versus animal fibers.

Box 1, Folder 6
Textiles I textbook 1920-1923

Fourteen typed lectures and lecture notes on citizenship and the influences of family, education, religion, industry, government, and other social factors on citizenship. Handwritten reflective essays accompany each lecture. Also includes a book report on The Last of the Mohicans. Notes and assignments on introductory textiles-related topics, including cotton, textile machinery, carding and spinning, manufacturing, and other topics. Records of physics experiments stamped by the Bailey Military Institute dated 1920, including hand drawn sketches and diagrams. Also an outline of a speech on the cotton gin.

Box 1, Folder 7-8
Textiles II textbook 1925-1935

Typed lesson and notes on shedding with dobbies. Detailed instructions on how to conduct cloth analyses for fabric reproduction, including description of the 17 requirements and methods for obtaining the required data. Approximately 39 cloth analyses, each including hand colored patterns on graph paper and fabric samples. Instructions for methods of testing tensil strength and fabric quality. Description of treatments of fabrics to provide a variety of qualities, including feel, weight, and antiseptic properties. Explanation of colors in textile design, how they are made, visual effects of mixing colors, and creating patterns. Also includes a memo from the 161st North Carolina Infantry Brigade regarding two War Department circulars of interest to reserve officers.

Box 1, Folder 9-11
Weaving textbook ca. 1924-1925

The textbook contains mainly typed lecture notes on various topics concerning wool production, including: a lecture on soap and methods of soap product analysis; color mixing; discussion of various types of wool, where they are bred, and the qualities of different kinds; a history of silk and detailed description of the silk production process. Description of approximately 72 dyeing experiments, also typed, includes information on different types of dyes and dyeing methods on different types of fabric, as well as discussion on dye reactions to variables, such as light and water. Methods to determine monetary value and fastness of dyes are explained. Also a typed lecture on finishing treatment of grey cotton goods and the machinery used in these methods. Handwritten notes can be found throughout the typed lectures. Also includes a written homework assignment on dyes.

Box 2, Folder 12-13
Student Life 1922-1926 (MC 00058 series 2)

The Student Life series documents the various activities in which Arthur Haskell Thomas was involved while attending North Carolina State College. Included are two issues of The Wataugan, a student literary magazine; an issue of The Camp McClellan Messenger and a photograph of Thomas in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (R.O.T.C); issues of the Alumni News; three North Carolina State handbooks; a Directory of North Carolina State College (1925-1926); and an issue of the Technician (student body newspaper). Student life materials also document much of Thomas' sports activities while at North Carolina State College, particularly football and track.

Memorabilia 1922-1926

Miscellaneous student life materials include: the March 1926 and April 1926 issues of The Wataugan; 1922, 1923, and 1925 North Carolina State handbooks published by the Young Mens Christian Association (Y.M.C.A.); a Directory of North Carolina State College (1925-1926); issues of the Alumni News (November 1925, November 1927, September 1928); and a felt North Carolina State College monogram.

Box 2, Folder 14-15
Reserve Officers' Training Corps 1924-1926

Thomas was involved with the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) throughout his college experience. These materials document some of his activities. A photograph of Thomas in the field in uniform is included, as well as a Rules and Regulations handbook for the R.O.T.C. infantry unit. Also included is the July 1925 issue of The Camp McClellan Messenger, and a newspaper clipping from the News and Observer featuring the annual president's review ceremony.

Box 2, Folder 16
Sports 1925-1926

Thomas' involvement in college sports is documented. The collection consists of several newspaper clippings, including an October 1925 issue of the Technician featuring Thomas on the front page; Official Foot Ball Rules (1925) and several playbooks with notes and sketches; and records from the Varsity Track Team (1926) including a Southern Conference Programme (14-15 May 1926).

Box 2, Folder 17-18
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

Access to the collection

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to digital files may require additional advanced notice.

For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.

Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111

Phone: (919) 515-2273

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Arthur Haskell Thomas Papers, MC 00058, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Use of these materials

The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.