Arthur Haskell Thomas Papers
MC 00058
Special Collections Research Center
1.0 Linear feet
2 archival boxes
1920-1935
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.
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the
Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff.
2 archival boxes
Thomas, Arthur Haskell, 1902-1989
Restrictions to Access
This collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours advance notice.
Acquisitions Information
Donated by Arthur Haskell Thomas in May 1972 (Accession no. 1972-0011).
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Arthur Haskell Thomas Papers, MC 58, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Copyright Notice
The nature of the NCSU Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NCSU 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.
Processing Information note
Processed by Terra Kridler, June 2005
Encoded by Terra Kridler, June 2005
Biographical 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 and Content Note
The collection consists of
Arthur Haskell Thomas's academic materials. Several
textbooks relating to Thomas' courses in the
North Carolina State College
School 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.
Organization of the Collection
The collection is composed of 2 series: 1. Academic, 1920-1935; 2. Student Life, 1922-1926.
North Carolina State College--Students--Social life and customs--20th century.
Thomas, Arthur Haskell, 1902-1989
College sports--North Carolina--History--20th century
Textbooks
Textile industry--Study and teaching--North Carolina--History--20th century
Textile schools--North Carolina--History
Academic
MC00058 series 1
1920-1935
Scope and Contents note
The Academic series consists of the contents of six textbooks
Arthur Haskell Thomas used for courses in the
North Carolina State College
School 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
1
1-2
ca. 1924-1925
Scope and Contents note
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.
Designing textbook
1
3-5
ca. 1924-1925
Scope and Contents note
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.
Engineering lecture notes
1
6
1922
Scope and Contents note
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.
Textiles I textbook
1
7-8
1920-1923
Scope and Contents note
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.
Textiles II textbook
1
9-11
1925-1935
Scope and Contents note
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.
Weaving textbook
2
12-13
ca. 1924-1925
Scope and Contents note
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.
Student Life
MC 00058 series 2
1922-1926
Scope and Contents note
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
2
14-15
1922-1926
Scope and Contents note
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.
Reserve Officers' Training Corps
2
16
1924-1926
Scope and Contents note
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.
Sports
2
17-18
1925-1926
Scope and Contents note
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).