To: UI Special Collections
 

Harold and Sara Thompson were intrepid travelers who on returns to their Los Angeles home lectured widely about their adventures. As they traveled the continents, they collected small artifacts which they exhibited at their lectures and photographed for use in promotional literature and as slides. This collection was bequeathed to the Libraries, although some damaged objects and photographs in poor condition were discarded before it was shipped. The Thompson's criteria for acquisition was apparently exhibitablity, not dollar or aesthetic value, so the value of individual artifacts is largely modest and the range of quality is quite broad.

The artifact collection is recorded here with images arranged by the box in which particular artifacts reside. An inventory of the collection the Department's administrative files in some cases provides relatively detailed descriptions of individual artifacts.

The Thompson's will also specified that their estate make an annual gift to the University for the purchase of travel books. Income from endowment funds given to The Sara and Harold Lincoln Thompson Collection of Travel Literature and Ethnic Arts permits the purchase of five to ten titles each year.

The bequest also included oil portraits of Harold and Sara, both signed "Runci".

 

Box 1

Box 2

Box 3

Box 4

Box 5

 Box 6

Box 7

Box 8

Box 9

 Box 10

Box 11

Box 12

Box 13

Box 14

Box 15