J.W. Thornall Collection

On May 6, 1997, Constance Thornall Hope delivered to Special Collections & University Archives ten large cartons of research materials gathered by her father, J.W. Thornall. For over twenty-five years he had researched the Thornall and allied families, much of the work being done here in SC/UA. She donated the materials here for the use of other researchers.

Jay Worthington Thornall was born November 1, 1913. His death was not recent as his materials were stored by Mrs. Hope for many years.

The bulk of the research materials were compiled in thick loose-leaf notebooks the rings of which had begun to rust. There were many groups of pages held together with paper clips or elastic bands, both of which had deteriorated from storage in a damp environment. The volume of the materials was estimated at 15 cubic feet.

The types of materials presented included: research notes; hand-drawn pedigree charts; correspondence; newspaper clippings; photographs; original documents such as wills, estate inventories and other legal papers, Bible records, plot maps, wedding announcements and other family memorabilia; publications; and photocopies of published information.

As most of the materials were arranged by Mr. Thornall by family, this order was preserved. Items were retained in the order in which he had kept them and folded in acid-free file folders. Folders were labelled as he had labelled the notebooks from which the items came. Some flattering and mending of tattered edges was done as foldering progressed and rusty paper clips and staples were replaced. Those papers which were not in labelled notebooks were identified by the family covered and foldered accordingly. Oversized items were boxes in a record center box in legal size folders. Photographs which Mr. Thornall had mounted were retained in the location in which he has filed them, but loose photographs (of which there were quite a few) were sleeved and boxed separately.

Upon the conclusion of the processing, a finding aid was prepared and a copy will be sent to the donor.