Guide to the Compton Family Papers, 1908-1928
Last Updated
Overview of the Collection
Repository:
Special Collections & Archives
McIntyre Library
University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire
P.O. Box 4004
105 Garfield Ave.
Eau Claire, WI 54702 – 4004
(715) 836-2739
https://library.uwec.edu/archives/
Reference Code: USGZE UHC325
Accession Number: 09-009
Collection Number: UHC325
Creators: Compton Family (Tomah, Wis.)
Title: Compton Family Papers
Dates: 1908-1928
Quantity: 3.0 linear foot (9 archives boxes)
Location of Collection: A9/1b
Languages: Collection materials are in English.
Summary: The collection is comprised primarily of correspondence from Donald “Don” E. Compton, Charles “Chuck” Compton, and Ruth Compton to their parents L. M. (Lindley M.) and Elva Compton (Tomah, Wis.) L.M. Compton was the first superintendent of the Tomah Indian Industrial School in Tomah, Wis. The largest part of the collection consists of letters from Don to his parents. There is also World War I era correspondence from Don who was a Lieutenant Junior in the U.S. Navy. These personal writings discuss social and cultural life and family dynamics in the early 1900’s.
Biographical / Historical Note
L.M. (Lindley M.) Compton was the first superintendent of the Tomah Indian Industrial School in Tomah, Wis. He was born in the late 1800’s and died circa 1928. He was married to Elva Compton, and they had three children: Donald “Don” E. Compton, Charles “Chuck” Compton, and Ruth Compton. It appears that the family owned property in Indiana and Louisiana, but their primary residence in the early 20th Century was Tomah, Wis.
Donald “Don” E. Compton was the elder son of L.M and Elva Compton. He attended school at the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) in Indiana in 1915. He later joined the U.S. Navy in 1917. While in the U.S. Navy he went from Ensign to Lieutenant Junior and served in Europe during World War I. After his service in the U.S. Navy he returned to Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin—Madison. Don worked at the YMCA in Indiana for some time and may have been an architect. In 1927, Don marries Mary Sale and made residency in Indiana.
Charles “Chuck” Compton (b. 1906- d. 1986) was the second child to L.M. and Elva Compton. In 1923, Chuck attended school at the University of Wisconsin— Madison. In his letters, he shares his experience traveling and working as a welder in the upper Midwest: Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. Chuck would marry Ethel Griesbach and have two daughters, Marilyn and Joyce Compton.
Ruth Compton (b. 1908) is the youngest and only daughter to L.M. and Elva Compton. In the early 1920, Ruth studied and worked at the University of Wisconsin—Madison. She married William Harold Harvey and lived in Indiana.
Content Description
The Compton Family Paper collection is divided into five series: Donald “Don” E. Compton Letters, Charles “Chuck” Compton Letters, Ruth Compton Letters, Mr. L.M. (Lindley M.) Compton and Mrs. Elva Compton Letters, and Miscellaneous Materials. The collection consists primarily of incoming correspondence from Don, Chuck, and Ruth their parents L.M. and Elva Compton. The largest part of the collection is incoming letters from Don to his parents. In addition, there are war letters from Don, a Lieutenant Junior (Liet. Jg.) in the U.S. Navy, during World War I. All personal writings from this collection document the social and cultural life and the family dynamics in the early Twentieth Century. Miscellaneous items contain a photo album of the Tomah Indian Industrial School (Tomah, Wis.) and personal business objects.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information: Donated to the University Archives by Terry and Marilyn Sullivan and Joyce Compton Sturz in August 1993. The collection was found in the basement of Ethel Compton’s home. Ethel, the mother of the donors, was married to Charles Compton, second son of L. M. Compton.
Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public.
Use Restrictions: Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. Copyright owned by the University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire.
Preferred Citation: Compton Family Papers, 1908-1928. UHC325 Special Collections & Archives. McIntyre Library. University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire. Eau Claire, Wis.
Processing Note: Processed by Mai Youa Lee, December 2008.
Arrangement: By series, correspondence arranged by authors.
Subjects
Personal Names:
Compton Family (Tomah, Wis.)
Compton, Donald E.
Compton, Charles
Compton, Ruth
Compton, L.M. (Lindley M.)
Compton, Elva
Corporate Names:
University of Wisconsin—Madison—Students
Tomah Indian Industrial School (Tomah, Wis.)
Subject Terms: World War, 1914-1918-- Personal narratives, American
Geographical Terms:
Wisconsin—Social life and customs—20th Century
Illinois—Social life and customs—20th Century
Indiana—Social life and customs—20th Century
Michigan—Social life and customs—20th Century
Ohio—Social life and customs—20th Century
Detailed List of Contents
Series 1: Donald “Don” E. Compton Letters
This first series contains primarily incoming correspondence from Don to his parents living in Tomah, Wis. Of the five series, this is the largest series. Don’s letters discuss his social life, education, U.S. naval training at Great Lakes in Chicago, Illinois going on duty as a Naval officer, working, and family life. In addition to some of the letters Don wrote, he included pictures and postcards.
Dates: 1914-1927
Extent: 2.0 linear feet (5 archives boxes)
Container
Contents
Dates
Box/Folder 1/1
Correspondence to parents
1914
Box/Folder 1/2
Correspondence to parents
1915
Box/Folder 1/3
Correspondence to parents
1916
Box/Folder 1/4
Correspondence to Don
1916
Box/Folder 1/5
Correspondence to parents
1917
Box/Folder 2/1
War correspondence to parents, picture
January- February 1918
Box/Folder 2/2
War correspondence to parents
March-May 1918
Box/Folder 2/3
War correspondence to parents
June- July 1918
Box/Folder 2/4
War correspondence to parents
August-October 1918
Box/Folder 2/5
War correspondence to parents, picture
November-December 1918
Box/Folder 2/6
Correspondence to Don
1918
Box/Folder 3/1
War correspondence to parents
January-February 1919
Box/Folder 3/2
War correspondence to parents
March-May 1919
Box/Folder 3/3
War correspondence to parents
June-July 1919
Box/Folder 3/4
War correspondence to parents
August- September 1919
Box/Folder 3/5
War correspondence to parents
October- December 1919
Box/Folder 4/1
Correspondence to parents
1920
Box/Folder 4/2
Correspondence to parents
1921
Box/Folder 4/3
Correspondence to parents
1922
Box/Folder 5/1
Correspondence to parents
1923
Box/Folder 5/2
Correspondence to parents
1924
Box/Folder 5/3
Correspondence to parents
Undated
Box/Folder 5/4
Postcards and pictures
1917-1923
Series 2: Charles “Chuck” Compton Letters
This second series has correspondence from Chuck to his parents living in Tomah, Wis. Nearly all of Chuck’s letters are incoming correspondence that describes his social life, education, his work as a welder, and travels in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
Dates: 1917-1928
Extent: 0.4 linear feet (1 archival box)
Container
Contents
Dates
Box/Folder 6/1
Correspondence to parents
1923
Box/Folder 6/2
Correspondence to parents
1925
Box/Folder 6/3
Correspondence to parents
1926
Box/Folder 6/4
Correspondence to parents
1927
Box/Folder 6/5
Correspondence to parents
1928
Box/Folder 6/6
Correspondence to parents
Undated
Box/Folder 6/7
Correspondence to Chuck
1917-1918
Series 3: Ruth Compton Letters
This third series has primarily incoming correspondence from Ruth to her parents living in Tomah, Wis. Her letters illustrates her social life, academic lifestyle while a student at UW-Madison, and working.
Dates: 1926-1928
Extent: 0.2 linear feet (1 archival box)
Container
Contents
Dates
Box/Folder 7/1
Correspondence to parents
1926
Box/Folder 7/2
Correspondence to parents
1927
Box/Folder 7/3
Correspondence to parents
1928
Box/Folder 7/4
Correspondence to Ruth
Undated
Series 4: Mr. L.M. (Lindley M.) Compton and Mrs. Elva Compton Letters
This series contains correspondence to and from Mr. L.M. Compton and Mrs. Elva Compton. It includes fragmentary and routine business messages, as well as family letters expressing concerns for Mrs. Elva Compton’s health.
Dates: 1914- 1928
Extent: 0.2 linear feet (1 archival box)
Container
Contents
Dates
Box/Folder 8/1
Correspondence to L.M. Compton
1914-1922
Box/Folder 8/2
Correspondence composed by L.M. Compton
1916-1927
Box/Folder 8/3
Correspondence to Mrs. Elva Compton when ill.
April 1917
Box/Folder 8/4
Correspondence to Mrs. Elva Compton
1915-1928
Series 5: Miscellaneous Materials
This last series includes an undated photo album with pictures from the Tomah Indian Industrial School, a leather business card holder, property records, and ephemeral financial records.
Dates: 1908-1928
Extent: 0.2 linear feet (1 archival box)
Container
Contents
Dates
Box/Folder 9/1
Photo album and leather business card holder
Undated
Box/Folder 9/2
Property Records
1908-1922
Box/Folder 9/3
Financial Records
Undated