Thomas, Winfield Wentworth, b. 1879.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE: The collection consists of family and business records of a family in Milwaukee and a related family in Portage, Wisconsin, covering the years 1861-1940. The bulk of the collection is personal correspondence among the Thomas and Wentworth families, primarily that of Winfield Wentworth Thomas and his wife Minnie Pearl Higley Thomas. The correspondence largely deals with the everyday happenings and concerns of the Thomas and Wentworth families.

Winfield W. Thomas was an avid book collector and there are two folders which contain correspondence, invoices, and notes pertaining to the books and authors which he collected. There are several folders which contain the travel journals of Kate Thomas, William's aunt, and her diaries from 1870-1917. Collection also contains genealogical information on Thomas' mother's side of the family, the Wentworths and the Pikes. It includes pedigree charts in the form of lists; information from the Pike Family Association of America; and various newspaper clippings and correspondence relevant to the families involved. Two folders contain photographs taken of the Thomas and Wentworth family members which generally include notations indicating name or relationship of persons represented. There are also two folders of memorabilia, among which there is a well-preserved, full-color banner from the centennial celebration at the international exhibition in Philadelphia. Also included is a journal which had belonged to Lydia Pike, grandmother of Winfield W. Thomas, containing poems written for Lydia between 1846-1851.

Winfield Wentworth Thomas' father, Richard J. Thomas, founded the Thomas Brass & Iron Co. The collection contains one folder of the firm's business records, mostly contract agreements, receipts, and catalogs listing the goods which the company manufactured or distributed. No information in regard to the company's size or annual production is included.  

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Both the Thomas and Wentworth families represented made important contributions to the history of Wisconsin in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Winfield Wentworth Thomas was born in Milwaukee, in 1879, to Richard J. and Florence Wentworth Thomas. W. W. Thomas' father helped establish Bebb, Thomas & Co. in 1872. The company's name was modified several times over the next twenty years and was also known as the Thomas, Badgley & Wentworth Mfg. Co., The Thomas & Wentworth Mfg. Co., and finally, The Thomas Brass & Iron Co. The company was, according to its stationary, a manufacturer of "steam goods; gas fitters', brewers', and plumbers' supplies; and dealers of wrought iron pipe fittings." The company was incorporated in 1882.

Florence Wentworth Thomas' father was Robert B. Wentworth, supposedly a direct descendant of Reginald Wentworth, owner of the lordship of Wentworth, Yorkshire at the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. He was born in Buxton, Maine in 1827. In 1848 he moved to Madison, Wisconsin, and was the state printer through 1850-1852. After that, he moved to Juneau and founded the Dodge County Gazette, one of the first newspapers printed in that county. In 1857, he moved to Portage, Wisconsin and purchased the Independent, which he changed to the Portage City Record. In the meantime he helped to organize the Wisconsin Press Association in 1853 and served as secretary at its first meeting.

Later, Robert B. Wentworth went into the grain business, constructing a large grain elevator on the bank of the ship canal connecting the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. He also helped to organize the Portage & Green Bay Transportation Co., which for many years operated a line of steamboats and barges between Portage and Green Bay. In addition he was involved in organizing the Portage Hosiery Co., which manufactured socks for the lumber industry, and the City Bank of Portage.

Florence Wentworth Thomas' mother was Lydia Pike, a direct descendant of Major Robert Pike who was in charge of the forces east of the Merrimac river at the time of the French and Indian war.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

ACQUISITION: An unknown donor donated the collection to the Milwaukee Public Library at an unknown date. The Milwaukee Public Library transferred the collection to the Milwaukee Urban Archives in April 1991 (accession 95-050).

PROCESSING: Mike Klawitter and Kyle Krause processed the collection at the Archives in May-October 1991.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

• Brass industry and trade--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
• Business records--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
• Milwaukee (Wis.)--History--Sources.
• Thomas Brass & Iron Company (Milwaukee, Wis.)
• Thomas family.
• Thomas, Kate.
• Thomas, Minnie Pearl Higley.
• Pike family.
• Pike Family Association of America.
• Pike, Lydia.
• Wentworth, Richard J.
• Wentworth, Robert B., 1827-

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URL: http://www.uwm.edu/Libraries/arch/findaids/uwmmss74.htm
Last edited on March 3, 2005.
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