Rev. Paul van K. Thomson was born in Weehawken, New Jersey on December 14, 1916 to Walter Scott Thomson and Mary van Kuykendall Thomson. He attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Weehawken, graduating in 1933, and then attended Columbia University, New York, where he graduated with an A.B. in English cum laude. Between 1937 and 1940 Thomson attended Berkeley Divinity School, New Haven, Connecticut where he received his Bachelors in Sacred Theology.
In 1940 Thomson became an Episcopal clergyman and began his work as the Vicar at St. Martins Episcopal Church in Maywood, New Jersey. Soon after, in 1941, Thomson left St. Martins to work as a Curate at Grace Episcopal Church in Newark.
Before joining the U.S. Navy as a Chaplin to the Pacific Fleet Marine Force in 1943, Thomson received his Masters in Sacred Theology from the General Theological Seminary in New York, New York. His service during World War II earned him two Combat Stars and a Presidential Unit Citation. Upon his return to the United States in 1946, Thomson was offered a position, which he accepted, as the Rector at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Providence, Rhode Island.
In 1949 Thomson started as an Instructor of English at Providence College, in Rhode Island. That same year he and his family left the Episcopal Church (and the ministry) converting to Catholicism. During the 1950’s Thomson continued his education, attending Brown University, and received both his M.A. and Ph.D. in English. This allowed him to become a full-time professor at Providence College in 1959. During the 1960’s and 70’s when Thomson was not teaching he spent his time writing religious articles and books, publishing at least six of his works.
In 1981 Paul van K. Thomson wrote to the Vatican requesting the eligibility to seek ordination as a Roman Catholic Priest. Two years later on August 27, 1983 Paul van K. Thomson was ordained at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence Rhode Island. His ordainment made him the 6th married Roman Catholic Priest in the U.S. and the 1st in the Diocese of Providence.
Thomson retired from teaching full time at Providence College in 1985. Despite this, he continued teaching English part time, as well as preaching at St. Mary’s Parish of Newport, St. Thomas More Church, and St. Veronica’s Chapel of Narragansett. On December 22, 1999, Rev. Paul van K. Thomson passed away the age of 83. He was buried on the 27th of December at St. Columba Cemetery, Middletown, Rhode Island.
Collection is open for research by appointment. Materials do not circulate. Some materials may be restricted, for further information contact the Archives and Special Collections, Phillips Memorial Library, Providence College.
Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Phillips Memorial Library. Although Providence College has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Paul van K. Thomson papers, Providence College, Phillips Memorial Library, Archives and Special Collections.
The correspondence, clippings, sermons, books, manuscripts and course materials that comprise this collection concern the life of Rev. Paul van K. Thomson. Most of the documents relate to Thomson’s religious life, ranging from church bulletins when he was working as an Episcopalian Minister in New Jersey to books he wrote about his conversion to Catholocism.
The collection is arranged in seven series.
The collection was donated to Providence College by Thomson and his wife, Mildred M. Cole Thomson, in 1998.
The collection contained approximately 490 books at the time of donation, which were reviewed and inventoried. Those publications not containing marginalia, presentation notes, or containing subject matter directly related to Thomson's writings were placed in the general circulation department of the library. The remaining publications are available for review upon request.
This series contains correspondence that centers mostly on religious topics. Several of the letters included here concern Thomson's ordination as a Roman Catholic Priest. Additional correspondence relate to Thomson's teaching obligations at Providence College.
The originals of the photocopied letters can be found in Thomson's scrapbook.
As a professor at Providence College, Thomson helped to create and establish the Western Civilization Program required of all undergraduate students. Included in this series are notes, lectures, syllabi, and slides from his years of teaching this program. Lectures, syllibi and materials relating to other classes Thomson taught at Providence College and St. Mary's Church can also be found within this series.
This series contains the writings of Paul van K. Thomson. He wrote about religous allusions and concepts found in literature, his conversion to Catholocism, and some of the difficulties of being Catholic in modern times. Along with published items are draft manuscripts, research materials and academic dissertations.
This series contains news clippings written about Thomson. Many of the news clippings found here were copied from the Providence College Archives and are announcements of Thomson's speaking engagements. Clippings that were originally part of the Thomson collection are from his younger years as a student at Columbia University and as a Navy Chaplin in the Pacific.
The photocopies of news clippings from the Providence College archives were added to the collection when it was originally processed in 1998.
This series contains the personal papers of Paul van K. Thomson. Included is biographical information on Thomson's school years, military service, his time as an Episcopal Minister, and later years as a Catholic Priest. Additional items found in this series are awards and honorary degrees, family documents, and daily calendars.
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This series is comprised of sermons that Thomson wrote and gave as an Episcopalian Minister and as a Roman Catholic Priest after his ordination in 1983. Also included in this series are copies of speeches Thomson delivered during his career.
The originals of photocopied speeches can be found in Thomson's scrapbook.
This series contains materials relating to different interests of Thomson, much of which is comprised of editorials and reviews written by him. Additional items included in the series are photocopies of book inscriptions, church bulletins, a personal notebook, and speeches given by other people. Along with these items are several newspapers from the Vatican, and a few from his service in the Navy.
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