W.P. Thompson receiving his Order of Canada medal.

W.P. Thompson, future University President, playing tennis [on campus], Unidentified woman on the court in background, house and trees in the distance.

Bio/Historical Note: Walter Palmer Thompson was born 3 April 1889 near Decewsville, Ontario. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a BA (1910), and from Harvard with an AM (1912) and PhD (1914). Thompson came to the University of Saskatchewan as professor and head of the Biology Department in 1913. He was an important figure at the university for the next fifty years. Thompson served in a variety of administrative positions: dean of Junior Colleges (1934); dean of Arts and Sciences (1938); acting president (1942); director of Summer School (1948); and president of the University (1949). Dr. Thompson retired in 1959 and became President Emeritus. During his academic career Thompson gained international recognition for his work as a geneticist, particularly for the development of rust resistant wheat hybrids. The W.P. Thompson Biology Building, opened in 1960, was named in his honour. Upon his retirement as president Thompson was appointed chairman of the Advisory Committee on Medical Care. The recommendations of this committee were an important foundation for the provincial Medicare system. In 1967 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, one of the first to receive this award. He was awarded an honourary Doctor of Laws degree in 1960 by the U of S. Walter Thompson died in Toronto in 1970.

Lounging on some unknown material in the [desert], hills in the distance.

Bio/historical note: Walter Palmer Thompson's association with the University of Saskatchewan began in 1912 in the Department of Biology as a graduate student where he organized the first Biology course. His Under graduate studies included Bachelor of Arts from Toronto University 1906-10, Masters and Doctorate from Harvard. He was awarded a fellowship that allowed him to travel to Africa and Java to study and collect plants, also to visit many European laboratories. He became Professor of Biology in 1913; Junior Dean 1933; Dean of Arts and Science 1938; President of University of Saskatchewan 1949; and President Emeritus 1959. In 1967 he was made Companion of the Order of Canada, one of the first group to receive this award for "merit of the highest degree". The W.P. Thompson Biology Building was named in his honour, which opened in 1960. W.P. Thompson married Marjorie Gordon in 1914 and had two children, Mary Gordon (Smith) born 19 August 1916 and a son James Scott born 31 July 1919.

W.P. Thompson and his family outside the Biology Building; Marjorie Thompson at far left.

University of Saskatchewan President W.P. Thompson receives student initiated W.P. Thompson Scholarship. Dr. T Thorvaldson, student Sam Filer, and Professor Ken Buckley also in photograph.

Image of W.P. and Mrs. Marjorie Thompson receiving Thomas H. McLeod and Mrs. Beryl McLeod in the upper Memorial Union Building lounge.

W.P. Thompson, out-going University President (1949-1959), looking at his wife, Marjorie Gordon Thompson; both wearing leis around their necks at their retirement celebrations.

W.P. Thompson, head, Biology Department, at the steering wheel of the car with Albert E. Cameron, professor of Biology and another unidentified man. Trees in background.

Head and shoulders image of W.P. Thompson, third University President, 1949-1959.

Bio/Historical Note: Walter Palmer Thompson was born 3 April 1889 near Decewsville, Ontario. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a BA (1910), and from Harvard with an AM (1912) and PhD (1914). Thompson came to the University of Saskatchewan as professor and head of the Biology Department in 1913. He was an important figure at the university for the next fifty years. Thompson served in a variety of administrative positions: dean of Junior Colleges (1934); dean of Arts and Sciences (1938); acting president (1942); director of Summer School (1948); and president of the University (1949). Dr. Thompson retired in 1959 and became President Emeritus. During his academic career Thompson gained international recognition for his work as a geneticist, particularly for the development of rust resistant wheat hybrids. The W.P. Thompson Biology Building, opened in 1960, was named in his honour. Upon his retirement as president Thompson was appointed chairman of the Advisory Committee on Medical Care. The recommendations of this committee were an important foundation for the provincial Medicare system. In 1967 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, one of the first to receive this award. He was awarded an honourary Doctor of Laws degree in 1960 by the U of S. Walter Thompson died in Toronto in 1970.

Five different images of W.P. Thompson, third University President. Three portraits and two images of him sitting at a desk with a microscope, one with a pipe in his mouth.

Bio/Historical Note: Walter Palmer Thompson was born 3 April 1889 near Decewsville, Ontario. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a BA (1910), and from Harvard with an AM (1912) and PhD (1914). Thompson came to the University of Saskatchewan as professor and head of the Biology Department in 1913. He was an important figure at the university for the next fifty years. Thompson served in a variety of administrative positions: dean of Junior Colleges (1934); dean of Arts and Sciences (1938); acting president (1942); director of Summer School (1948); and president of the University (1949). Dr. Thompson retired in 1959 and became President Emeritus. During his academic career Thompson gained international recognition for his work as a geneticist, particularly for the development of rust resistant wheat hybrids. The W.P. Thompson Biology Building, opened in 1960, was named in his honour. Upon his retirement as president Thompson was appointed chairman of the Advisory Committee on Medical Care. The recommendations of this committee were an important foundation for the provincial Medicare system. In 1967 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, one of the first to receive this award. He was awarded an honourary Doctor of Laws degree in 1960 by the U of S. Walter Thompson died in Toronto in 1970.

Head and shoulders of W.P. Thompson, third University President, wearing an academic gown.

Bio/Historical Note: Walter Palmer Thompson was born 3 April 1889 near Decewsville, Ontario. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a BA (1910), and from Harvard with an AM (1912) and PhD (1914). Thompson came to the University of Saskatchewan as professor and head of the Biology Department in 1913. He was an important figure at the university for the next fifty years. Thompson served in a variety of administrative positions: dean of Junior Colleges (1934); dean of Arts and Sciences (1938); acting president (1942); director of Summer School (1948); and president of the University (1949). Dr. Thompson retired in 1959 and became President Emeritus. During his academic career Thompson gained international recognition for his work as a geneticist, particularly for the development of rust resistant wheat hybrids. The W.P. Thompson Biology Building, opened in 1960, was named in his honour. Upon his retirement as president Thompson was appointed chairman of the Advisory Committee on Medical Care. The recommendations of this committee were an important foundation for the provincial Medicare system. In 1967 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, one of the first to receive this award. He was awarded an honourary Doctor of Laws degree in 1960 by the U of S. Walter Thompson died in Toronto in 1970.

Portrait of W. P. Thompson. Graduating from the University of Toronto with a BA (1910), and from Harvard with a AM (1912) and PhD (1914), he was appointed Professor of Biology in 1913; Junior Dean 1933; Dean of Arts and Science 1938; President of University of Saskatchewan 1949; and President Emeritus 1959. In 1967 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, one of the first to receive this award for "merit of the highest degree".

Caricature sketch done by L.G. Saunders of W.P. Thompson, third University President, at time of retirement.

Bio/Historical Note: Walter Palmer Thompson was born 3 April 1889 near Decewsville, Ontario. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a BA (1910), and from Harvard with an AM (1912) and PhD (1914). Thompson came to the University of Saskatchewan as professor and head of the Biology Department in 1913. He was an important figure at the university for the next fifty years. Thompson served in a variety of administrative positions: dean of Junior Colleges (1934); dean of Arts and Sciences (1938); acting president (1942); director of Summer School (1948); and president of the University (1949). Dr. Thompson retired in 1959 and became President Emeritus. During his academic career Thompson gained international recognition for his work as a geneticist, particularly for the development of rust resistant wheat hybrids. The W.P. Thompson Biology Building, opened in 1960, was named in his honour. Upon his retirement as president Thompson was appointed chairman of the Advisory Committee on Medical Care. The recommendations of this committee were an important foundation for the provincial Medicare system. In 1967 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, one of the first to receive this award. He was awarded an honourary Doctor of Laws degree in 1960 by the U of S. Walter Thompson died in Toronto in 1970.

Caricature sketch done by L.G. Saunders of W.P. Thompson, third University President, at time of retirement.

Bio/Historical Note: Walter Palmer Thompson was born 3 April 1889 near Decewsville, Ontario. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a BA (1910), and from Harvard with an AM (1912) and PhD (1914). Thompson came to the University of Saskatchewan as professor and head of the Biology Department in 1913. He was an important figure at the university for the next fifty years. Thompson served in a variety of administrative positions: dean of Junior Colleges (1934); dean of Arts and Sciences (1938); acting president (1942); director of Summer School (1948); and president of the University (1949). Dr. Thompson retired in 1959 and became President Emeritus. During his academic career Thompson gained international recognition for his work as a geneticist, particularly for the development of rust resistant wheat hybrids. The W.P. Thompson Biology Building, opened in 1960, was named in his honour. Upon his retirement as president Thompson was appointed chairman of the Advisory Committee on Medical Care. The recommendations of this committee were an important foundation for the provincial Medicare system. In 1967 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, one of the first to receive this award. He was awarded an honourary Doctor of Laws degree in 1960 by the U of S. Walter Thompson died in Toronto in 1970.

[W.P Thompson] dressed in winter attire and wearing a hat, standing at the end of an alleyway with cattle in their stanchions on either side in a barn.