Wellington photographer. Born in Aysgarth, Yorkshire, son of Christopher Thompson, factory hand, and Sarah Thompson. From 15 worked as a gardener and farm worker in York. Came to Wellington in Aug 1914 on the Rotorua. Enlisted NZEF in World War I as a stretcher bearer, then later saw action. Lost a leg at the Third Battle of Ypres mid 1917. He was sent to London photography firm Speight Ltd to learn the trade of photography and retouching. Returned to New Zealand Feb 1920. In Feb 1922 married Edna Kathleen Bartlett, a nurse whom he had met while in hospital and moved to Karori. In early 1920s managed Crown Studios Ltd at 87 Cuba Street, a photographic studio specialising in sporting and group portraits, est ca 1921 by Stanley Polkinghorne Andrew (1879?-1964). The studio took official photographs of the All Blacks for nearly 50 years. Purchased the studio in Oct 1936, and ca 1940 his son, Frank Thompson (1923-2001) entered the business. Died in Wellington. Source: family history.
Thompson, Francis, 1895-1977
Sutherland, Benjamin, 1873-1949 :Photograph album depicting Homewood, Karori, Wellington
Date: [193-]
By: Thompson, Francis, 1895-1977; Digby, Spencer Harry Gilbee, 1901-1995; Sutherland, Benjamin, 1873-1949
Reference: PA1-q-938
Description: Photograph album comprising images of Homewood, Karori, Wellington, taken ca late 1930s by Frank Thompson of Crown Studios. Includes interior views of the house and views of the garden and grounds. Album also includes photographs of the wedding of Jean Sutherland and Dr Reay Mackay within the grounds of Homewood, taken 19 January 1938 by Spencer Digby. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Brown leather bound album 41 x 30.6 cm Provenance: Purchased at auction, 2005
Frank Thompson of Crown Studios, Wellington
Date: 21 March 1969
From: Dominion Post (Newspaper): Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers
Reference: EP/1969/1209-F
Description: Mr Frank Thompson, holding a half-plate Graflex camera, and standing in his lounge in Karori, Wellington, at the time of his retirement. Some of the team portraits that he took are on the wall behind him. Photographed 21 March 1969 by an unidentified photographer for the Evening Post. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s) negative strip with 2 images. Physical Description: Cellulose triacetate negative, 35mm
Francis (Tommy) Thompson and his family
Date: [ca 1915]-1984
From: Crown Studios Ltd :Negatives and prints
Reference: PAColl-9684-14
Description: Photographs of Francis (Tommy) Thompson and his family. They include - Portraits of Francis (Tommy) Thompson, his wife Edna, and sons Francis and Laurence. There is also a composite photograph of the house Francis Thompson built at 27a Karori Rd, Karori, Wellington (architect T Galloway). Quantity: 8 b&w original photographic print(s). 1 colour original photographic print(s).
Crown Studios Ltd :Negatives and prints
Date: 1918-1977
By: Crown Studios (Wellington, N.Z.); Thompson, Francis, 1895-1977; Thompson, Francis Charles, 1923-2001
Reference: PA-Group-00349
Description: Sporting, school, professional group portraits, portraits and general views around Wellington, taken 1920s-1970s by Crown Studios Ltd. Includes team and individual photographs of All Blacks and other rugby teams, cricketers, surf life-savers, boxers, wrestlers, speedway motorcyclists and Wellington street scenes. Includes portraits of persons from a range of ethnicities. Information relating to the Crown Studios photography business and images are contained in 22 day books dated circa 1920 to 1971, which contain lists of photograph or negative numbers, name and address of client, prices, dates, format requirements, and remarks. Accompanying information - Document compiled by John Sullivan (former Curator of Photographs) listing original Crown negative numbers to the years they were taken. See #37417. Source of descriptive information - Crown Studios negative registers and daybooks Arrangement: Negatives housed at 35mm-037834 to 038038, 38060 to 38174, 48047 to 48561, 1/4-106700 to 106781, 108251 to 108676, 1/2-190600 to 195150, 195218 to 195789, 195849 to 197391, 201770 to 207982, 1/1-030103 to 037472, 037823 to 038967, 039121 to 039153, 039183 to 039294, 039830, 039832. 10x8-1990 to 2077. Albums at PA1-o-1636 and PA1-q-1092. (Note: The collection includes colour negatives, particularly all the sequence including 35mm-048047 to 048407) Photographer Francis Thompson was the first manager of the Crown Studios Ltd. He later purchased the business. Quantity: 23441 b&w original negative(s). 1091 b&w original photographic print(s). 2 colour original photographic print(s) colour original photographic print(s). 22 volume(s) daybooks. Finding Aids: A guide to the dates of the Crown Studio photographs was created by staff member John Sullivan. Staff: This guide is at #374678.. Provenance: Frank Thompson is the son of Francis Thompson, worked with him, and later took over the business from his father. Transfers: To Manuscripts & Archives - Letter from S P Andrew. Letter from the Rugby Museum. Business letter from Frank Thompson. History of Hope Brothers. Maniscript and photocopies reating to aviator Kingsford Smith. New Zealand War Amputees Association certificate. - To Drawings & Prints Collection - Five original watercolour greeting cards. Two pencil portraits of dogs. Pen drawing of church and churchyard, Bonchurch, England. - To Ephemera Collection - copy of `Weddel's World' October 1974. Folder for New Zealand All Blacks supporters tour, South Africa 1970. - To Book Collections - Two souvenirs of Walton-on-Thames and the New Zealand Military Hospital. Booklet `The Southern Cross Flies Again." Booklet `Karori Bowling Club (Inc) Golden Jubilee, 1903-1953.'. Processing information: The business daybooks and negative registers were received by the Library in 2001 and used as a guide to the collection by staff. In 2018, these daybooks and negative registers were added to the collection. Some volumes have been digitised and can be accessed online; more digital surrogates will be added over time.