Scope and arrangement
The Doris Thompson Papers reflect a few aspects of Thompson's life and that of her third husband, Andrew Robinson. Thompson maintained a correspondence with several individuals and organizations including William Lloyd Imes, pastor of Harlem's St. James Presbyterian Church; Manet Harrison Fowler, founder/director of the Mwalimu School, who featured Thompson in recital (1938) in one of the New York chapter's programs; and actress Vinie Burrows, whom Thompson met during Burrow's childhood.
Thompson (1894-2001) was president of the New York Chapter of Lincoln University's Ladies Auxiliary while married to Andrew Robinson (class of 1891). Her files contain correspondence with Horace Mann Bond (1940s), president of the University, and programs for various activities sponsored by the auxiliary, some held at St. James Presbyterian Church. Lincoln University files include a 1955 speech given by the dean, H. F. Grim. Thompson's file relating to Arthur A. Schomburg contains a typescript of his review of the play The Kingdom of God and a few articles. There is also a folder containing letters from Jean Blackwell Hutson, chief of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture from 1948 to 1980. Hutson's letters discuss personal matters and Thompson's gifts of material to the Schomburg Center in 1957, and 1976-1987, including a painting of Thompson by William E. Braxton. A scrapbook includes news clippings (1929-1936) of noteworthy events in Haiti and Liberia.
Several folders pertain to her husband, Andrew M. Robinson, who was one of the founders of the St. James Presbyterian Church and president of its Thompkins Memorial Association. His files include correspondence and programs regarding Church events.