J. Maurice Thompson

J. Maurice Thompson 's Notes of Interest

• In the United States, archery was practiced almost entirely by Native Americans until 1828, when the United Bowmen of Philadelphia was founded by Titian Ramsey Peale. That club became defunct in 1859, but archery was revived after the Civil War by Maurice and Will Thompson. They weren't allowed to own firearms because they had been Confederate soldiers, so they took up hunting with bow and arrow in Florida before settling in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
• In 1878, Maurice wrote a book, The Witchery of Archery, which inspired the formation of more than twenty archery clubs in less than a year. They met at Crawfordsville in 1879 to establish the National Archery Association, which held the first national tournament that year at White Stocking Park in Chicago.
• Called by his peers "The Father of Archery in America"
• Named in his honor, The National Archery Association’s highest honor, the Maurice Thompson Award, is bestowed on outstanding members of the archery community - Established in 1939

J. Maurice Thompson 's Gallery