Arthur E. Thompson
Encyclopedia
North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction
The North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction oversees the operations of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. The Superintendent enforces state and federal statutes and regulations regarding public schools and related programs within the U.S. state of North Dakota...
from 1933 to 1946.
Biography
Arthur Thompson was born in Milan, MinnesotaMilan, Minnesota
Milan is a city in Chippewa County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 369 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.U.S...
in 1891; his father was a harness maker. He graduated from St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
in Northfield, Minnesota in 1915 with a B.A. degree. During 1920 and 1921 he took summer school from the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. He married Emma Silverson, also of Milan, in 1921. They had four children; three boys and one girl. He served as the Principal of the High School in Tyler, Minnesota
Tyler, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,218 people, 532 households, and 338 families residing in the city. The population density was 632.8 people per square mile . There were 577 housing units at an average density of 299.8 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 97.78% White, 0.49%...
from 1915 to 1916, as the superintendent of schools for Washburn, North Dakota
Washburn, North Dakota
Washburn is a city in McLean County, North Dakota in the United States. It is the county seat of McLean County. The population was 1,246 at the 2010 census...
from 1916 to 1917, and in the U.S. Army during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
from 1917 to 1919. During his service of 22 months, he spent 18 months fighting overseas. Upon his return, he went back to his post as the Washburn School Superintendent, and served in that position until 1922. He then served as the County Superintendent of Schools for McLean County
McLean County, North Dakota
-Major highways:* U.S. Highway 83* North Dakota Highway 28* North Dakota Highway 37* North Dakota Highway 53* North Dakota Highway 41* North Dakota Highway 200* North Dakota Highway 1804-National protected areas:*Audubon National Wildlife Refuge...
from 1923 to 1931. In 1932 he was elected as the North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction
North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction
The North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction oversees the operations of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. The Superintendent enforces state and federal statutes and regulations regarding public schools and related programs within the U.S. state of North Dakota...
; he served in that position until he resigned on August 31, 1946. He died in 1969 in Minnesota.