Charles Frederick "Bud" Thompson

Charles Frederick "Bud" Thompson of Warner, historian, lecturer, teacher, singer, historical preservationist and founder of several museums in New Hampshire, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 12, 2021 at ninety-nine years of age.

Bud was born in Newport, Rhode Island, on April 12, 1922, the son of Alexander Whitehill Thompson, Jr. and Margaretta (Schleith) Thompson. At age sixteen Bud had his own weekly radio show as "The Singing Cowboy" on station WMEX in the Boston area. He later studied opera singing under the tutelage of Alexander Kipnis, the lead basso of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. After his marriage to Harriett Waller, an organist, pianist, and music teacher, he sang in operas for one season on Cape Cod and then later became a folksinger, traveling the country to perform traditional music of America and the British Isles as well as operatic arias. His desire to publish a book of previously undiscovered folk music drew him into studying the music of 18th- and 19th-century American communal societies. His research led him to become a close friend of the Shakers in Canterbury, New Hampshire, and eventually he moved to the village with his family to live with and work. He originated the concept of the historical restoration at Canterbury Shaker Village; founded the museum there with the assistance of Sisters Bertha Lindsay, Lillian Phelps, and Marguerite Frost; assembled the original collection around which the institution coalesced; and became the museum's curator. Today Canterbury Shaker Village is a historic visited by thousands.

Bud delivered slide lectures on the Shakers and Native Americans for over thirty years to hundreds of schools and organizations throughout New England and taught courses at or lectured for a number of institutions of higher learning in the state.

In the late 1960's, President Franklin Pierce's home in Concord, New Hampshire, was threatened by Urban Renewal's wrecking ball. Bud's friend Carl Bell, the editor of the Concord Shoppers' News, founded the Pierce Brigade, an organization dedicated to saving the home and turning it into a house museum. Bud served terms as vice-president and then president of the Pierce Brigade and was involved with the successful preservation effort.

Bud married Nancy (Erickson) Lamb, an elementary school teacher and church soloist, in 1972. Immediately upon their retirement in 1990, Bud and Nancy purchased property in Warner, NH, upon which to establish the Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum. The museum is today visited annually by thousands of adults and children and, through its tours programs, and special events, is dedicated to increasing public knowledge of Native American philosophy, art, and traditions, and to building awareness of the natural environment.

Bud is survived by his wife, Nancy Thompson; his former wife Harriett Coupal; son Darryl Thompson; son Dayne Thompson and his partner Betsy Thew; stepson David Lamb and his wife Janet (Murphy) Lamb; stepson Steven Lamb and his wife Stefanie (Getchell) Lamb; grandson Avery Thompson; grandson Warren Thompson; grandson Alex Thompson, Alex's son (Bud's great-grandson) Brandon Thompson, and Brandon's mother Maureen Biondo; step-grandson Michael Perella; step-granddaughter Amy Lamb; step-granddaughter Christine (Board) Parent and her husband Jason Parent and family; step-grandson Christopher Lamb; step-granddaughter Elizabeth (Lamb) Morris and her husband Bryan Morris and family; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A public memorial service for Bud will be held at Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum property on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that remembrances in Bud's honor be given to Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum (www.indianmuseum.org).