The Tom Thomson Mystery
Encyclopedia
The Tom Thomson Mystery is a book by Canadian
judge
William T. Little. It was first published in 1970 by McGraw-Hill Ryerson.
Little's book is one of several that raised the Tom Thomson
mystery to public prominence during the late 1960s/early 1970s. Thomson is regarded by some as Canada
's most famous painter. He died in July 1917, drowning in Canoe Lake
in Ontario
's Algonquin Park, and was buried there. Two days later, his family sent an undertaker to exhume the body and send it back for re-burial in Leith
, Ontario. In 1956, Little and some friends decided to dig up Thomson's burial place at Canoe Lake.
The book tells the story of Thomson's life and the startling discovery made by Little. It suffers from factual errors and the author's self-congratulations, but it is considered an important text for those interested in the Thomson mystery.
Neil J. Lehto self-published a mixed fiction/history about Thomson in 2005, in which he documents many errors in The Tom Thomson Mystery. Using historical records, correspondence, and newspaper reports, Lehto argues that Little altered the facts to suit his theory of Thomson's death and burial.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
William T. Little. It was first published in 1970 by McGraw-Hill Ryerson.
Little's book is one of several that raised the Tom Thomson
Tom Thomson
Thomas John Thomson , also known as Tom Thomson, was an influential Canadian artist of the early 20th century. He directly influenced a group of Canadian painters that would come to be known as the Group of Seven, and though he died before they formally formed, he is sometimes incorrectly credited...
mystery to public prominence during the late 1960s/early 1970s. Thomson is regarded by some as Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's most famous painter. He died in July 1917, drowning in Canoe Lake
Canoe Lake
-In Canada:* Canoe Lake * Canoe Lake , a lake in northeastern Saskatchewan* Canoe Lake in Algoma District, Ontario**Canoe Lake **Canoe Lake * Canoe Lake...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
's Algonquin Park, and was buried there. Two days later, his family sent an undertaker to exhume the body and send it back for re-burial in Leith
Leith, Ontario
The unincorporated village of Leith, named after Leith, Scotland, is located on the eastern shore of the Owen Sound, an inlet on the south shore of Georgian Bay on Lake Huron, about 9 km northeast of the city of Owen Sound, Ontario in Canada. Leith was established on the Telfer Creek where it...
, Ontario. In 1956, Little and some friends decided to dig up Thomson's burial place at Canoe Lake.
The book tells the story of Thomson's life and the startling discovery made by Little. It suffers from factual errors and the author's self-congratulations, but it is considered an important text for those interested in the Thomson mystery.
Neil J. Lehto self-published a mixed fiction/history about Thomson in 2005, in which he documents many errors in The Tom Thomson Mystery. Using historical records, correspondence, and newspaper reports, Lehto argues that Little altered the facts to suit his theory of Thomson's death and burial.