Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1930-1997 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
15 boxes
Context area
Repository
Archival history
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The collection contains diaries, material relating to Thomason's work with the Zetland County Council and Shetland Island's Council, photographs, material relating to Shetland devolution and the Shetland Movement and some personal papers.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
D53/3 is closed to the public until 2039
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Generated finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Edward Thomason was born at 105a Commercial Street on 12 August 1922. The second child of Edward Thomason, a merchant seaman, and Mary Margaret (nee Anderson). From 1934 he attended the Anderson Educational Institute in Lerwick. In 1937 he developed tuberculosis and was bedridden for several years. In 1941 he became an agent for the Pearl Assuance Company, and worked there until his retirement in 1982. Between 1949 and 1956 he worked in Orkney and Caithness, but otherwise his working life was spent in Shetland. On 25 April 1949 he married Janet McPherson Patterson Lamont, nee Hunter, who was known as Dinah. They had no children. In 1957 Thomason became a member of the newly formed Shetland Development Council, in 1959 it became the Shetland Council of Social Service and he became its first chairman. In 1969 Thomason was elected to the Zetland County Council serving the ward of North Unst. In 1970 he became convener of the council. He lost his seat in 1973 but the following year was elected to the newly formed Shetland Islands Council as member for Nesting and Lunnasting. From 1978 until 1994 he was councillor for the Lerwick Harbour ward, and he served as convener again from 1986-1994. During his time on the council Thomason was heavily involved in the development of the oil industry in Shetland. In 1989 he was awarded an OBE. His memoir 'Island Challenge' was published just two months before his death on 16 December 1997. He is buried in the Lerwick Cemetery.