# John Taliaferro Thompson, portrait, 1915 (Library of Congress)

Canonical: https://mobfiles.org/items/loc-2014647521-john-t-thompson-portrait-1915/

Phillips Studio portrait photograph of John Taliaferro Thompson, whom the Library's title identifies as an Army officer, founder of the Auto-Ordnance Corporation and inventor of the Thompson submachine gun.

The Library's title, devised by Library staff, reads: "[John Taliaferro Thompson, U.S. Army officer, founder of the Auto-Ordnance Corporation, and inventor of the Thompson submachine gun]." The portrait is by Phillips Studio, [Philadelphia], [1915]. It shows him in uniform in profile.

The portrait is the record of the weapon's designer, filed here as context for the Thompson guns on this page. It says nothing about the weapon's later use.

**Object:** Portrait photograph  
**Maker:** Phillips Studio  
**Date:** [1915]  
**Provenance:** Biographical File, Library of Congress  
**Appears in:** LC-DIG-ds-06600

## Sources

- Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (Biographical File): https://www.loc.gov/item/2014647521/