Papers, mainly 1930s-1970s, of Donald Thomson (1907-1980), teacher of Gaelic at Oban High School and Gaelic scholar and educationalist. Thomson was born in December 1907 at Lionel, Ness, Isle of Lewis, the youngest of three children, and brought up by his grandparents from the age of ten after the early death of both parents. He was educated at Skigerain and Lionel Primary Schools and the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway, then went on to study at Aberdeen University, where he graduated with a Master's degree in Celtic Studies in 1929.

He first taught at primary schools in Boddam, Aberdeenshire, and Bragar, Isle of Lewis, until in 1931 he was appointed Gaelic teacher at Oban High School. He later became head of the Gaelic department and depute rector. Successul as a Gaelic teacher, he was also involved in the drawing up of exam papers both for learners and native speakers, and worked as a visiting examiner for Gaelic. He was made a Fellow of the Educational Institute of Scotland in 1950, and awarded an OBE for services to Gaelic in 1970.

After military service during the second World War, he returned to Oban and took on a number of offices and responsibilities. He served as a member of Oban town council and was Provost (1952-1962), Commissioner to the convention of Royal Burghs, Governor of the McCaig trust (1956-1968), Chairman of Pennyfuir cemetery committee (1964-1968), Patron and Chief of the Scottish Camanachd Association, President of Oban Pipe Band, Gaelic tutor to Oban Gaelic Choir, President of An Comunn Gàidhealach (1962-1965) and Convener of its Mòd and Music Committee. The Donald Thomson Memorial Quaich is awarded at the Mòd to the Gaelic tutor of the choir with the highest marks in Gaelic.

The papers represent what remains of Thomson's archive and do not cover all of his areas of work and achievements. Correspondence is almost entirely absent. However, the material does convey an impression of the range of his interests and activities.