Generations of stories, preserved.
"In every family tree there is a little sap.
But it is the roots that tell the story."
This family history traces the lineage of the Thomas family across generations and continents — from the Norwegian valleys of Scandinavia, to the windswept plains of the American Midwest, to the Pacific Northwest. The families gathered here arrived by ship, by wagon, and by will, each leaving their mark on the generations that followed.
The records collected here include the Thomas and Vickers lines from the United States, the Christiansen and Rasmussen lines from Norway, and the Brabacek family from Central Europe. These branches converge in the mid-twentieth century, united by marriage, migration, and the common thread of family.
Many of the photographs reproduced here have been restored and colorized using modern imaging tools, bringing faces from a century past back to life. Behind each image is a real person — a farmer, a fisherman, a mother, a child — whose choices and circumstances shaped who we are today.
Compiled and maintained by James P. Thomas, M.D. This is a living document — corrections, additions, and new photographs are always welcome.
Photographs spanning more than a century, many restored and colorized from the original prints.
Five primary surnames form the trunk and branches of this tree, each with its own geography and story.
The primary line, rooted in the American experience and central to this record. Sam Thomas and Mary Vickers anchored the family in the early twentieth century.
The Vickers family contributed to the Thomas line through the marriage of Mary Vickers, bringing English heritage into the family.
The Christiansen line traces its origins to Norway, with Sigurd Christiansen and his family representing a branch that eventually made its way to the United States.
Inger Rasmussen and her children represent the Norwegian Rasmussen branch, documented from the late nineteenth century onward.
The Brabacek family brings Central European roots into the broader family tree, with Anna Brabacek among the early documented members of this line.
A traditional Norwegian patronymic surname associated with the Gunhild Aanensdatter line, reflecting the Scandinavian naming conventions of the nineteenth century.
Navigate generations of family history — individual records, photographs, family groups, and connections across the tree.