Biographical details on John Thompson?

[Alfie]

Does anyone know anything about the author of Teaching Little Fingers to Play, Easiest Piano Course, Modern Course for the Piano?

I've looked everywhere for some background info to put in the programme notes for a student recital but all I've been able to find is that his middle name was Sylvanus, he was born on March 8, 1889, and he died in 1963. 

Anyone know anything more or have any suggestions on where to look?

[ChristmasCarol]

Mr. Thompson was a famous concert pianist who became the head of several different conservatories of music, during which time he developed his piano course for young students. He believed in teaching basics, interpretation, and expression in the simplest language possible.

This is all I could find on the web quickly, well at least it's something...

[Alfie]

Thanks for that.  Using your lead I found...

1937: In January, John Thompson, Director of the Kansas City Conservatory of Music and the famous author of the piano teaching series that bears his name, offers [Wiktor] Labunski a teaching position.

and...

[Thompson] was the grand-daddy of the "use classical pieces in a method series" idea.


Please keep looking.