THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Ruth S. Boomer married Walter Thomas.

Biographies-Architects of Overbrook Farms; www.overbrookfarms.org/architects.htm: Walter Thomas
Thomas was born in Philadelphia on December 29, 1876 and died May 4, 1948. He attended the Episcopal Academy and then entered the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1899 with his B.S. in Architecture. He practiced in many firms and designed many churches and residences.
In 1930, he was named City Architect and carried those responsibilities through 1931. Also in 1937, he became executive director of the Philadelphia housing authority, a position in which he remained in 1942. Although Thomas also concentrated on the construction of housing during his later years, he was overall better known as an architect of churches.

Biography of Thomas Walter Horstmann, Architect (1876-1948); Philadelphia Architects and Buildings; Written by Sandra L. Tatman; www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/ar_display.cfm?ArchitectId=A1385; 17 October 2002: Born: 12/29/1876; Died: 5/4/1948

Versatile and long-lived church architect, Walter H. Thomas was born in Philadelphia, th.e son of Richard Newton and Clara L. (Horstman) Thomas. After an early education at the Delancey School and Episcopal Academy, Thomas entered the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1899 with his B.S. in Architecture. Following graduation he found work with E. V. Seeler, a graduate of the Ecole des Beaux Arts. Perhaps at Seeler's suggestion Thomas went to Paris to study at the Ecole also, entering in 1902 and remaining for three years in ateliers directed by Marcel Lambert and Chaussemiche. In 1905 Thomas returned to the States and set up an office with C. Wharton Churchman. In 1907 the two were joined by John Molitor and the name of the firm changed to Thomas, Churchman & Molitor. Citations in the Philadelphia Real Estate Record and Builders Guide indicate that by 1915, Thomas was working independently of the other partners, and that by 1921 he had joined two younger architects Sidney E. Martin and Donald M. Kirkpatrick in the firm of Thomas, Martin & Kirkpatrick. In 1931 when Kirkpatrick returned to France to study etching, Thomas & Martin continued the firm together. This later association lasted until 1941.
During the latter days of Thomas & Martin, Walter H. Thomas took on additional responsibilities in conjunction with city government. As early as 1927 he had served as the chairman for the executive committee of the Old City Planning Commission, a position which lasted until 1929. In 1930 he was named City Architect and carried those responsibilities through 1931. In 1937 he became executive director of the Philadelphia Housing Authority, a position in which he remained through 1942. During his association with the Philadelphia Housing Authority he supervised the development of the Poplar, Glenwood and Tasker housing projects in Philadelphia.
In 1944 Thomas formed yet another firm with a younger architect, Harold E. Wagoner, which was called Thomas & Wagoner, specializing in church design and worked with Walter Antrim in Thomas & Antrim, a firm specializing in institutional work. It appears that these firms existed concurrently, operating out of the same office, until Thomas's death.
Although Thomas also concentrated on the construction of housing during his later years, he was overall better known as an architect of churches, primarily for the Methodist congregations. He served as president of the Church Architectural Guild of
America and was advisory architect for the Methodist Church in the United States for the years 1925 to 1933. In addition to these work-related affiliations, Thomas was an active member of the AIA, which he had joined in 1907. He served as vice-president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the AIA from 1925 to 1927 and as president from 1928 to 1930.

Project list: Walter Horstmann Thomas (1876-1948); www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/ar_display_projects.cfm?ArchitectId=A1385:
Bonnell Residence; Client: Bonnell, Henry H.; Type: dwelling; Location: 418 W. Mermaid Ln.; Philadelphia, PA (It may be a coincidence, but there was a Bonnell family who joined the Koreshans in the late 1800's and donated the Steinway piano which is located in the Art Hall at the Koreshan State Historic Site. This Bonnell project is one of many in which Walter Horstmann Thomas was the architect.) *See Harriett and Eugene Bonnell

1910 U. S. Federal Census; State: Pennsylvania; County: Philadelphia; Town: Philadelphia; Enumeration date: 21 Apr 1910; SD: 1; ED: 842; Ward: 34; Sheet: 8; Address: Sherwood Road. Name: Walter H. Thomas; Relation to head of family: head; Sex: male; Color: white; Age: 33; Marital Status: Married; Number of years married: 3; Place of birth: Pennsylvania; Place of birth of father: Pennsylvania; Place of birth of mother: Pennsylvania; Language spoken: English; Trade or profession: Architect; General nature of work: Building; Employer or worker: worker; Out of work Apr 15: no; Weeks out of work 1909: 0; Can read and write: yes; Home owned or rented: 0wned; House or farm: house.

U.S. Federal 1920 Census: State: Pennsylvania; County: Philadelphia; Incorporated Place: Philadelphia: Enumeration date: 12 & 13 January 1920; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff: Walter H. Thomas; Address: 8004 Lincoln Drive; Relation to head of family: Head; Sex: Male; Color: white; Age at last birthday: 43; Marital status: married; Can read: yes; Can write: yes; Place of birth: Pennsylvania. (Walter H. Thomas is living with his wife, two daughters, his mother (Mrs. Richard N. Thomas), and two servants)

1910 U. S. Federal Census; State: Pennsylvania; County: Philadelphia; City: Philadelphia; Enumeration date: 21 Apr 1910; Enumerator: Jerome P. Ryan; SD: 1; Ed: 842; Ward: 34; Sheet: 8; Address: Sherwood Road. Name: Natlie Thomas; Relation to head of family: wife; Sex: female; Color: white; Age: 26; Married 1 time; Number of years married: 3; Mother of how many children: 2; Number of those children living: 2; Place of birth: Pennsylvania; Place of birth of father: Pennsylvania; Place of birth of mother: Pennsylvania; Language spoken: English; Occupation: none; Can read and write: yes.

1910 U. S. Federal Census; State: Pennsylvania; County: Philadelphia; City: Philadelphia; Enumeration date: 21 Apr 1910; Enumerator: Jerome P. Ryan; SD: 1; Ed: 842; Ward: 34; Sheet: 8; Address: Sherwood Road; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, January 16, 2004. Name: Clair Thomas; Relation to head of family: daughter; Sex: female; Color: white; Age: 2; Marital status: single; Place of birth: Pennsylvania; Place of birth of father: Pennsylvania; Place of birth of mother: Pennsylvania.

U.S. Federal 1920 Census: State: Pennsylvania; County: Philadelphia; Incorporated Place: Philadelphia: Enumeration date: 12 & 13 January 1920; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff: Clair Thomas; Address: 8004 Lincoln Drive; Relation to head of family: daughter; Sex: female; Color: white; Age: 13; Marital status: single; Attend school: yes; Can read: yes; Can write: yes; Place of birth: Pennsylvania.

1910 U. S. Federal Census; State: Pennsylvania; County: Philadelphia; City: Philadelphia; Enumeration date: 21 Apr 1910; Enumerator: Jerome P. Ryan; SD: 1; Ed: 842; Ward: 34; Sheet: 8; Address: Sherwood Road; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, January 16, 2004. Name: Florence Thomas; Relation to head of family: daughter; Sex: female; Color: white; Age: 7/12 (?); Marital status: single; Place of birth: Pennsylvania; Place of birth of father: Pennsylvania; Place of birth of mother: Pennsylvania.

U.S. Federal 1920 Census: State: Pennsylvania; County: Philadelphia; Incorporated Place: Philadelphia: Enumeration date: 12 & 13 January 1920; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff: Florence Thomas; Address: 8004 Lincoln Drive; Relation to head of family: Relation to head of family: daughter; Sex: female; Color: white; Age: 13; Marital status: single; Attend school: yes; Can read: yes; Can write: yes; Place of birth: Pennsylvania.