James Monroe Thorington [1895–1989]
b. 1895 — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
d. 1989 — Germantown, Pennsylvania, USA
Thorington, an ophthalmologist in Philadelphia, was a mountaineer and mountain historian. A pre-eminent climber and explorer in the Canadian Rockies starting in 1922. Thorington wrote approximately 300 publications on mountaineering, mountain history and the Canadian Rockies. He was active in numerous organizations, particularly the American Alpine Club.
Sources of biographical information about Thorington:
- Bates, Robert H. “James Monroe Thorington, 1894-1989.” American Alpine Journal, (1990) American Alpine Club
- Thorington, James Monroe [1895–1989]. “J. Monroe Thorington fonds M106 / V622.” (1974) Whyte Museum
Works pertinent to the Mount Robson area of which Thorington was author or co-author:
- — and Palmer, Howard [1883–1944]. A Climbers Guide to the Rocky Mountains of Canada. New York: American Alpine Club, 1921
- — Old Trails and New Peaks in the Canadian Rockies. Philadelphia: 1922
- — “The mountains of the Whirlpool.” Alpine Journal, Vol. 36 November (1924)
- — The Glittering Mountains of Canada. A record of exploration and pioneering ascents in the Canadian Rockies 1914-1924. Philadelphia: John W. Lea, 1925
- — “Side-valleys and peaks of the Yellowhead Trail.” Alpine Journal, Vol. 37 (1925):47, 317
- — “The Centenary of David Douglas’ ascent of Mount Brown.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 16 (1927):139-147
- — “Trails of the Athabaska and Columbia.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 17 (1928):22-33
- — “Mounts Brown and Hooker. A reply.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 17 (1928):68-70
- — “Up the Athabasca Valley.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 20 (1931):36
- — “Conrad Kain, In memoriam.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 22 (1933):184-187
- Kain, Conrad [1883–1934], and — editor. Where the Clouds Can Go. New York City: American Alpine Club, 1935
- — A Climber’s Guide to the Interior Ranges of British Columbia. New York: American Alpine Club, 1937
- — “Donald Phillips, 1884-1938.” American Alpine Journal, Vol 3, No. 3 (1939). American Alpine Club
- — “Howard Palmer, 1883-1944.” American Alpine Journal, (1945). American Alpine Club
- — “Canada, Cariboo Range.” American Alpine Journal, Vol. 7, No. 2 (1949). American Alpine Club
- — “Raymond T. Zillmer, 1887-1960.” American Alpine Journal, 12:2 (1961). American Alpine Club
- — “J. Monroe Thorington fonds M106 / V622.” (1974)