Working out of Portland, Maine, Fred Thompson’s pictures catered to the growing gift market and tourist trade. Following the lead of Wallace Nutting, Thompson sold a series of blossom, bird and country road exterior scenes, Colonial interior scenes and an assortment of other “oddities”. Beginning around 1900, Frederick H. Thompson, the father, started the business and, after his premature death in 1909, the business was continued by his son, Frederick M. Thompson, who remained in business until his death around 1923.