]
]
This collection has use restrictions. For details, please see the restrictions.
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
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Collection Overview
| Size | 27.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 12,300 items) |
| Abstract | Thomas E. Watson of Thomson, Ga., was a lawyer; politician and Populist Party candidate for United States vice-president in 1896 and for president in 1904 and 1908; senator, 1921-1922; author; and newspaper and journal publisher. The collection chiefly includes business and professional papers of Thomas E. Watson, including correspondence, largely about politics and writings; drafts of his books, articles, speeches and other writings by Watson, as well as writings by others, most of whom were associated with Watson's publications; publications, including pamphlets, Watson's Magazine, The Jeffersonian, The Watsonian, and other related materials; political materials such as bills, endorsements, petitions, resolutions, People's Party materials, newspaper clippings on political subjects, information about voters, political propaganda publications, and other papers; personal legal and financial papers as well as papers relating to his law practice; biographical information on Watson and materials relating to the Watson family and its history; diaries, commonplace books, scrapbooks and clippings about Watson and subjects of interest to him; photographs and photograph albums relating to Watson and other members of the Watson family, notably his granddaughters Georgia Doremus Watson Craven and Georgia Watson Lee Brown; and miscellaneous other materials. There is good coverage of the Populist Party and of Georgia politics in general; scrapbooks, clippings, and speeches provide documentation for Watson's national political campaigns. Correspondence with Watson's book publishers and employees, along with book and article manuscripts, provide extensive coverage of his work as writer and editor. Watson was most influential through his publications, which included the People's Party Paper (1891-1898). His editorials espoused such Populist causes as antitrust legislation, railroad regulation, and monetary policies favorable to agrarian interests, including the coinage of silver. Materials also relate to Watson's initial support of the inclusion of African Americans in the agrarian movement, and his later shift to race baiting, support of black disfranchisement, and virulent anti-Jewish and anti-Catholic sentiment. Draft copies of Watson's books include a history of France (1899); biographies of Napoleon (1902), Jefferson (1903), and Andrew Jackson (1912); and a novel (1904), all of which were written from the Populist perspective. Correspondents include William Jennings Bryan, Marion Butler, William Randolph Hearst, James Ryder Randall, Theodore Roosevelt, and Upton Sinclair. Watson's private life is documented in a few personal letters, photographs, and some diary entries. Also included are two interviews with Georgia Doremus Watson Craven about Thomas E. Watson; the Watson family; and life in Thomson, Ga. The Addition of August 2012 consists of digital images of Watson and Hickory Hill from the Chicago Tribune archive. The Addition of March 2014 consists of a scrapbook of clippings and some handwritten materials compiled by Walter J. Brown. |
| Creator | Watson, Thomas E. (Thomas Edward), 1856-1922. |
| Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
| Language | English |
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Information For Users
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Subject Headings
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
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Biographical Information
Thomas E. Watson was born 5 September 1856 to John Smith and Ann Eliza Watson in Thomson, Georgia. He attended Mercer College in 1872 and 1873. He married Georgia Durham in 1878. The Watsons moved to Hickory Hill in Thomson, where they raised three children, none of whom survived their parents: John Durham (1880-1918); Agnes Pearce (1882-1917), and Louise (1885-1889).
Watson was a colorful and successful criminal lawyer, a leading populist politician, a popular author, and an influential publisher. He served in the Georgia House of Representatives in 1882, the United States House of Representatives, 1890-92, and the United States Senate, 1921-22. As a major figure in the Populist Party, he ran unsuccessfully for vice-president as William Jennings Bryan's running mate in 1896 and for president in 1904 and 1908. His history of France (1899); biographies of Napoleon (1902), Jefferson (1903), and Jackson (1912); and his novel, Bethany (1904), were praised for their populist spirit.
Watson was most influential through his various publications, including the People's Party Paper (1891-98), The Jeffersonian (1907-1917), and Watson's Magazine (1905-06, 1912-17). In muckraking editorials, he espoused populist causes, such as antitrust legislation, railroad regulation, and monetary policies favorable to agrarian interests, including coinage of silver. He fought to maintain the broad-based reformist and independent goals of the Populist Party against those who favored fusion with the major parties and a narrow focus on the silver issue. Initially a supporter of the inclusion of blacks in the agrarian movement, he later turned to race baiting, advocating black disfranchisement, and to virulent anti-Jewish and anti-Catholic diatribes. His lurid crusade against Catholicism led to his trial on charges of sending obscene material through the mail.
While unsuccessful in his national political campaigns, from 1906 to 1922 Watson was a dominant power in Georgia politics, making and unmaking governors. When his bitter opposition to America's entry into World War I and to such wartime legislation as the Espionage and Conscription Acts led to the revocation of his mailing privileges for his publications in 1917, Watson became a "crusader for personal liberties--at least for personal liberties for Anglo-Saxon Protestants." With this, coupled with continuing attacks on blacks, Jews, and Catholics as his platform, he mounted his final, and, this time, successful, campaign for the Senate in 1920. Thomas E. Watson died 26 September 1922.
For additional information, see C. Vann Woodward, Tom Watson: Agrarian Rebel (New York 1938) and the biographical material in Subseries 6.1.
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Scope and Content
The collection chiefly includes business and professional papers of Thomas E. Watson, including correspondence, largely about politics and writings; drafts of his books, articles, speeches and other writings by Watson, as well as writings by others, most of whom were associated with Watson's publications; publications, including pamphlets, Watson's Magazine, The Jeffersonian, The Watsonian, and other related materials; political materials such as bills, endorsements, petitions, resolutions, People's Party materials, newspaper clippings on political subjects, information about voters, political propaganda publications, and other papers; personal legal and financial papers as well as papers relating to his law practice; biographical information on Watson and materials relating to the Watson family and its history; diaries, commonplace books, scrapbooks and clippings about Watson and subjects of interest to him; photographs and photograph albums relating to Watson and other members of the Watson family, notably his granddaughters Georgia Doremus Watson Craven and Georgia Watson Lee Brown; and miscellaneous other materials. There is good coverage of the Populist Party and of Georgia politics in general; scrapbooks, clippings, and speeches provide documentation for Watson's national political campaigns. Correspondence with Watson's book publishers and employees, along with book and article manuscripts, provide extensive coverage of his work as writer and editor. Watson was most influential through his publications, which included the People's Party Paper (1891-1898). His editorials espoused such Populist causes as antitrust legislation, railroad regulation, and monetary policies favorable to agrarian interests, including the coinage of silver. Materials also relate to Watson's initial support of the inclusion of African Americans in the agrarian movement, and his later shift to race baiting, support of black disfranchisement, and virulent anti-Jewish and anti-Catholic sentiment. Draft copies of Watson's books include a history of France (1899); biographies of Napoleon (1902), Jefferson (1903), and Andrew Jackson (1912); and a novel (1904), all of which were written from the Populist perspective. Correspondents include William Jennings Bryan, Marion Butler, William Randolph Hearst, James Ryder Randall, Theodore Roosevelt, and Upton Sinclair. Watson's private life is documented in personal letters scattered throughout the correspondence series, and includes correspondents such as his wife, Georgia Durham Watson; his son, John Durham Watson; his daughter, Agnes Pearce Watson Lee; his nephew, Alva Drane Watson; and his granddaughters, Georgia Doremus Watson Craven and Georgia Watson Lee Brown; as well as other family members. Additionally, several of the diaries include entries of a personal nature. Also included are two interviews with Georgia Doremus Watson Craven about Thomas E. Watson; the Watson family; and life in Thomson, Ga. The Addition of August 2012 consists of digital images of Watson and Hickory Hill from the Chicago Tribune archive. The Addition of March 2014 consists of a scrapbook of clippings and some handwritten materials compiled by Walter J. Brown.
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Series Quick Links
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Series 1. Correspondence, 1873-1986 and undated.
Arrangement: chronological, then undated items arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Personal, political, and business correspondence of Thomas E. Watson, from his school days at Mercer College in 1873 through his death in 1922, documenting his career as a publisher, prolific author, lawyer, and, most prominently, politician. Also included is correspondence of Watson's secretary, Alice Lytle, his granddaughter, Georgia Watson Lee Brown, and her husband, Walter Brown, in connection with The Watsonian, the magazine they published to carry on Watson's work after his death, and a few miscellaneous items.
Correspondents of particular interest include: Reuben R. Arnold, defense attorney in the Leo Frank murder trial; Augustus O. Bacon, a senator from Georgia; H. L. Bentley, People's Party Club president; Coleman L. Blease, governor of South Carolina 1911-1915; David Blodgett, an Iowa congressional candidate jailed for publishing Watson's anti-conscription speeches, circa 1917; Arthur Brisbane, editor of the New York Evening Journal; J. J. Brown, Georgia's commissioner of agriculture and father-in-law to Watson's granddaughter, Georgia Watson Lee Brown; Joseph M. Brown, governor of Georgia, 1908-1910; J. Pope Brown, Watson's candidate for governor of Georgia, 1905; Charles W. Bryan, brother of William Jennings Bryan; William Jennings Bryan; Marion Butler; Walter Clark, chief justice of North Carolina; Alexander Stephens Clay, permanent chair, Georgia Democratic state convention; John S. Cohen, managing editor of the Atlanta Journal; Clarence Darrow; James H. Ferriss, People's Party National Committee chair; Rebecca Latimer Felton, the first woman to serve as a United States senator; Hamlin Garland, author; William N. Harben, author; Warren G. Harding; Thomas W. Hardwick, Georgia congressman and governor; Joel Chandler Harris; William Randolph Hearst; James K. Hines, Georgia Railroad Commission attorney, 1907; Clark Howell, editor of the Atlanta Constitution ; Elbert Hubbard, writer and editor; James Ryder Randall, poet; Theodore Roosevelt; Upton Sinclair; Hoke Smith, governor of Georgia; Kate Stephens, author; Thomas H. Tibbles, Populist Party candidate for vice-president; and James K. Vardaman, governor of Mississippi.
In some cases copies of Watson's replies have been retained, and many of the letters demonstrate Watson's habit of drafting his reply directly onto the original letter. These annotations are often in shorthand.
Additional materials (Digital Folders DF-755/1-5) can be viewed in digital format only using the Thomas E. Watson Papers Digital Collection. These items are owned by and housed at the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Ga.
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Subseries 1.1. 1873-1892.
Mostly letters from relatives, with a few items from young women friends. Several letters are from Watson's son, John Durham Watson. There is also a copy of the telegram from Charles E. McGregor announcing that he had killed a man; this was the beginning of one of Watson's major court cases.
Additional materials from 1891 (Digital Folder DF-755/1) can be viewed in digital format only using the Thomas E. Watson Papers Digital Collection. These items are owned by and housed at the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Ga.
| Folder 1 |
1870-1889 #00755, Subseries: "1.1. 1873-1892." Folder 1 |
| Folder 2 |
1890-1891 #00755, Subseries: "1.1. 1873-1892." Folder 2 |
| Folder 3 |
1892 #00755, Subseries: "1.1. 1873-1892." Folder 3 |
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Subseries 1.2. 1893-1903.
Letters relating to personal business, and a few letters relating to the 1896 presidential campaign. Also includes correspondence concerning the publication of Watson's books: The Story of France (1899); biographies of Napoleon (1902), Thomas Jefferson, (1903), and Andrew Jackson (1912); and his autobiographical novel Bethany (1904). Watson's law practice is the focus of several letters. There are relatively few letters from the period 1899-1903. Notable correspondents during this period include Marion Butler (folder 7) and Charles E. McGregor, Watson's colleague and close friend.
Additional materials from 1893-1989 (Digital Folder DF-755/2) can be viewed in digital format only using the Thomas E. Watson Papers Digital Collection. These items are owned by and housed at the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Ga.
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Subseries 1.3. 1904-1908.
For 1904, there is extensive correspondence about the pre- and post-election state of local Populist Party organizations throughout the South and Midwest. Also covered are Watson's attacks on President Cleveland for having denied dining with Booker T. Washington, including a letter from Booker T. Washington to Arthur Brisbane (folder 16); the 1904 election, in which Watson was the Populist Party candidate for president; and, after the election, negotiations for starting Tom Watson's Magazine.
Much of the material in 1905 concerns the magazine, especially the conflicts with its financial supporters that led to Watson's abandoning the project to start Watson's Jeffersonian in early 1906. Local Georgia politics, especially the Smith/Howell gubernatorial race, are covered. Of particular interest are letters pro and con on Watson's editorials on race, which reflected his shift from his earlier policy of racial inclusion in the Farmer's Alliance and Populist Party to support for disfranchisement.
This topical mix of politics and publications continues through 1906, 1907, and 1908. In addition to these topics, there is material in 1907 on efforts to keep the Populist Party alive and on immigration, currency reform, and prohibition. Letters from Representative Thomas Hardwick and Governor Hoke Smith discuss disfranchisement and railroad regulation.
Early in 1908, there is correspondence with Hardwick and Smith about the Glover case, and letters from Arthur Price Glover and his wife. According to C. Vann Woodward's biography of Watson, Smith's refusal to pardon Glover, a convicted murderer and Watson supporter, led to Watson's turning against Smith and swinging his support to Joseph Brown, a long time opponent of many Populist measures. Many letters, especially in May 1908, reflect the disillusionment with Watson felt by "old time Pops," as Populist Party loyalists called themselves.
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Subseries 1.4. 1909-1920.
The relatively small amount of correspondence for this period documents Watson's growing alienation from former supporters and his increasing financial and legal problems. Letters from Thomas Hardwick and to Clark Howell discuss Watson's split with Hardwick. Of particular interest is a series of reports from a private investigator and from a Watson supporter, both of whom were assisting Watson in his attempts to find incriminating evidence against Hardwick and Smith. In 1913-1915, there are a few items concerning Watson's obscenity trial. In 1920, there is correspondence with David Blodgett about his imprisonment for printing Watson's anti-war speeches and Watson's attempts to get him pardoned.
Additional materials from 1909-1918 (Digital Folder DF-755/3) can be viewed in digital format only using the Thomas E. Watson Papers Digital Collection. These items are owned by and housed at the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Ga.
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Subseries 1.5. 1921-23
September 1922.
Chiefly constituent correspondence from Watson's senate term, mostly concerning constituent service and minor patronage matters, especially post office appointments, veterans' benefits, and military academy appointments. Worth noting in 1921 are letters discussing Watson's arrest in Buford, Georgia, during the senatorial campaign (see also folder 330 in Series 2.1.3. for Watson's account of this event), and letters from branches of the Ku Klux Klan praising Watson. In 1921 and 1922, there are numerous responses to Watson's investigation into the alleged mistreatment of common soldiers by their officers during World War I (see also Series 4.).
Note that, in this section of the correspondence series, there are some exceptions to strict chronological order. These exceptions are sets of items related to one subject that were clipped together by the original processors of this collection and filed chronologically by the date of the most recent item. This order probably reflects Watson's practice and has been maintained. Related items are filed behind the final item in reverse chronological order and numbered sequentially in order to clarify where one set ends and another begins and to distinguish single items in standard chronological order from those in sets.
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Subseries 1.6. 26 September
1922-1986.
In September 1922, there are letters of condolence to Georgia Durham Watson on her husband's death (predominantly in folders 173-175), many of which are from prominent politicians of the time. For 1923 and 1924, most items are letters to and from Alice Louise Lytle, Watson's assistant at the Jeffersonian Publishing Company, concerning her attempts to secure a new position after his death and her conflicts with his family over her share of the inheritance. The material from 1925 through 1937 chiefly concerns The Watsonian, a magazine published by Watson's granddaughter, Georgia Watson Lee Brown, and her husband, Walter J. Brown, after Watson's death. One letter, dated 1983, reports on foreign sales of Watson's books.
Additional materials from 1929-1930 (Digital Folder DF-755/4) can be viewed in digital format only using the Thomas E. Watson Papers Digital Collection. These items are owned by and housed at the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Ga.
Folder 173-176
Folder 173Folder 174Folder 175Folder 176 |
26 September-31 December 1922 #00755, Subseries: "1.6. 26 September 1922-1986." Folder 173-176 |
| Folder 177 |
1923-1924 #00755, Subseries: "1.6. 26 September 1922-1986." Folder 177 |
| Folder 178 |
1925-1928 #00755, Subseries: "1.6. 26 September 1922-1986." Folder 178 |
| Folder 179 |
Undated 1920s #00755, Subseries: "1.6. 26 September 1922-1986." Folder 179 |
| Folder 180 |
1933-1941 #00755, Subseries: "1.6. 26 September 1922-1986." Folder 180 |
| Folder 181 |
1975, 1983, 1986 #00755, Subseries: "1.6. 26 September 1922-1986." Folder 181 |
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Subseries 1.7. Undated Correspondence.
Arrangement: alphabetical by correspondent.
Undated correspondence is arranged alphabetically by the last name of the writer. Much of the correspondence in this subseries is from Watson's family, namely his wife, Georgia Durham Watson (folder 193); his daughter, Agnes Pearce Watson Lee (folder 187); his granddaughter, Georgia Watson Lee Brown (folder 188); and other members of the Watson family (folder 194). Folder 193 contains drafts of letters by Watson; folder 185 contains letters from Thomas Hardwick; and folder 195 contains letters for which neither author nor date is known, as well as fragments of drafts of letters by Watson and others.
Additional undated materials (Digital Folder DF-755/5) can be viewed in digital format only using the Thomas E. Watson Papers Digital Collection. These items are owned by and housed at the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Ga.
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Series 2. Writings, 1872-1921 and undated.
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Subseries 2.1. Writings by Thomas E. Watson, 1872-1921 and undated.
Arrangement: by type of material.
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Subseries 2.1.1. Book Manuscripts and Related Materials, 1898-1908 and undated.
Arrangement: alphabetical by title.
Handwritten and typescript drafts of books by Watson. Folders 278-279 contain materials related to the publishing of his books, such as copyright registrations, contracts with publishing companies, and royalty and sales statements.
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Subseries 2.1.2. Speeches and Related Materials, 1872-1921 and undated.
Arrangement: chronological, then undated items alphabetical by title or topic.
Chiefly handwritten notes and drafts of speeches by Watson, a popular speaker and lecturer who drew large and enthusiastic crowds throughout his career. Topics include railroad regulation, monetary reform, race relations, regional pride, and the French Revolution. Most speeches are marked with Watson's notation of when and where they were given, and folder labels reflect this information. In some cases where this is not so, however, a speech's content permits approximate dating. These items have been filed at the end of the appropriate year. Except where noted, all locations are in Georgia.
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Subseries 2.1.3. Essays and Other Writings, 1872-1921 and undated.
Arrangement: alphabetical by title or topic.
Articles, editorials, reviews, and other items, primarily intended for publication in Watson's newspapers and magazines for which he supplied most of the copy.
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Subseries 2.2. Writings by Others, 1903-1921 and undated.
Arrangement: alphabetical by title or topic.
Writings by individuals other than Watson. Many items may have been written for Watson's publications, or for The Watsonian, which was published after his death.
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Series 3. Publications and Related Materials, 1891-1927 and
undated.
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Subseries 3.1. People's Party Paper, Issues and Business
Records, 1891-1898
and undated.
Arrangement: chronological.
Watson published and wrote much of the People's Party Paper from October 1891 through 1898. This subseries consists chiefly of issues of the paper from 1891-1898 and business records from the secretary. The records deal almost exclusively with the business side of the publication and include weekly statements and related bills.
Note that items from the weekly reports are filed in the following order: letter (if any), statement, and bills arranged in the order they appear in the statement.
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Subseries 3.2. Watson's Magazine, Issues and Related
Materials.
Excerpts from Watson's Magazine, published by Thomas E. Watson from 1905 to 1917. Throughout the years the magazine's name changed from Tom Watson's Magazine, to Watson's Magazine, to Watson's Jeffersonian Magazine, and finally back to Watson's Magazine.
In addition to the materials in Folder 452, issues of the magazine (Digital Items DI-755/485-634) can be viewed in digital format only using the Thomas E. Watson Papers Digital Collection and the Internet Archive. These items are owned by and housed at the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Ga. Digitized issues include: Tom Watson's Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 1 (March 1905)-Volume 6, Issue 2 (December 1906); Watson's Jeffersonian Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 1 (January 1907)-Volume 14, Issue 2 (December 1911); and Watson's Magazine, Volume 14, Issue 3 (January 1912)-Volume 25, Issue 5 (September 1917).
| Folder 452 |
Watson's Magazine #00755, Subseries: "3.2. Watson's Magazine, Issues and Related Materials." Folder 452Not digitized. |
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Subseries 3.3. The Jeffersonian, Issues and Related
Materials.
Excerpts from The Jeffersonian, a weekly newspaper published by Thomas E. Watson from 1907 to 1917. Throughout the years the magazine's name changed from The Weekly Jeffersonian, to Watson's Weekly Jeffersonian, to The Jeffersonian .
In addition to the materials in Folder 450, issues of the magazine (Digital Items DI-755/24-484) can be viewed in digital format only using the Thomas E. Watson Papers Digital Collection. These items are owned by and housed at the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Ga. Digitized issues include: The Weekly Jeffersonian, Volume 1, Issue 11 (January 1907)-Volume 2, Issue 10 (March 1907); Watson's Weekly Jeffersonian, Volume 2, Issue 11 (April 1907)-Volume 2, Issue 44 (November 1907); and The Jeffersonian, Volume 2, Issue 45 (December 1907)-Volume 14, Issue 33 (August 1917). Please note that issues from July-December 1910, July-December 1912, and July-December 1913 are missing, as are issues from 8 April-13 May 1915 (Volume 12, Numbers 14-19), 28 January 1915 (Volume 12, number 4), and 29 June 1916 (Volume 13, number 27).
| Folder 450 |
The Jeffersonian #00755, Subseries: "3.3. The Jeffersonian, Issues and Related Materials." Folder 450Not digitized. |
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Subseries 3.4. Watsonian, Issues and Related
Materials.
Copy and other materials relating to the The Watsonian, a magazine published after Watson's death by his granddaughter, Georgia Watson Lee Brown, and her husband, Walter Brown.
In addition to the materials in folders 453-455, issues of the magazine (Digital Items DI-755/635-656) can be viewed in digital format only using the Thomas E. Watson Papers Digital Collection and the Internet Archive. These items are owned by and housed at the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Ga. Digitized issues include: Volume 1, Issue 1 (February 1927)-Volume 2, Issue 10 (November 1928).
Folder 453-455
Folder 453Folder 454Folder 455 |
Copy and other materials #00755, Subseries: "3.4. Watsonian, Issues and Related Materials." Folder 453-455Not digitized. |
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Subseries 3.5. Pamphlets and Other Publications, 1892-1928 and undated.
Arrangement: chronological by publication.
Pamphlets and other published materials produced by Thomas E. Watson's Jeffersonian Publishing Company, including financial, legal and other papers relating to these publications and the publishing company, as well as the Thomson Guard, of which Watson's secretary, Alice Louise Lytle, was the editor; the Daily Press; and the Columbia Sentinel .
Additional pamphlets (Digital items DI-755/1-6 and DI-755/657-669) can be viewed in digital format only using the Thomas E. Watson Papers Digital Collection. These items are owned by and housed at the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Ga.
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Subseries 3.6. Other Related Materials, and undated.
Financial, legal, and other papers relating to Thomas E. Watson's publications, including share certificates for Watson's Jeffersonian Magazine and The Jeffersonian. Folders 464-467 contain mailing lists for complimentary copies and subscriptions to the publications.
Folder 457-462
Folder 457Folder 458Folder 459Folder 460Folder 461Folder 462 |
Financial and legal papers #00755, Subseries: "3.6. Other Related Materials, and undated." Folder 457-462 |
| Folder 463 |
Other papers #00755, Subseries: "3.6. Other Related Materials, and undated." Folder 463 |
Folder 464-467
Folder 464Folder 465Folder 466Folder 467 |
Mailing lists #00755, Subseries: "3.6. Other Related Materials, and undated." Folder 464-467 |
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Series 4. Political Materials, 1876-1987 and undated.
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Subseries 4.1. Political Materials, 1882-1922 and undated.
Arrangement: alphabetical by title, author or topic.
RESTRICTED: Some items available on microfilm or in digital format only.
Political writings and other papers such as bills, endorsements, petitions, and resolutions; copies of speeches by others; People's Party materials; scrapbooks of newspaper clippings on political subjects; information about voters; political propaganda publications; and other papers. Also included are a few issues of Congressional Record, and materials relating to Watson's investigation of the treatment of soldiers during World War I.
An original campaign button (Digital Item DI-755/7) can be viewed in digital format only using the Thomas E. Watson Papers Digital Collection. This item is owned by and housed at the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Ga.
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Subseries 4.2. Newspapers and Clippings on Microfilm, 1876-1987 and undated.
RESTRICTED: Available on microfilm only. Clippings and newspapers were severely embrittled, and therefore were discarded after filming.
Chiefly newspaper clippings from Watson's personal files, dating from 1876 to 1922, with subsequent additions by others of items pertaining to Watson, his descendants, local history, and national affairs. The bulk of these clippings covers Watson's career in politics, his campaigns and tenure as a Georgia legislator, his Populist Party activities, his national Populist candidacies, and his election and career as United States senator. Materials cover Watson himself, his speeches and public statements, and issues and personalities of related interest. There are numerous items from the populist press of the 1890s. Items from clipping services are included for Watson's two national campaigns and provide a great deal of national coverage of his death and funeral (20 September-October 1922). The clippings are arranged in chronological order.
Also included are copies of the following complete issues of newspapers:
Reel M-755/29-30
M-755/29M-755/30 |
Newspapers and clippings #00755, Subseries: "4.2. Newspapers and Clippings on Microfilm, 1876-1987 and undated." Reel M-755/29-30 |
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Series 5. Legal and Financial Materials, 1769-1981 and undated.
Legal and financial materials relating to Thomas E. Watson's personal and professional business, including deeds, indentures, bills, receipts, and account books.
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Subseries 5.1. Personal Legal and Financial Materials, 1769-1981 and undated.
Arrangement: by type.
Bills, receipts, checks, contracts, deeds, account books, and other miscellaneous items relating to Watson's legal and financial affairs. Of particular interest are papers relating to Georgia Durham Watson's will, 24 June 1907, and Thomas E. Watson's will, 17 December 1920.
Deeds, indentures, plats, and other financial papers, 1818-1923 (Digital Folder DF-755/6) can be viewed in digital format only using the Thomas E. Watson Papers Digital Collection. These items are owned by and housed at the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Ga. Materials include the March 1865 will of Thomas Miles Watson, Thomas E. Watson's paternal grandfather.
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Subseries 5.2. Law Firm Materials, 1877-1916 and undated.
Arrangement: by type.
Materials relating to Watson's career as a lawyer and to his law firm, including a lawyer's record book for the Gross and Watson firm as well as two typed transcripts of court cases in which Watson was involved.
| Folder 543 |
Small notebook, 1885-1887 #00755, Subseries: "5.2. Law Firm Materials, 1877-1916 and undated." Folder 543Notes for speeches on legal cases. |
| Folder 544 |
Law firm materials, 1877-1916 #00755, Subseries: "5.2. Law Firm Materials, 1877-1916 and undated." Folder 544 |
| Folder 545 |
Lawyer's record book, Gross and Watson, 1875-1904 #00755, Subseries: "5.2. Law Firm Materials, 1877-1916 and undated." Folder 545189 pp. Includes entries for J. Durham Watson and clippings about cases. |
| Folder 546 |
Typed transcript of W. J. McNaughton case, 1910 #00755, Subseries: "5.2. Law Firm Materials, 1877-1916 and undated." Folder 546 |
Folder 547-551
Folder 547Folder 548Folder 549Folder 550Folder 551 |
Type transcript of the United States vs. Thomas E. Watson, 1916 #00755, Subseries: "5.2. Law Firm Materials, 1877-1916 and undated." Folder 547-551 |
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Series 6. Watson Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated.
Biographical materials and other collected papers of Thomas E. Watson, and materials relating to the Watson family, including scrapbooks and other volumes, family history materials, and two oral history interviews with Georgia Doremus Watson Craven.
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Subseries 6.1. Thomas E. Watson Materials, 1870-1986 and undated.
Arrangement: chiefly alphabetical by author.
Consists chiefly of biographical writings about Thomas E. Watson. Folders 569-570 contain memorials and newspaper clippings regarding Watson's death. Folders 571-573 contain miscellaneous collected papers of Thomas E. Watson that were inappropriate for the other series.
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Subseries 6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated.
Arrangement: by type of material.
Materials relating to other members of the Watson family and Watson family history, including photocopies of family record pages; a photocopy of a family tree, showing descendants of Thomas E. Watson (1740-1801); pages taken from a scrapbook by Agnes Pearce Watson Lee; The History of Pine Top Farm and the Thomas Watson Family McDuffie County, Georgia prepared by John I. Bruno; a biography of Dr. Lindsay Durham; and other papers. The subseries also includes a two-part tape-recorded interview (6 audiocassettes) with Georgia Doremus Watson Craven conducted by David Moltke-Hansen, 27-28 August 1990, a transcript of that interview (folder 586), and a transcript of another interview with Georgia Doremus Watson Craven conducted by her grandson, Tom Watson Brown.
Additional materials (Digital Items DI-755/8-13) can be viewed in digital format only using the Thomas E. Watson Papers Digital Collection. These items are owned by and housed at the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Ga. Materials include postcard albums, a baby book, a memorial book, and a scrapbook belonging to Watson's daughter Agnes Pearce Watson Lee and granddaughters, Georgia Watson Lee Brown and Georgia Doremus Watson Craven.
Folder 576 does not exist.
| Folder 574 |
Bell Family letters, 1745-1766 #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." Folder 574 |
| Folder 575 |
Family Record pages (photostat copies) #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." Folder 575 |
| Folder 576 |
Folder number not used #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." Folder 576 |
| Folder 577 |
"Life's Dream," handwritten short story #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." Folder 577 |
| Folder 578 |
Agnes Watson notes #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." Folder 578Removed from the account book of 1883 in folder 594 |
| Folder 579 |
Watson Family history materials #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." Folder 579 |
| Folder 580 |
Hickory Hill - National Register of Historic Places nomination #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." Folder 580 |
| Folder 581 |
Dr. Lindsay Durham: A Brief Biography, by Charles H. Calhoun, 1965 #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." Folder 581 |
Folder 582-583
Folder 582Folder 583 |
Other papers #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." Folder 582-583 |
| Folder 584 |
Newspaper clippings #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." Folder 584 |
| Oversize Paper Folder OPF-755/5 |
Newspaper clippings #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." OPF-755/5 |
| Folder 585 |
Transcript of interview with Georgia Watson Craven by Tom Watson Brown, 2 July 1996 #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." Folder 585Tom Watson Brown (Thomas E. Watson’s great-grandson) interviews Georgia Doremus Watson Craven (Brown's first cousin once removed and Thomas E. Watson’s granddaughter) about the details of the Watson homestead -- Hickory Hill -- during her childhood, when she spent much time there with Thomas E. Watson and Georgia Durham Watson. She describes each room, including decorations and furniture; the gardens and grounds; when particular parts of the house were constructed and how each room was used; visitors who frequented the house; and her childhood memories of life at Hickory Hill. Interspersed throughout are detailed stories about family members, as well as descriptions of their physical appearances, health, and habits. Georgia also discusses lifestyle during her childhood, including refrigeration and lighting, and Thomas E. Watson’s printing plant. Near the end of the interview, Tom Watson Brown briefly discusses his perceptions of racial prejudice as a Southerner living in the North. |
| Folder 586 |
Transcript of interview with Georgia Watson Craven by David Moltke-Hansen, 27-28 August 1990 #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." Folder 586 |
| Audiocassette C-755/1 |
Interview with Georgia Watson Craven by David Moltke-Hansen (transcript in folder 586), tape 1 #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." C-755/1Georgia Watson Craven discusses childhood memories of her grandfather Thomas E. Watson's home in Thomson, Ga.; the physical terrain and flora and fauna of the Old South homestead Hickory Hill; Grandmother Watson (Georgia Durham Watson); how the household was run; her grandfather's dining habits and dinner guests; social exchange and subjects of conversation at mealtime; the history of the old barn and its importance to her grandfather; his love of riding and his eating habits; learning to dance from her grandfather; his love of music and fascination with trees; discussion of the original layout of Hickory Hill and the additional rooms that were added, as well as how each room was used. |
| Audiocassette C-755/2 |
Interview with Georgia Watson Craven by David Moltke-Hansen (transcript in folder 586), tape 2 #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." C-755/2Continuation of the description of the rooms in Hickory Hill, including Thomas E. Watson's study, the bedrooms, the attic, and the wrap-around porch; how life was conducted at table: formalities, how meals were served and by whom, behavior required of children, guests and conversation topics; memories of the Old South including relative isolation and seasonal availability of foods; mention of great-grandfather Durham; meat and dairy at Hickory Hill; how all the pets were named after politicians of the day; her grandfather's love of birds; his attitude towards drinking; her grandfather's attitude towards different Christian denominations; Georgia Watson Craven's thoughts on the personal versus political of her grandfather's campaign against Roman Catholicism. |
| Audiocassette C-755/3 |
Interview with Georgia Watson Craven by David Moltke-Hansen (transcript in folder 586), tape 3 #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." C-755/3The role books played in Georgia Watson Craven's life at Hickory Hill including the impact of the book "Grandmother's Stories From the Land of Used to Be" with historical stories from the South; books that her grandfather read or gave her; nineteenth century Romanticism and her perception of its presence in her grandfather's writings, in particular Bethany; the effect his account of Joan of Arc had on her; her grandfather's deep identification with the Old South; dinner and supper at her grandfather's house; his view of education; the public school in Thomson and her grandfather's decision to school the children privately at first. |
| Audiocassette C-755/4 |
Interview with Georgia Watson Craven by David Moltke-Hansen (transcript in folder 586), tape 4 #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." C-755/4Continuation of the discussion on education: Thomas E. Watson decision to send Georgia Watson Craven to the National Cathedral high school in Washington, D.C.; his support of her intention to go to college; life in Washington, D.C.: her grandfather's interactions with people in Washington, impressions of the Capitol; attending the burial of the Unknown Soldier; the George Washington Inn; Woodrow Wilson's burial at the Bethlehem Chapel in the National Cathedral; her opinion on the mis-perception of her grandfather as a "good old boy"; the quality of isolationism in her grandfather; origins of her grandfather's feelings for the common man. |
| Audiocassette C-755/5 |
Interview with Georgia Watson Craven by David Moltke-Hansen (transcript in folder 586), tape 5 #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." C-755/5Discussion of the funeral for Thomas E. Watson in Thomson, Ga.; people's reaction to her grandfather's death; people's later attitudes towards her as a Watson; the social world of the Watson's and of her grandfather: "Watson people" including the Gibson family; visitors and house guests in her grandfather's home. |
| Audiocassette C-755/6 |
Interview with Georgia Watson Craven by David Moltke-Hansen (transcript in folder 586), tape 6 #00755, Subseries: "6.2. Family Materials, 1745-1990 and undated." C-755/6Discussion of her grandmother's cousin, Dr. John Durham; the coming and goings of state governmental officials to Thomas E. Watson's home; vague memories of her grandfather's attitude towards various other populist leaders; his attitudes towards various national figures such as Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland, and Calvin Coolidge; mention of the Versailles Treaty; attitudes towards Georgia figures such as Tom Hardwick and Governor Matt Harris; description of the switch from horses to automobiles for transportation: driving culture and her grandfather's first car; a description of his carriages; Uncle Gus who drove the carriages; her grandfather's chauffeur Cliff; trips to Augusta, Ga., by car and by carriage; taking the train to New York once a year; trips to Atlanta with her father and staying at the old Kimball house. |
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Series 7. Scrapbooks, 1860s-1883 and undated.
Arrangement: chronological.
Scrapbooks, diaries, and commonplace books compiled by Thomas E. Watson. Volumes chiefly contain poetry, some by Watson; pictures; and miscellaneous material. Folder 590 and SV-755/4 document Watson's school days and early career as a school teacher, his romances, early law cases, and the deaths of his children. The subject matter of these volumes includes Watson's interests outside the political arena.
An additional scrapbook from 1870 (Digital Item DI-755/14) can be viewed in digital format only using the Thomas E. Watson Papers Digital Collection. The scrapbook has 121 pages and contains clippings depicting furniture pasted over an 1870 ledger.
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Series 8. Pictures, circa 1875-1987.
Mostly black-and-white pictures of Thomas E. Watson; his family, including numerous images of his wife, Georgia Durham Watson, his son, John Durham Watson, his daughter, Agnes Pearce Watson Lee, and his granddaughters, Georgia Doremus Watson Craven and Georgia Watson Lee Brown; his funeral; Thomson, Georgia; Hobe Sound and Las Olas, Florida; and unidentified people and places. Some items are identified on the back as having been used in publications as illustrations. Pictures are undated unless date is indicated.
Additional photographs and photograph albums (Digital Items DI-755/15-23 and Digital Folders DF-755/7-37) can be viewed in digital format only using the Thomas E. Watson Papers Digital Collection. Where possible, original folder labels have been retained.
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Microfilm.
Microfilm copy available for most materials on deposit before 1989.
Reel M-755/1-35
M-755/1M-755/2M-755/3M-755/4M-755/5M-755/6M-755/7M-755/8M-755/9M-755/10M-755/11M-755/12M-755/13M-755/14M-755/15M-755/16M-755/17M-755/18M-755/19M-755/20M-755/21M-755/22M-755/23M-755/24M-755/25M-755/26M-755/27M-755/28M-755/29M-755/30M-755/31M-755/32M-755/33M-755/34M-755/35 |
Microfilm #00755, Series: "Microfilm." Reel M-755/1-35 |
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Addition of August 2012 (Acc. 101637): Thomas Watson and Hickory Hill House Images,
circa 1920-1937 and undated.
Scans of black-and-white photographs of Thomas Watson from the Chicago Tribune archive. Includes an image of Watson with his granddaughters; an image from Watson's funeral; images of Hickory Hill Memorial House before restoration; and copies of newspaper photographs. Some images also include the verso with captions.
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Walter J. Brown Scrapbook, 1890-1928 (bulk 1927-1928) Addition of March 2014.
Acquisitions Information: Accession 102022
The Addition of March 2014 consists of a scrapbook of clippings and some handwritten materials compiled by Walter J. Brown, 1890-1928 (bulk 1927-1928); and enclosures.
| Oversize Volume SV-755/9 |
Walter J. Brown scrapbook, 1890-1928 #00755, Series: "Walter J. Brown Scrapbook, 1890-1928 (bulk 1927-1928) Addition of March 2014." SV-755/9Topics covered include: Thomas Watson's presidential campaign; Watson's articles and editorials; Governor Al Smith's 1928 presidential campaign; Catholics in American politics; farming and agricultural issues; Ku Klux Klan activities; the "Solid South," southern election politics, and social and economic issues in Georgia; the Farmer's Union, the Grange, and the American Federation of Labor; prohibition; and Herbert Hoover's presidential campaign. There are also some campaign fliers and handouts, book reviews for The Story of France, biographical articles on Watson, drafts of letters to newspapers, scattered clippings from the Congressional Record, and a few political cartoons. |
| Folder 604 |
Scrapbook enclosures #00755, Series: "Walter J. Brown Scrapbook, 1890-1928 (bulk 1927-1928) Addition of March 2014." Folder 604Enclosures consist of loose newspaper and magazine clippings. |
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The Religious Vampire, undated (Addition of January 2018).
Acquisitions Information: Accession 103304
| Folder 605 |
"The Religious Vampire," undated #00755, Series: "The Religious Vampire, undated (Addition of January 2018)." Folder 605 |
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Jefferson's Creed, 1893 (Addition of November 2018).
Acquisitions Information: Accession 103416
| Digital Folder DF-00755/39 |
Jefferson's Creed, 1893 #00755, Series: "Jefferson's Creed, 1893 (Addition of November 2018)." DF-00755/39 |
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Items Separated
Pictures (P-755/1-78)
Oversize paper folders (OPF-755/1-5)
Extra-oversize paper folders (XOPF-755/1-2)
Oversize Volumes (SV-755/1-9)
Audiocassettes (C-755/1-6)
Digital items (DI-755/1-669): Available via the Thomas E. Watson Papers Digital Collection. These items are owned by and housed at the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Ga.
Digital folders (DF-755/1-37): Available via the Thomas E. Watson Papers Digital Collection. These items are owned by and housed at the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Ga.
Digital folders (DF-755/38-39)
Back to TopProcessed by: Southern Historical Collection Staff, 1990; Amanda Loeb, July 2015; Technical Services staff, November 2018
Encoded by: Joseph Nicholson, August 2006
This collection was originally arranged and described in the late 1930s. The arrangement imposed then consisted only of a chronological run, a large mass of undated material, and volumes. The collection was completely reprocessed in 1987-1988, at which time series were established.
The collection was reprocessed again in October-November 2007, to prepare the materials for digitization.
Updated by: Nancy Kaiser, February 2021; Dawne Howard Lucas, May 2021; May 2022
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