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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. |
| Creator | Watson, Thomas E. (Thomas Edward), 1856-1922. |
| 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.
These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.
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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.
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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.
Originals from folders DF-755/1-5 are owned by and housed at the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Georgia.
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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.
| 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 |
| Digital Folder DF-755/1 |
1891 #00755, Subseries: "1.1. 1873-1892." DF-755/1Available in digital format only. |
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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.
| Folder 4 |
1893 #00755, Subseries: "1.2. 1893-1903." Folder 4 |
| Folder 5 |
1894 #00755, Subseries: "1.2. 1893-1903." Folder 5 |
| Folder 6 |
1895 #00755, Subseries: "1.2. 1893-1903." Folder 6 |
| Folder 7 |
1896 #00755, Subseries: "1.2. 1893-1903." Folder 7 |
| Folder 8 |
1897 #00755, Subseries: "1.2. 1893-1903." Folder 8 |
| Folder 9 |
1898 #00755, Subseries: "1.2. 1893-1903." Folder 9 |
| Folder 10 |
1899 #00755, Subseries: "1.2. 1893-1903." Folder 10 |
| Folder 11 |
Undated 1890s #00755, Subseries: "1.2. 1893-1903." Folder 11 |
| Folder 12 |
1900-1901 #00755, Subseries: "1.2. 1893-1903." Folder 12 |
| Folder 13 |
1902 #00755, Subseries: "1.2. 1893-1903." Folder 13 |
| Folder 14 |
1903 #00755, Subseries: "1.2. 1893-1903." Folder 14 |
| Digital Folder DF-755/2 |
1893-1898 #00755, Subseries: "1.2. 1893-1903." DF-755/2Available in digital format only. |
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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.
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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.
| Folder 173-176 |
26 September-31 December 1922 #00755, Subseries: "1.6. 26 September 1922-1986." Folder 173-176Folder 173Folder 174Folder 175Folder 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 |
| Digital Folder DF-755/4 |
1929-1930 #00755, Subseries: "1.6. 26 September 1922-1986." DF-755/4Available in digital format only. |
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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.
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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.
Issues of 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. With the exception of excerpts of the magazine in folder 452, only digital versions of the magazine are available via the Internet Archive. Original bound volumes of the magazine are owned and held by the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Georgia.
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Subseries 3.3. The Jeffersonian, Issues and Related
Materials.
Issues of 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 . 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 contains a few miscellaneous excerpts of the paper. With the exception of the contents of folder 450, originals of the newspaper are owned and held by the Watson-Brown Foundation of Thomson, Georgia.