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BearCat | BU Libraries | BU Home | Comments | Search | BCPM HOME Guide to the Papers of Thomas A. Pickett Member of Congress 1945-1952 Biographical Sketch Photograph Collection Statement Scope and Content Arrangement Note Series Listing Tidelands Finding Aid prepared by Ben Rogers Encloded Archival Description by Benna M. Ball Collection Summary Creator: Thomas A. Pickett Title: Papers of Thomas A. Pickett Dates: 1945-1952 Abstract: The Thomas A. Pickett Papers mostly span the years 1945-1952, and consist of correspondence, case files both civilian and veteran, foreign policy materials, government publications, newspaper articles, House resolutions, general publications, and Supreme Court documentation. These papers were compiled during Pickett's career as a U. S. Representative for the 7th Congressional District of Texas. Quantity: 2 linear feet (4 boxes) Thomas A. Pickett Biographical Sketch Date Event 1906-ca.1929 Born August 14th in Travis, Falls County, Texas. Attended public schools of Palestine, Texas and the University of Texas at Austin. Studied law. 1929 Admitted to the Texas Bar. Practiced in Palestine, Texas 1931-1935 County Attorney, Anderson County 1938 August 30th, married Louise Watson, Athens, Texas 1935-1945 District Attorney, 3rd Judicial District of Texas 1944 Elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-ninth Congress 1945-1952 Member of U. S. Congress for the 7th Texas District. Served in 79th through 82nd Congresses 1952 Resigned June 30th. 1952-1961 Vice President of the National Coal Association, July 1, 1952 to March 31, 1961 1961-1967 Vice President of the Association of American Railroads, April 2, 1961 to November 30, 1967. 1967 Resident of Leesburg, Florida 1980 Died in Leesburg, Florida, June 7th. Cremated, ashes interred at St. James Episcopal Church Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774-1989, Bicentennial Edition, 1989, p. 1646. Return to the Table of Contents Scope and Content of the Papers The Thomas A. Pickett Papers comprise approximately two linear feet of material from Pickett's tenure as a United States Representative for the 7th Texas Congressional District. The materials date mostly from 1945-1952 and cover Pickett's service in the 79th through the 82nd Congresses. During these years, Pickett served on the Foreign Affairs Committee, the House Administration Committee, and the Judiciary Committee, as well as working on veteran's cases and legislation, and numerous general projects. The collection is divided into five series, which reflect Pickett's government service. The first series, Civilian and Veterans Casework, consists mainly of correspondence from individuals requesting assistance in obtaining veteran's pension increases, disability compensation, discharge reviews, and a request for a veteran's medical records. One case involves a request for a Civil War Veteran's headstone. The second series, Foreign Affairs Committee Legislation, contains government publications on foreign policy and aid to foreign countries in the areas of Post World War II government actions and the issues surrounding aid to Korea. House Administration Committee Legislation, the third series of the Pickett Papers, contains correspondence, government publications, and House resolutions. The majority of the documents in this series revolve around the issue of steel seizure by the United States Government, and the printing of the briefs in the steel seizure cases as House documents for use by House of Representative members. The fourth series, Judiciary Committee Legislation, consists primarily of correspondence, government publications, general publications, Supreme Court documentation, and House resolutions. The issue of railroad reorganization for the International-Great Northern Railroad Company (I.-G.N.), owned by the Missouri Pacific Railroad, is included in this series, along with extensive publications on Tidelands issues relating to the ownership of submerged lands. The fifth and largest series in the collection, Projects, Dams, and Waterways, contains correspondence, government publications, general publications, copies of news articles, and some photographs. This collection chronicles Pickett's support and work on public works projects such as Dams along the Neches-Angelina River, the Sabine Neches Waterway, and the need for flood control along the Trinity River. Also included in this series is a proposal for the completion of the Rusk Charcoal Blast Furnace and Chemical Plant in Rusk, Texas, and the United States Department of the Interior War Minerals Report 182,which describes the quality of mineral deposits around Rusk, Texas. Return to the Table of Contents Arrangement Note The correspondence in this collection was received with both the sent and received correspondence of individuals and entities stapled together. This order has been maintained in the processing of this collection. Return to the Table of Contents Administrative Information It is the belief of the Collections Manager at the Baylor Collections of Political Materials that the Thomas A. Pickett Papers came to BCPM through the accession of the John V. Dowdy, Sr. Papers around 1972. John V. Dowdy, Sr. took Pickett's seat in the U. S. House of Representatives, 7th Congressional District, upon Pickett's resignation in June of 1952. The Pickett Papers were removed and processed as a separate collection. At this time, the Baylor Collections of Political Materials does not hold a signed deed of gift for the Pickett Papers. Return to the Table of Contents Series Description Civilian and Veteran's Casework This series consists mainly of correspondence from individuals requesting assistance in obtaining veteran's pension increases, disability compensation, discharge reviews, and a request for a veteran's medical records. One case involves a request for a Civil War Veteran's headstone. Casework-Civilian and Veteran, 1945-1952 Return to the Table of Contents Foreign Affairs Committee Legislation This series contains government publications on foreign policy and aid to foreign countries in the areas of Post World War II government actions and the issues surrounding aid to Korea. Foreign Assistance, general data, 1949-1950 Foreign Assistance data, 1952 Mutual Securities Act of 1951, 1951 Return to the Table of Contents House Administration Committee Legislation This series contains correspondence, government publications, and House resolutions. The majority of the documents in this series revolve around the issue of steel seizure by the United States Government, and the printing of the briefs in the steel seizure cases as House documents for use by House of Representative members Steel Seizure Documents, 1953 Tom Pickett's Bill 1953, 1953 Bills and Resolutions by Pickett, 1953 Return to the Table of Contents Judiciary Committee Legislation Series consists primarily of correspondence, government publications, general publications, Supreme Court documentation, and House resolutions. The issue of railroad reorganization for the International-Great Northern Railroad Company (I.-G.N.), owned by the Missouri Pacific Railroad, is included in this series, along with extensive publications on Tidelands issues relating to the ownership of submerged lands. Railroad Reorganization, 1946-1948 Railroad Reorganization Hearings, 1941-1948 Tidelands Publications, 1947-1948 "Truth about the Tidelands," by Sheridan Downey, U. S. Senator, California (CA: San Francisco, 1948). "Quiet titles to Tidewater lands." Message from the President of the United States, Aug. 2, 1946. "This can happen to any state: what the tidelands issue is all about," by Fred N. Howser, Attn.. Gen. of CA. April 5, 1948. "State ownership of submerged lands: an answer to the Federal claims asserted in the "Tidelands" case of U. S. v. California." The National Association of Attorneys General. October 1, 1947. "The Tidelands Decision." Editorial. The San Antonio Light. June 30, 1947. "State ownership of submerged coastal lands: argument of Attorney General Price Daniel of Texas in the Supreme Court of the United States."(1948). "Motion for leave to file objections and objections to motion of United Sates of America for leave to file compliant." Price Daniel, Attorney General of Texas. October, 1948. "State ownership of submerged lands." Resolution adopted by the Texas State Democratic Convention, May 25, 1948. Supplemental memorandum of Louisiana in support of its objections to motion by the Federal government for leave to file a complaint against Louisiana. Bolivar E. Kemp, Jr., Attorney General, Louisiana. October 1948. "Brief of Attorneys General in support of joint resolutions quieting titles of states to lands beneath tidewaters and navigable waters." Signed by 46 State Attorneys Genera, 1948. H.R. 5992. "A Bill to confirm and establish the titles of the States to lands beneath navigable waters within State boundaries," March 24/April 21, 1948. Statement of Price Daniel, Attorney General of Texas. Mimeographed, legal size, 10 pp., 1948. "Texas Tidelands: a handbook for speakers and local Bar Committees." Prepared by State Bar of Texas, The Tidelands Committee. 1948. Texas Tidelands - " In trust for the people." By Price Daniel, Attorney General of Texas. Mimeographed, 7 pp. n.d. Memorandum RE: "Title to submerged coastal lands of the United States. S 1988 Report No. 417." Mimeographed, 11 pages. Includes History of Legislation and History of Litigation and 3 p. Interrogatory, 1947. Resolution of the State Bar of California. Dec. 1947. "The Tidelands issue." To the members of the Texas Water Conservation Association. Special Bulletin, Jan. 2, 1948. Attached to copy of three articles by Fred Williams, staff member for the Austin Statesman. "Threat of the Tidelands decision to Texas." Radio address of Gov. Beauford H. Jester, Nov. 17, 1947. "To all Texas lawyers." Letter from H. Grady Chandler, Pres. State Bar of Texas. Mimeographed, 1 p. Dec. 30, 1947. Memorandum to President Truman on State ownership of submerged lands. Presented by Sen. Tom Connally, Attn. Gen. Price Daniel and Robert Lee Bobbitt, Chairman, Special Tidelands Committee, State Bar of Texas. Mimeographed, 4 pp. (1947). Analysis of U. S. vs California and need for congressional action. National Association of Attorneys General. Mimeographed, 3 pp. (1947) Statement of Beauford H. Jester, Gov. of Texas. Mimeographed, 14 pp. (1947). "Far-reaching Federal-State controversy over Tidelands Oil: Pro and Con." Congressional Digest. Oct., 1948. pp. 229-256. Letter to Tom Pickett from Price Daniel RE Supreme Court decision in U. S. vs California. June 26, 1947. Reply from Pickett to Daniel, July 9, 1947 also sent to Gov. Beauford H. jester and Bascom Giles, Land Commissioner. Tidelands general data 1949-1950 Report to the People RE: Tidelands by Tom Pickett. June 16, 1950. H. R. 180: "A Bill, to confirm and establish the titles of the State to lands beneath navigable waters within State boundaries" Introduced by Mr. Gossett. Jan. 3, 1949. United States v. State of Texas: Tidelands Case. Texas Bar Journal. March 1949. Pp. 113f. Objections to motion for leave to file complaint by the United States against the State of Louisiana. Bolivar E. Kemp., Jr., Attorney General, Louisiana. October 1948. Motion for leave to file objections and objection to motion of United States of America for Leave to file complaint. Price Daniel, Attorney General, Texas. October 1948. "The Tidelands: Decision of the Supreme Court in the Texas case." Congressional Record. June 26, 1950. P 9342f. Tidelands, 1951-1952 Tidelands Vote. Editorial. St. Louis Globe-Democrat. May 17, 1952. To the Senate of the United States. Message of the President. Mimeographed, legal size, 6 p., May 29, 1952. Tidelands. Remarks of Ed Gossett. Mimeographed. Legal size, 5 p. (1952). "Our Washington Newsletter," by Cong. O. C. Fisher RE: Tidelands Bill. Mimeographed, legal size. 2 p., 1952. Complaint. US District Court in and for the Southern District of California. Mimeographed, legal size, 8 p., Jan. 25, 1951. Texas warns you of a danger facing every state in the Union. Contains reprint of "The Big Grab: a series of nine articles on the Federal Government's plan to seize submerged oil lands from the States." By Allen Duckworth. Reprinted from The Dallas Morning News and twenty-four other newspapers. March 1951. U. S. Map of Federally owned lands, 1950. H. R. 4484: "A bill to confirm and establish the titles of the States to lands beneath navigable waters within State boundaries." June 15/July 12, 1951. Report to accompany H. R. 4484, July 12, 1951. "Title to lands under navigable waters," by Herbert H. Naujoks. Marquette Law Review. May, 1948, pp. 7f. Analysis of Senate Judiciary committee public hearings involving the seizure of Tidelands. Mimeographed, 5 p., June 12, 1952. Song lyrics. "Sammy was her man." Votes by members & states on H. R. 4484, July 30, 1951. "President's outburst on the Tidelands." Editorial. Fort Worth Star-Telegram.May 20, 1952. Various other articles and papers. Return to the Table of Contents Projects, Dams, and Waterways This series contains correspondence, government publications, general publications, copies of news articles, and some photographs. This collection chronicles Pickett's support and work on public works projects such as Dams along the Neches-Angelina River, the Sabine Neches Waterway, and the need for flood control along the Trinity River. Also included in this series is a proposal for the completion of the Rusk Charcoal Blast Furnace and Chemical Plant in Rusk, Texas, and the United States Department of the Interior Neches-Angelina, Dams A & B, 1941 Neches-Angelina, Blackburn Dam, 1945-1950 Neches-Angelina, Blackburn Dam, Correspondence, 1951-1952 Neches-Angelina, McGee Bend Dam, 1946-1949 Neches-Angelina, MeGee Bend Dam Public Works Commission, 1951-1952 Neches-Angelina, Rockland Dam, 1945 Neches-Angelina, Rockland Dam, January 1946-June 1946 Neches-Angelina, Rockland Dam, July 1946-April 1947 Sabine Neches Waterway, 1938-1949 Rivers & Harbors-Sabine Neches Waterway Publicity, 1945-1947 Rusk Blast Furnace, 1945 Trinity River, General Correspondence, 1946-1949 Trinity River, Bills and Reports, 1951-1952 Trinity River, Public Works Commission, 1951-1952 Trinity River, lower reaches, 1948-1949 Trinity River, Upper Middle Cedar Creek Watershed, Flood Control Work Plan, February 26, 1948 Trinity River, Upper Middle Cedar Creek Watershed, Flood Control Work Plan, March 11, 1948 Trinity River Improvement Association, Benbrook Dam, 1950-1952 Return to the Table of Contents