urn:taro:dalpub.08919 Carr P Collins Family Collection Finding aid prepared by Bryan McKinney. Texas/Dallas History & Archives, Dallas Public Library April 06, 2007
1515 Young StDallas, TX 75201
 Finding aid encoded by Bryan McKinney on April 06, 2007 Overview of the Collection Texas/Dallas History & Archives, Dallas Public Library
1515 Young StDallas, TX 75201
 Collins, Carr P. Carr P Collins Family Collection 4 Boxes MA89-19 Biographical Note

The Collins family came to Texas from Mississippi in 1854. The seventh child of Eboline and Warren Collins was born in 1867 and was named Vinson Allen. V.A. Collins graduated from Sam Houston State Normal College in 1893, passed the Texas State Bar in 1901 and opened a law practice in Beaumont Texas. V.A. Collins would twice serve in the Texas Senate (1910-1914, 1916-1917). He was known for his progressive policies toward prohibition, women's suffrage and workmen's compensation. Collins would be married twice, first to Lizzie Hopkins and later to Nannie Kuykendall. He died in Dallas on July 5, 1966, and was survived by six children

Carr P Collins Sr. was born to V.A. Collins and Lizzie Hopkins in Chester, Texas on May 12, 1892. Collins arrived in Dallas in 1913 to become secretary of Texas Employers Insurance Association. This would be the beginning of a long career in insurance. In 1917, Fidelity Union Fire & Casualty Co. was founded with Collins as president. In 1928, Carr P Collins Sr became chairman of the board, a position he held until 1975, when he stepped down for health reasons. Collins married Ruth Woodall in 1914. Ruth Woodall was a schoolteacher from Hallsville, Texas. They had three children together. Carr P Collins Sr. died on January 17, 1980.

Carr P Collins Jr. was born to Carr P Collins Sr. and Ruth Collins in Dallas in 1918. He attended Southern Methodist University, and in 1939 received his bachelor's degree in commerce. He then attended Harvard University for one year before joining the Army Air Corp. After the war, he returned to Dallas and joined his father's insurance firm. He would rise to become vice president of Fidelity Union. In 1960, Collins was appointed by the State Department to Pakistan on a U.S. trade mission. He also represented Italy as vice council in the Dallas area from 1962-1972. Collins was married three times, having three children. His first wife, Calvert Collins, served as the first female city council member in Dallas.

Scope and Contents

The Carr P Collins Family Collection contains materials on three generations of the Collins family, V.A. Collins, Carr Collins Sr. and Jr. and their wives. The collection contains clippings, family photographs, SMU items from Carr Collins' Jr. time there and items from his time served on the U.S. trade mission to Pakistan. Clippings cover their professional and civic involvement within Dallas and worldwide. Carr P Collins Jr kept clippings from Dallas and Pakistani newspapers covering his involvement with the U.S. trade mission to Pakistan. Clippings also cover his first wife, Calvert Collins campaign and career in the Dallas City Council. Family photographs are also included in the collection. Some of the photographs are of Carr Collins' Jr. mission to Pakistan. Genealogical information for the Collins family can also be found in the collection.

 Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Persons: V.A. Collins Carr P Collins Sr. Ruth Collins Carr P Collins Jr. Calvert Collins Family Names: Collins Woodall Places: Dallas (Tex.) Subjects: Family History Titles: Carr P Collins Family Collection Preferred Citation

MA89-19 Carr P Collins Family Collection Texas/Dallas History & Archives Division, Dallas Public Library

 Processing Information

Processed by Bryan McKinney

 Detailed Description of the Collection 1 1 V.A. Collins - Correspondence - Lizzie Hopkins October 23, 1888 1 2 V.A. Collins - Clippings 1 3 V.A. Collins - Sam Houston College Memorial booklet, "In Appreciation of Senator V.A. Collins" 1 4 V.A. Collins - "Sketch of Early Life of Carr P and Halley H. Collins", by V.A. Collins August 1960 1 5 V.A. Collins - 33rd Legislature. Texas Senate roster w/ pictures. 1913 2 1 Carr P Collins Sr. - Clippings 2 2 Ruth Collins - Clippings 2 3 Ruth Collins - Dedication - Baylor University November 23, 1957 2 4 Carr P Collins Jr. - Sanger's "Personalities in Fashion" September 1939 2 5 Carr P Collins Jr. - SMU - Graduation and Convocation May 6, 1939 2 6 Carr P Collins Jr. - Clippings 2 7 Carr P Collins Jr. - Pamphlets & Honors 2 8 Carr P Collins Jr. - U.S. Trade Mission - Clippings 2 9 Carr P Collins Jr. - U.S. Trade Mission - Business Cards and Brochures 2 10 Carr P Collins Jr. - U.S. Trade Mission - Miscellaneous Items 2 11 Carr P Collins Jr. - SMU - Mustang Magazine November 1953 & 1954 2 12 Carr P Collins Jr. - SMU Alumni Association 2 13 Carr P Collins Jr. - Phi Delta Theta 2 14 Calvert Collins - Biographical Information 2 15 Calvert Collins - Clippings 2 16 James Collins - Speech at SMU " Dallas is a Good Buy in Today's Market" April 28, 1964 2 17 Family Information with Collins Family Tree 2 18 Postcards - Wild Briar Farm - Gaston Ave Pharmacy - Carr P Collins Chapel - House of the Seasons - Crazy Water Hotel - Graduate School of Harvard University. 3 1 Photographs - Riley Barber Woodall 3 2 Photographs - Unknown young girl, Woodall? Tintype 3 3 Photograph - Riley Woodall gravesite 3 4 Photograph - Children, Ira, Eva, William (Bill) and Elza Ruth Woodall. Photo taken in their home. 3 5 Photograph - Nattie or Pattie? Woodall Scott 3 6 Photograph - Unknown couple 3 7 Photograph - V.A. Collins with Nannie and infant. 3 8 Photograph - Grandma and Grandpa Collins with Family. H.V. Collins third from the left. 3 9 Photograph - V.A. Collins and Hal Collins with unidentified man. 3 10 Photograph - Left to Right. Carr Collins Jr., Carr Collins Sr., Jim Collins, V.A. Collins (State Senator), Hal Collins (brother of Carr Collins Sr.), Hal Collins Jr., and Larry Collins (latter two both sons of Hal). 3 11 Photograph - Group shot of Collins family with children 3 12 Photograph - Grandma Collins (V.A. Collins mother) 3 13 Photograph - V.A. Collins headshot 3 14 Photograph - Carr P Collins Sr. 6 months old 3 15 Photograph - V.A. Collins, as a young man, 20-25 3 16 Photograph - Unknown young women 3 17 Photograph - V.A. Collins 3 18 Photograph - Elaine de Konig. Artist of painting of Ruth Collins 3 19 Photograph - V.A. Collins 3 20 Photograph - Ira Woodall with fiddle 3 21 Photograph - Ira Thomas Woodall 3 22 Photograph - V.A. Collins, daughter and wife Nannie Collins 3 23 Photograph - J.W. and Texas Woodall 3 24 Photograph - V.A. Collins as an older man 3 25 Photograph - Texas Woodall. Age 16 years 3 26 Photograph - Carr P Collins Jr. around 18. 3 27 Photograph - Riley Woodall gravesite. The back of.. 3 28 Photograph - John Connally (center) with Carr P Collins Jr. 3 29 Photograph - SMU Blue Shirt (Fish) Special. SMU Freshmen 3 30 Photograph - Carr P Collins Jr speaking at the dedication of the Carr P Collins Jr Chair of International Affairs at the Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom, Howard Payne College 3 31 Photograph - V.A. Collins 3 32 Photograph - Carr P Collins Jr. is appointed vice consul of Italy by Dr. Roberto Cerchione, consul general of Italy, New Orleans consulate 3 33 Photograph - Carr P Collins Jr. with fraternity at Harvard University 4 1 Photograph - Carr P Collins Sr. and Jr. with Ruth Collins at Baylor University Hospital 4 2 Photograph - Jim Collins, Ruth Collins (Carr Sr.'s wife), Carr Collins Sr, Ruth (Collins) Sharp and Carr Collins Jr, when painting by Alexander Clayton was presented to Baylor University Hospital. 4 3 Photograph - U.S. Trade mission to Pakistan, Short bios on back of photograph. Anthony J. Buchar, Richard W. Richards, Henry Koller, J. Saunders Williamson and Carr P Collins Jr. 4 4 Photograph - Carr P Collins sits at a desk with two Pakistanis at the Dacca Chamber of Commerce. Collins is the real estate member of the trade mission. 4 5 Photograph - Henry Koller, G.M. Adarmju and Carr P Collins Jr on Pakistan Trade mission. 4 6 Photograph - Banquet for Pakistan Trade Mission. 4 7 Photograph - Carr P Collins Jr. on Pakistan Trade Mission. 4 8 Photograph - Ministry of Commerce gave a dinner party at the State Guest House, Karachi, in honor of the U.S. Trade Mission. Left to Right. J Saunders Williamson, William O Hall of U.S. Embassy, Mr. Curry, Z.A. Bhutto, Anthony Buchar, Carr Collins Jr, S. Osman Ali, 4 9 Photograph - Carr P Collins speaks to group during Pakistan Trade Mission. 4 10 Photograph - Outdoor meeting, Narangangy, East Pakistan. 4 11 Photograph - U.S. trade delegation walks with Pakistani officials. 4 12 Photograph - Rashid Ahmed, National Bank of Pakistan with Carr P Collins Jr. Receptions Dacca, East Pakistan. 4 13 Photograph - Banquet held for Trade Delegation. Carr P Collins on right. 4 14 Photograph - Group photo of delegation, Koller, Curry, Collins, Williamson, Muller, Buchar, Fancy, Richards, Tufail. 4 15 Photograph - Carr P Collins stands under banner reading "Let us be Always Friend". Pakistan. 4 16 Photograph - Carr P Collins and Curry stand with group of Pakistani children. 4 17 Photograph - Rotary Dinner at Khulua, East Pakistan. Hugh Curry. Ed Rankin, Counsul General, Dacca, Jim Attaclin?, American Embassy Karachi. 4 18 Photograph - Members of the U.S. Trade delegation inspect Pakistani produce. 4 19 Photograph - Chittagang, East Pakistan Chamber of Commerce. Henry Keller, Tony Duchar, B. Salamar, president of Chamber of Commerce, Dick Richards, J Williamson. 4 20 Photograph - Carr P Collins removes his cowboy boots to try on some Pakistani shoes. 4 21 Photograph - Members of the U.S. Trade delegation each hold Pakistani textile products. 4 22 Photograph - U.S. Trade delegation attend a meeting. 4 23 Photograph - Carr P Collins Jr. greeted as he is exiting an automobile. 4 24 Photograph - Members of the U.S. Trade delegation stand under a banner reading "Pak-American ties of Friendship May Last Forever." 4 25 Photograph - Collins, Amirali Fancy and Buchar. 4 26 Photograph - Collins Jr. with Gen Khan, Martial Law Administrator, Dacca, East Pakistan. 4 27 Photograph - Carr P Collins with the president of Nabisco, Dacca, East Pakistan. Chamber of Commerce reception. 4 28 Photograph - Carr P Collins Jr. speaks at a U.S. Trade Mission meeting. 4 29 Photograph - Collins Jr. looks over some papers with two Pakistani Businessmen. 4 30 Photograph - Collins Jr. speaking at a Trade Delegation meeting. 4 31 Photograph - Carr P Collins Jr. eating dinner with U.S. Trade delegates and Pakistani officials. 4 32 Photograph - U.S. Trade Mission inspect a textile factory in Pakistan. 4 33 Photograph - Carr P Collins Sr. Portrait.