Descriptive Summary
Albert Thomas papers
1937-1965
MS 262
8 cubic feet
Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice
University, Houston, TX
This collection of
speeches, correspondences, reports, and photographs documents the work of
Albert Thomas, U.S. Representative for Harris County, Texas, from 1936-1966.
Albert Thomas was the first Rice Alumnus to serve in Congress. He graduated
from Rice Institute in 1920.
Preferred Citation
Albert Thomas Papers, 1937-1965, MS262, Woodson Research Center, Fondren
Library, Rice University
Index Terms
Subjects (Organizations)
United States. Congress.
House--Members' papers--Texas.
Subjects
Legislation--United
States.
Harbors--Texas.
School
districts--Texas.
Universities and
colleges--Texas.
Elections--Texas.
Texas--Politics and
government.
United States--Politics and
government--20th century.
Harris County
(Tex.)
Houston (Tex.)--Geographical
features--Harbors.
Texas--Geographical
features--Harbors.
Pasadena (Tex.)
Texas--Education--Public
schools.
Texas--Education--Universities and colleges.
Rice University--Alumni and
alumnae.
Formats
Correspondence
Speeches
Photographs
Biographical Note
Albert Thomas was the first Rice Alumnus to serve in Congress. Thomas
was born in Nacogdoches, Texas, on April 12, 1898. As a child, he attended
Public Schools in Nacogdoches and worked in his father's store. During World
War I, Thomas served as a second lieutenant in the army. He graduated from Rice
Institute in 1920 and from University of Texas law school in 1926. Thomas was
married to Lera Millard in 1922. He was elected county attorney in Nacogdoches
in 1927, and served there until 1930, when he moved to Houston to become
assistant United States district attorney for the southern district of Texas.
Thomas was elected to represent the Eighth District of Texas (Harris County) in
the U.S. House of Representatives in 1936, a position he held until his death.
Thomas served on numerous committees and was instrumental in locating the NASA
Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston. He became chairman of the House
Subcommittee on Independent Office Appropriations in 1949, chairman of the
Texas House delegation in 1950, and chairman of the House Democratic caucus in
1964. Thomas died while in office in 1966 after a long illness.
Scope and Contents
The Collection consists of Thomas' Congressional correspondence. The
collection covers 30 years of service by Thomas in the U.S. House of
Representatives. Thomas made few speeches on the House floor and attached his
name to only a few bills; however, his correspondence illustrates his
continuing behind-the-scenes statesmanship. Included in the collection are
sections on U.S. problems, legislation (including Albert Thomas bills), Texas
problems, Harris County, Houston Port, Pasadena, school districts,
universities, campaigns and elections, and speeches. The collection is composed
of 21 document boxes containing typescript, typed copy, photocopy, documents,
and photographs. The collection comprises a total of 8 cubic feet.
Arrangement
The collection is divided into fourteen series, which are listed
below.
- Series I: U.S. Problems
- Series II: Legislation
- Series III: Committees
- Series IV: Texas Problems
- Series V: Harris County
- Series VI: Houston Port
- Series VII: Houston City
- Series VIII: Pasadena & Other Cities
- Series IX: School Districts
- Series X: Universities
- Series XI: Campaigns & Elections
- Series XII: Speeches
- Series XIII: People
- Series XIV: Personal
Acquisition Information
The Albert Thomas Papers were received on September 2, 1966 from Mrs.
Lera Thomas, widow of the late Albert Thomas.
Access RestrictionsThis material is open for research.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish from the Albert Thomas Papers must be obtained
from Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library. Copyright release on published
materials must be obtained from the publication.
Detailed Description of the Collection
1-3
Series I: U.S. Problems
1 1
Cancer Research Bulletin,
1960
1 2
Civil Aeronautics Authority,
1939-40
1 3
Commerce Department - Bureau of Census,
1940
1 4
Defense Housing,
1940-42
1 5
Defense Housing,
1941-43
1 6
Defense Housing,
1942-44
1 7
Defense Projects,
1941-42
1 8
Demobilization,
1946
1 9
Federal Housing Administration,
1937-39
1 10
Federal Housing Administration,
1939
2 1
Goose Creek W.P.A.,
1937-38
2 2
H.E.W. Office of The Secretary, Washington D.C.
Congressional Liaison,
1961-64
2 3
National Housing Agency,
1942-43
2 4
Navy Department,
1937-40
2 5
P.W.A.,
1938-40
2 6
P.W.A. Proposal Projects,
1938-39
2 7
Reciprocal Trade Agreement,
1937-39
2 8
Report on Russia by Vice Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, USN.,
1959
2 9
Southern Interstate Nuclear Compact,
1961-65
2 10
U.S. District Court - Southern District of Texas,
1963-64
2 11
U.S. Territorial Expansion - Memorial Commission,
1949
2 12
Veterans Administration Facilities (Contact Unit),
1937-38
2 13
Veterans Administration Facilities (Regional Hospital),
1938
2 14
War Department,
1937-39
2 15
War Department,
1939-40
3 1
War Department,
1941-42
3 2
War Department,
1942
3 3
War Department,
1942-43
3 4
War Department,
1943
3 5
War Production Board,
1941-43
3 6
W.P.A. - Harris County,
1938-39
3 7
W.P.A. - Harris County,
1940
4 1
W.P.A. - Harris County,
1940-41
4 2
W.P.A. - Houston Office,
1938-89
4 3
W.P.A. - Low Income Housing,
1939
4 4
W.P.A. - Washington,
1939
4-7
Series II: Legislation
4-5
Subseries A: Albert Thomas Bills
4 5
Bills 78th Congress,
1943-44
4 6
Bills 79th Congress,
1945-46
4 7
Bills 80th Congress,
1947-48
4 8
Bills 81st Congress,
1949-50
4 9
Bills 82nd Congress,
1951-52
4 10
H.R. 5935 - Reginald Wynne Davis,
1951-52
4 11
H.R. 6423 - Russell William Karback,
1952-53
4 12
H.R. 7387 - Re: Child Care,
1952
4 13
H.R. 7570 - Kimie Ishimura,
1952-53
4 14
Bills 83rd Congress,
1953-54
4 15
H.R. 1703 - Janie Ng Chen,
1952-53
4 16
H.R. 2437 - Jean May Hopkins,
1953
4 17
H.R. 2675 - Mr. & Mrs. Alkos G Giagtzis,
1953-54
4 18
H.R. 3465 - John Base,
1953-54
4 19
H.R. 3681 - Nathan L. Laufman,
1953
4 20
H.R. 3834 - Jerry F. Markantonis,
1953-54
4 21
H.R. 4021 - Reginald Wynne Davis,
1953
4 22
H.R. 4022 - Lorenzo D. Meadows,
1953
4 23
H.R. 4387 - Dr. Roger Post Adams,
1953
4 24
H.R. 5467 - Francis A. Reilly,
1953
4 25
Miscellaneous Bills,
1952-54
5 1
Bills 84th Congress,
1955-56
5 2
Bills 85th Congress,
1957-58
5 3
H.R. 5678,
1958
5 4
Bills 86th Congress,
1959-60
5 5
H.R. 6679,
1959-60
5 6
H.R. 10399,
1960
5 7
Bills 87th Congress,
1961-62
5 8
Bills 88th Congress,
1963-64
5 9
Bills 89th Congress,
1965-66
6 1-6
Subseries B: Other Bills
6 1
Miscellaneous Bills,
1957-59
6 2
National Labor Relations Act,
1940
6 3
Truth in Fabric Bill,
1939-40
6 4
U.S. Housing Act,
1937-40
6 5
Wage & Hour Law,
1937-40
6 6
Wage & Hour Law,
1939-40
6-7
Subseries C: Congressional & Presidential
6 7
Annual Report to the President,
1964
6 8
Congressional District Atlas of U.S.,
1960
6 9
Congressional District Data Book,
1961
6 10
Docket,
1932-40
7 1
Presidential Messages,
1937-39
7 2-8
Series III: Committees
7 2
Committee on Appropriations - Independent Offices,
1960-61
7 3
Committee on Ways & Means,
1936-39
7 4
Independent Offices Subcommittee,
1961
7 5
Independent Offices Committee,
1962
7 6
Kennedy - Johnson Natural Resource Advisory Committee,
1960-61
7 7
Labor Subcommittee,
1937
7 8
Pensions Committee,
1937-39
7-8
Series IV: Texas Problems
7 9
Naval Base,
1939-42
7 10
Rayburn (Sam) Library Foundation,
1950-62
8 1
San Jacinto Parks Commission,
1960-62
8 2
Texas, State of - Attorney General,
1949-50
8 3
Texas, State of - Governor of Texas,
1940-6
8 4
Texas, State of - House of Representatives,
1962-66
8 5
Texas Air National Guard,
1957-60
8 6
Trinity River - Correspondence,
1962-65
8 7
Trinity River - Livingston Reclamation Project,
1961-66
8 8
Trinity River - Wallisville Reservoir,
1960-63
8 9
Trinity River - Wallisville Reservoir,
1954-61
8 10
Trinity River - Wallisville Reservoir,
1965-66
8-10
Series V: Harris County, TX
8 11
Brays Bayou,
1938
8 12
Clear Creek Channel,
1938
8 13
Ellington Field,
1940
9 1
Flood Control - Harris County,
1937-38
9 2
Flood Control - Harris County,
1937-39
9 3
Flood Control - Harris County,
1937-39
9 4
Flood Control Letters,
1938
9 5
Fort Sam Houston,
1940-42
9 6
Harris County Flood & Drainage Project,
1937-41
9 7
Harris County Flood Control Newspaper Clippings,
1939-65
9 8
Harris County Flood Control District,
1940-62
10 1
Harris County Sports Stadium - Newspaper Clippings,
1961-63
10 2
Harris County Sports Stadium - Fallout Shelter Project,
1961
10 3
Harris County Sports Stadium - Fallout Shelter Project,
1964
10 4
Industrial Waste Disposal Corporation,
1959
10 5
Industrial Waste Disposal Corporation,
1959
10 6
Industrial Waste Disposal Corporation,
1960
10 7
Juvenile Delinquency & Youth Offenses,
1962
10 8
Wooster Water & Sanitary Improvement Committee,
1941
11-12
Series VI: Houston Port
11 1
Houston, City of - Port of Houston - Food & Drug
Laboratory,
1961-62
11 2
Houston, Port of,
1937-42
11 3
Houston, Port of,
1942-47
11 4
Houston, Port of,
1947-51
11 5
Houston, Port of,
1951-53
11 6
Houston, Port of,
1954-63
11 7
Houston, Port of,
1959-63
12 1
Houston Port & Traffic Bureau,
1939-48
12 2
Houston Port & Traffic Bureau,
1949-51
12 3
Houston Port & Traffic Bureau,
1952-53
12 4
Houston Port Commission,
1963-66
12 5
Houston Ship Channel - Army Engineers' Report,
1937-41
12 6
Houston Ship Channel - Barbour's Cut,
1962
12 7
Houston Ship Channel - Resurvey,
1950-55
12 8
Houston Ship Channel - Resurvey,
1955-58
12 9
Houston Ship Channel - San Jacinto River,
1956-60
13-16
Series VII: Houston City
13 1
Three Photographs of Houston Areas,
n.d.
13 2
Airplane Plant,
1940
13 3
Citizen's National Bank & Trust Co., Baytown,
1939-64
13 4
Depelchin Faith Home Orphanage,
1937-39
13 5
Hedgecroft Hospital & Clinic,
1946-58
13 6
Hermann Hospital,
1949-59
13 7
Hermann Hospital Estate,
1955-1957
13 8
Houston, City of,
1939-46
13 9
Houston, City of - Civil Defense,
1951-65
13 10
Houston, City of - Department of Aviation,
1961-62
13 11
Houston, City of - Houston Housing Authority,
1939-58
13 12
Houston, City of - Houston Intercontinental Airport,
1963-66
13 13
Houston, City of - Houston International Airport,
1960-66
14 1
Houston, City of - Recreation Department,
1938-43
14 2
Houston, City of - Urban Renewal,
1959-66
14 3
Greater Houston Action for Youth,
1961-62
14 4
Greater Houston Action for Youth,
1962-63
14 5
Greater Houston Action for Youth,
1964-66
14 6
Houston Chamber of Commerce,
1937-39
14 7
Houston Chamber of Commerce,
1939-40
14 8
Houston Chamber of Commerce,
1940
14 9
Houston Chamber of Commerce,
1941-43
15 1
Houston Chamber of Commerce,
1943-46
15 2
Houston Chamber of Commerce,
1962-64
15 3
Houston Chronicle,
1937-46
15 4
Houston Customs Appraisers Warehouse Building,
1937-41
15 5
Houston Federal Office Building & Courthouse,
1960-64
15 6
Houston Federal Office Building - Replies to Invitations,
1962
15 7
Houston Housing Authority,
1937-38
15 8
Houston Housing Authority,
1938-39
15 9
Houston Housing Authority,
1939
15 10
Houston National Guard Coast Artillery Regiment,
1937
15 11
Houston Negro Hospital,
1942-59
16 1
Houston - New Orleans Lighted Airways,
1936-38
16 2
Houston Press,
1937-46
16 3
Houston Public Library,
1938
16 4
Houston Pure Food & Drug Laboratory,
1936-37,
1961
16 5
Houston - Water Division,
1940-64
16 6
Houston Youth Center,
1961-63
16 7
Jefferson Davis High School,
1959-60
16 8
Jefferson Davis Hospital,
1939-54
16 9
Park Place Library -- P.W.A.,
1938-40
16-17
Series VIII: Pasadena and Other Cities
16 10
Bellaire Sewer Project,
1938-39
16 11
City of West University Place Water Works Project,
1939
16 12
City of West University Place W.P.A.,
1940
16 13
Goose Creek Street Project,
1939-40
16 14
Humble Cantonment,
1941
16 15
Two Maps of Pasadena,
n.d.
16 16
Pasadena, City of,
1956-65
16 17
Pasadena Armory,
1956-60
16 18
Pasadena Street Improvement Project,
1939-40
17 1
Pelly City of, (R.F.C.),
1939
17 2
Shoreacres, Village of,
1957-63
17 3
Tomball, City of,
1941-60
17 4
Tomball Hospital,
1946-49
17 5
Wilshire Village,
1939-40
17 6-17
Series IX: School Districts
17 6
Aldine Independent School District,
1938-45
17 7
Almeda School District,
1937
17 8
Cedar Bayou Independent School District,
1938-46
17 9
Channelview Common School District #18,
1938
17 10
Channelview Independent School District,
1946-54
17 11
Galena Park Public Schools,
1941-45
17 12
Goose Creek Independent School District,
1936-39
17 13
Goose Creek Independent School District,
1951-52
17 14
Houston Independent School District,
1938-42
17 15
North East Houston Independent School District,
1938-66
17 16
Pasadena Independent School District,
1937-46
17 17
Spring Branch Independent School District,
1938-56
17-18
Series X: Universities
17 18
Rice Institute,
1937-46
17 19
Rice Institute Re: Atomic Energy,
1956-58
18 1
University of Houston,
1937-40
18 2
Stephen F. Austin State College,
1963-66
18-19
Series XI: Campaigns and Elections
18-19
Subseries A: Campaigns
18 3
Campaign - Labor Endorsements,
1940
18 4
Files on Campaigns,
1930-46
18 5
Files on Campaigns,
1940
18 6
Files on Campaigns,
1937-61
19 1
Files on Campaigns,
1940
19 2
Files on Campaigns,
1961-66
19 3
Kennedy - Johnson Campaign,
1960
19
Subseries B: Elections
19 4
Committee on Elections #3,
1940
19 5
Committee on Elections #3,
1940
19 6
Election Results,
1936
19 7
Election Results,
1938
19 8
Election Results,
1940
19 9
Election Results,
1942
19 10
Election Results,
1944
19 11
Election Results,
1946
19 12
Election Results,
1948
19 13
Election Results,
1950
19 14
Election Results,
1952
19 15
Election Results,
1954
19 16
Election Results,
1956
19 17
Election Results,
1958
19 18
Election Results,
1960
19 19
Election Results,
1962
19 20
Election Results,
1964
20
Series XII: Speeches
20 1
Thomas Speeches,
1938-41
20 2
Thomas Speeches,
1940-63
20 3
Thomas Speeches,
1942-43
20 4
Thomas Speeches,
1943-46
20 5
Thomas Speeches - Congressional Record,
1942-44
20 6
Thomas Speeches - Congressional Record,
1947
20 7
Thomas Speeches - Radio,
1942-43,
1948
21 1-13
Series XIII: People
21 1
Baruch, Bernard,
1949-50
21 2
Biggers, E.M.,
1935-40
21 3
Cannon, Clarence,
1942-62
21 4
Gonzales Menchaca, - Edilberto,
1952-53
21 5
Hubert Humphrey Letters & Autographed Speech,
1965-66
21 6
Jaworski, Leon,
1949-63
21 7
Johnson, Lyndon B.,
1957-66
21 8
Lintelman, Fred H.,
1943-47
21 9
Rayburn, Sam (Hon.),
1936-65
21 10
Sheppard, Morris (Hon.),
1937-41
21 11
Steelman, John R.,
1947-50
21 12
Truman, Harry S.,
1956-64
21 13
Visitors to Washington,
1954-58
21 14-19
Series XIV: Personal
21 14
About Albert Thomas (includes some photos),
1963
21 15
Congressional Record - Eulogies to Albert Thomas,
1966
21 16
Form Letters,
1942-45
21 17
Correspondence with Constituents
21 18
Albert Thomas Scholarships,
1962
21 19
Six NASA Photos,
1966