Vinson Allen Collins

Full Name: Vinson Allen "Yank" Collins
Date of birth: March 1, 1867
Date of death: July 5, 1966

Terms of Service
Biographical Notes
Committee Information
Legislation

Terms of Service top

Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Note	Counties in District
S	14	Sep 4, 1917 - Jan 14, 1919	35th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾	Democrat	Beaumont / Jefferson		Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Sabine, San Augustine, Tyler
S	14	Jan 10, 1911 - Jan 12, 1915	33rd ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾ 32nd ⁽⁵⁾ 33rd ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾	Democrat	Beaumont / Jefferson	Senate President Pro Tempore (33rd)	Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Sabine, San Augustine, Tyler

(1) Vinson A. Collins, in special election 8/17/1917, sworn 9/4/1917, succeeded Steve M. King, resigned after 1st Called Session. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(2) Assumed Democrat based on listing as Democrat in previous Legislatures. Texas Legislative Manual.
(3) 33rd Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, elected 8/19/1913, 1st C.S. Senate Journal.
(4) 33rd Legislature - Roll Call, holdover Senators elected on 11/8/1910 for a full period of four years, 1/14/1913, pp. 1-3. Senate Journal.
(5) 32nd Legislature - Roll Call of Senators-elect, oath of office administered, 1/10/1911, pp. 1-2. Senate Journal.

Terms of Service top

Senate District 14
Sep 4, 1917 - Jan 14, 1919
Legislatures: 35th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Beaumont / Jefferson
Counties in district: Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Sabine, San Augustine, Tyler

Senate District 14
Jan 10, 1911 - Jan 12, 1915
Legislatures: 33rd ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾ 32nd ⁽⁵⁾ 33rd ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾
Senate President Pro Tempore (33rd)
(33rd)
(33rd)
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Beaumont / Jefferson
Counties in district: Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Sabine, San Augustine, Tyler

Biographical Information top

Selected newspaper articles

Biographical Sketches

COLLINS, VINSON A. (1867-1966). Handbook of Texas Online.
Book and family history in LRL collection, 929.2 C693C. Includes biographical sketch of Vinson Allen "Yank" Collins, pp. 50-53, born 3/1/1967 in Hardin County, Texas. Includes articles, "Former State Senator Still a Crusader at 86," Dallas Morning News, 7/14/1953; and "Sen Collins Sponsored Workmen's Compensation," date and source unknown. A Story of My Parents, Warren Jacob Collins and Tolitha Eboline Valentine Collins: Including Their 65 Years of Married Life Together, the Trials and Tribulations of Pioneer Life in Texas, and Many of Their Descendants to the 6th Generation, 1962.

Other Resources

Obituary and photo, "Vinson A. Collins, 99, Political Figure, Dies," 7/6/1966, p. 9. Dallas Morning News.
Mentioned in Hood, Bonnet, and Little Brown Jug: Texas Politics, 1921-1928, 1984.
Obituary, "Former State Senator V.A. Collins Dies at Age 99," Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Texas), 7/7/1966, pp. 1, 11, crediting Livingston Municipal Library. "In 1913, as a member of the Texas Senate, V.A. Collins wrote the original Workmen's Compensation Law which is still the basic labor law of Texas." Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).

Photographs

Photograph. V.A. Collins, 33rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. V.A. Collins, 32nd Legislature, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

32nd session composite photo of Senate members (Senate chamber gallery, east wall. 3E.5). State Preservation Board.
33rd session composite photo of Senate members (Senate chamber gallery, east wall. 3E.5). State Preservation Board.
35th session composite photo of Senate members (3rd floor back hall corridor, west wall. 3E.C2). State Preservation Board.

Committee Information top

35th R.S. - 1917 Civil Jurisprudence Criminal Jurisprudence Judicial Districts Mining, Irrigation and Drainage Public Lands and Land Office Towns and City Corporations
33rd R.S. - 1913 Commerce and Manufactures (Chair) Congressional Districts Federal Relations Finance Insurance, Statistics and History Internal Improvements Judicial Districts Labor Military Affairs Mining and Irrigation Public Health Public Lands and Land Office Towns and City Corporations
32nd R.S. - 1911 Agricultural Affairs Commerce and Manufactures Constitutional Amendments Educational Affairs Internal Improvements Military Affairs (Chair) Public Health Representative Districts Retail Liquor License, Special Towns and City Corporations

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