Texas Legislators: Past & Present

Vinson Allen Collins

Full Name: Vinson Allen "Yank" Collins
Birth date: March 1, 1867
Death date: July 5, 1966

Terms of Service

Senate, 35th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽⁴⁾ Legislature
9/4/1917 - 1/14/1919
Democrat
Senate, 33rd ⁽²⁾ & 32nd ⁽³⁾ Legislatures
1/10/1911 - 1/12/1915
Democrat
Senate President Pro Tempore, elected 8/19/1913, 1st C.S.

(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) 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 .
(3) 32nd Legislature - Roll Call of Senators-elect, oath of office administered, 1/10/1911, pp. 1-2. Senate Journal .
(4) Assumed Democrat based on listing as Democrat in previous Legislatures. Texas Legislative Manual .

Biographical Notes and Resources

Selected Newspaper articles

Photographs

Photograph. V.A. Collins, State Preservation Board
Photograph. V.A. Collins, State Preservation Board

Other Resources

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.
Obituary and photo, "Vinson A. Collins, 99, Political Figure, Dies," 7/6/1966, p. 9. Dallas Morning News .
COLLINS, VINSON A. (1867-1966). Handbook of Texas Online .
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) .