Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Thomas Vincent Cator Papers
- Dates:
- 1881-1941
- Creators:
- Cator, Thomas Vincent
- Extent:
- 1 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item] Thomas Vincent Cator Papers, M032, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Cator Papers are largely the correspondence received by Vincent Cator at the time of his involvement in the People's Party and afterwards, 1883-1915. Included in the collection are 16 letters written by Cator on various political subjects from 1894-1915. In addition, there are several papers of a legal nature and a biography written by Harold F. Taggart. There are also newspaper clippings of Cator's activities.
Of primary interest is the correspondence concerning Cator's relationship with the Populist Movement in California and New Jersey, and Cator's position on such issues as government ownership of railroads, free silver, anti-monopoly, and women's sufferage.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Thomas Vincent Cator was born in Roxbury, New York on July 18, 1851. He spent his early years on a farm, attending the local academy when possible. After having taught school at the age of seventeen, Cator attended Cornell University. Upon graduation he entered a New York law firm and soon developed political interests. In 1880 Cator established residence in Jersey City and held an alderman's office for two years.
Having been bothered with malaria fever for some time, Cator journeyed to San Francisco, California in 1887. It was not long until he was involved in politics again, and in 1889, Cator married Miss Ethel Chapman.
Politically, Cator was at one time or another an Anti-Monopolist, a Republican, a Democrat, a Prohibitionist, a Nationalist, and a Populist. His most significant political contribution was as the leader of the Populist Party in California from 1890 until its dissolution in 1898. Cator ran for the U.S. Senate on the Populist ticket in 1892, 1894, and 1896, unsuccessfully in each effort. In 1901 he was appointed to the Elections Commission of the city of San Francisco and he served until his death, most of the time as president of the commission. He died on Sept. [19], 1920 of a heart attack.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Harold F. Taggart, 1960, 1962, and 1963.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2020-07-01 14:08:15 -0700 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Audiovisual materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.
- Terms of access:
-
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns. When required, it is the researcher's responsibility to obtain such permissions.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item] Thomas Vincent Cator Papers, M032, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
- Location of this collection:
-
Department of Special Collections, Green Library557 Escondido MallStanford, CA 94305-6004, US
- Contact:
- (650) 725-1022