Call Number MS-15

Name:  The Thomas Watson Collection: copies of Tom Watson's Magazine, Watson's Jeffersonian Magazine, Watson's Magazine, Watson's Weekly Jeffersonian held in the VSU Archives

Dates:   May 21, 1908 - February 23, 1911

Size:  

Biography:   

Thomas Edward Watson (September 5, 1856 September 26, 1922), he was known as Tom Watson, a United States politician from Georgia. In early years, Watson Championed poor farmers and the working class; later he became a controversial publisher and Populist politician. Two years before his death, he was elected to the United States Senate. His virulent attacks on the Roman Catholic Church, African Americans, Jews, the League of Nations, President Woodrow Wilson and the war effort in World War I diminished his political influence. Watson was born in Thomson, the county seat of McDuffie County, Georgia. After attending Mercer University (he did not graduate, family finances forced withdrawal after two years), he became a schoolteacher. Watson later studied law and was admitted to the Georgia bar in 1875. He joined the Democratic Party and in 1882 was elected to the Georgia Legislature. Watson was a presidential elector on the Democratic ticket in 1888. He was elected as a Populist to the 52nd Congress (1891-1893). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1892 and 1894. Watson resumed the practice of law in Thomson, Georgia. Watson was nominated for Vice President by the Populist National Convention in 1896 and for President by the Peoples Party in 1904. He published a magazine for many years and later engaged in the newspaper business (The Jeffersonian). Watson unsuccessfully ran for House of Representatives in 1918 and was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate and served from 1921 until his death in Washington, D.C., September 26 1922. Watson is buried in Thomson Cemetery in Thomson, Georgia.                                       

History:   

The Jeffersonian was a weekly newspaper published by Jeffersonian Publishing, which was owned by Thomas E. Watson. The paper served to promote the Populist Party. Watson would use the paper as a platform for Watsons attacks against the Catholic church, African Americans, Jews, the League of Nations, President Woodrow Wilson, and the war effort in World War I. Watsons publications served an organized boycott and a federal prosecution for mailing obscene literature, and would not be silenced until finally suppressed by the Wilson administration under the Espionage Act of 1917. Despite controversy and opposition, Watsons weekly publication commanded a loyal political force, and no Georgia governor between 1906 and 1922 was elected without Watsons support.

Scope and Content:   

The newspapers contain articles that are relevant to the time period they are written. They include advertisements, editorials, and political ads. The Dates range from May 21, 1908 through February 23, 1911.

Processing Notes: 

Each volume is contained in a folder that is labeled by volume, number and date of the printing. 

Subject Headings:  

Tom Watson

Georgia Politicians

The Jeffersonian Publishing

Early Racial Issues

Presidential elections

Populist Party

Georgia politics

Early Georgia Newspapers

Woodrow Wilson

Catholic Church

Congress

Senate

U.S. Legislature

Mercer University

Georgia Lawyers

Democrats

Inventory:           

The Jeffersonian: Volume 8 Number 8, February 23, 1911

The Jeffersonian: Volume 8 Number 7, February 16, 1911   

The Jeffersonian: Volume 8 Number 6, February 9, 1911

The Jeffersonian: Volume 8 Number 5, February 2, 1911

The Jeffersonian: Volume 8 Number 4, January 26, 1911

The Jeffersonian: Volume 8 Number 3, January 19, 1911

The Jeffersonian: Volume 8 Number 2, January 12, 1911

The Jeffersonian: Volume 8 Number 1, January 5, 1911

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 52, December 29, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 51, December 22, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 50, December 15, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 49, December 8, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 48, December 1, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 45, November 10, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 44, November 3, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 43, October 27, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 42, October 20, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 41, October 13, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 40, October 6, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 39, September 29, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 37, September 15, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 36, September 8, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 35, September 1, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 34, August 25, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 33, August 18, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 32, August 11, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 31, August 4, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 30, July 27, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 29, July 21, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 28, July 14, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 27, July 7, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 26, June 30, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 25, June 23, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 24, June 16, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 23, June 9, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 22, June 2, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 21, May 26, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 20, May 19, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 19, May 12 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 18, May 5, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 17, April 28, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 16, April 21, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 15, April 14, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 14, April 7, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 13, March 31, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 12, March 24, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 11, March 17, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 10, March 10, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 9, March 3, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 8, February 24, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 7, February 17, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 6, February 10, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 5, February 3, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 4, January 27, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 2, January 13, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 7 Number 1, January 6, 1910

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 28, December 23, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 27, December 16, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 26, December 9, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 25, December 2, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 24, November 25, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 23, November 18, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 22, November 11, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 21, November 4, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 20, October 28, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 19, October 21, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 18, October 14, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 17, October 7, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 16, September 30, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 15, September 23, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 14, September 16, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 12, September 2, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 11, August 26, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 10, August 19, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 9, August 12, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 8, August 8, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 7, July 29, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 6, July 22, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 5, July 15, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 4, July 8, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 3, July 1, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 6 Number 1, June 17, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 5 Number 21, June 13, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 5 Number 19, May 20, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 5 Number 18, May 13, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 5 Number 17, May 6, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 5 Number 16, April 29, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 5 Number 14, April 15, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 5 Number 13, April 20, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 5 Number 13, April 8, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 5 Number 12, April 1, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 5 Number 11, March 25, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 5 Number 10, March 18, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 5 Number 9, March 11, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 5 Number 8, March 4, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 5 Number 7, February 25, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 5 Number 4, January 28, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 5 Number 3, January 21, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 5 Number 2, January 14, 1909

The Jeffersonian: Volume 3 Number 52, December 24, 1908

The Jeffersonian: Volume 3 Number 21, May 21, 1908

Processing Date: April 2007 by Deborah F. Benson