Weaver, Claude, U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's at-large district (1913-1915), 1867-1954
Person
Biographical:
Claude Weaver was born in 1867 in Gainesville, Texas. His father, lawyer W.T.G. Weaver, authored the judiciary code of the Texas constitution. Although the younger Weaver considered pursuing a newspaper career, he decided to follow in his father's footsteps. He attended law school at the University of Texas at Austin, then returned to Gainesville where he practiced law. He moved to Oklahoma City in 1902. In 1912 Weaver was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as one of three Oklahoma congressmen-at-large. He was on the House Banking and Currency Committee when the Federal Reserve Act was written and signed into law. Losing his bid for reelection in 1914, he returned to Oklahoma. In 1915, he was appointed as the postmaster of Oklahoma City by President Woodrow Wilson. He served in that position until 1923, with interruptions for participation in the Liberty Loan drives of World War I and unsuccessful attempts to recover his congressional seat. After his tenure as postmaster, Weaver returned to his law practice. When William H. "Alfalfa Bill" Murray became governor of Oklahoma in 1930, Weaver was selected as his personal secretary and legal advisor. In 1934 Murray appointed Weaver to a vacancy in the thirteenth Oklahoma judicial district, a position that he held only until 1936 when he failed to win reelection. He once again returned to his law career, retiring in 1947. Weaver died in 1954.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Claude Weaver Collection
Collection
Identifier: CAC-CC-055
Scope and Contents
Consisting of 5 cubic feet of material, the Weaver Collection focuses extensively on Weaver's legal career and family. Only one folder of material deals exclusively with his years in Washington. This material covers the Federal Reserve Act, Panama Canal legislation, and roll call votes. There are, however, several political files relating to elections and the National Democratic Party as well as correspondence from such well known politicians as Thomas P. Gore, Sam Rayburn, and Elmer Thomas....