Thomas P. Gore Collection

Collection

Identifier: CAC-CC-024

Staff Only

While the Gore Collection is only 15 linear feet, it contains a wide variety of materials related to topics important to Gore and Oklahoma. Many of the materials, especially the correspondence, come from Gore’s post-Senate years, but the Subject Correspondence and Papers are related to his time in the Senate and include documents related to Indian affairs, economics, national and Oklahoma politics, and both World War I and World War II. Because of his reputation as a nationally renowned orator, Gore kept detailed speech files that provide excellent insight into his views and the state of the nation. The Personal and Family Records are an interesting addition to the Gore Collection as they contain correspondence between Gore and a variety of relatives seeking to trace their genealogy and establish a family history for the Gore family.

Dates

1890-1940
Majority of material found in 1930-1940

Creator

Gore, Thomas P. (Thomas Pryor), United States Senator from Oklahoma (1907-1921); Oklahoma Territorial Senate's 11th district (1902-1905), 1870-1949 (Person)

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access:

Certain series of this collection are stored off-site and require prior notice to access. If you wish to view these materials, please contact the Congressional Archives staff to arrange an appointment.

The Clippings series is stored off-site.

Conditions Governing Use:

The University of Oklahoma asserts no claim of copyright over photographs in this collection taken by private citizens. Any publication of such photographs requires the consent of the copyright holder.

Extent

20.04 Linear Feet (14 containers)

Additional Description

Biographical Information:

At the age of twelve, Thomas Pryor Gore (1870-1949) began his political involvement by serving as a page in the Mississippi state senate. Although he had been blinded by two childhood accidents, Gore never let his disability interfere with his dream--to become a United States senator. After receiving his law degree, he became a popular stump speaker on the behalf of the People's (or Populist) Party. With the demise of the Populists, Gore rejoined the Democratic Party although he retained many of the Populist's principles. Gore came to Oklahoma Territory in 1901 and served in the territorial legislature. When Oklahoma was admitted to the union in 1907, Gore became one of the new state's first United States Senators. His first term was only for one year, but he was reelected for two full terms. Although he lost his renomination bid in 1920, he remained active in the political arena. He served one more term in the Senate from 1931-1937. The senator was the grandfather of writer Gore Vidal.

Arrangement of Materials:

The Gore Collection is arranged into 9 series: General Correspondence and Papers, Subject Correspondence and Papers, Speeches, Form Letters, Personal and Family Records, Clippings, Oversized, Maps, and Photographs. With the exception of the Form Letters and Clippings series which are organized chronologically, the series are organized alphabetically.