Ross A. Collins
Encyclopedia
Ross Alexander Collins was a U.S. Representative
from Mississippi
.
Born in Collinsville, Mississippi
, Collins attended the public schools of Meridian, Mississippi
, and Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College.
He graduated from the University of Kentucky
at Lexington in 1900 and from the law department of the University of Mississippi
at Oxford in 1901.
He was admitted to the bar in 1901 and commenced practice in Meridian, Mississippi
.
Attorney general of Mississippi 1912-1920.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Mississippi in 1919.
Collins was elected as a Democrat
to the Sixty-seventh and to the six succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1921-January 3, 1935). In 1929, Collins successfully proposed the Library of Congress
's $1.5 million purchase of Otto Vollbehr's collection of incunabula, including one of four remaining perfect vellum copies of the Gutenberg Bible
. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1934, but was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for United States Senator.
Collins was elected to the Seventy-fifth, Seventy-sixth, and Seventy-seventh Congresses (January 3, 1937-January 3, 1943).
He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate
in 1941.
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1942, but was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for United States Senator.
He resumed the practice of law.
He died in Meridian, Mississippi
, July 14, 1968.
He was interred in Magnolia Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
.
Born in Collinsville, Mississippi
Collinsville, Mississippi
Collinsville is a census-designated place in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,823 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Collinsville is located at ....
, Collins attended the public schools of Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, and Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College.
He graduated from the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
at Lexington in 1900 and from the law department of the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
at Oxford in 1901.
He was admitted to the bar in 1901 and commenced practice in Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Attorney general of Mississippi 1912-1920.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Mississippi in 1919.
Collins was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Sixty-seventh and to the six succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1921-January 3, 1935). In 1929, Collins successfully proposed the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
's $1.5 million purchase of Otto Vollbehr's collection of incunabula, including one of four remaining perfect vellum copies of the Gutenberg Bible
Gutenberg Bible
The Gutenberg Bible was the first major book printed with a movable type printing press, and marked the start of the "Gutenberg Revolution" and the age of the printed book. Widely praised for its high aesthetic and artistic qualities, the book has an iconic status...
. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1934, but was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for United States Senator.
Collins was elected to the Seventy-fifth, Seventy-sixth, and Seventy-seventh Congresses (January 3, 1937-January 3, 1943).
He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1941.
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1942, but was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for United States Senator.
He resumed the practice of law.
He died in Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, July 14, 1968.
He was interred in Magnolia Cemetery.
External links
- Ross Alexander Collins Collection (MUM00082) owned by the University of Mississippi.