Charles H. Flato Jr.; Charles H. Flato III; Frances Chatham Flato
8 linear feet
A1974-030; A1977-011; A1979-029; A1981-025; A1981-078; A1982-011; A1985-009; A1987-014; A1997-011; A1999-051
1890-1945 (unknown)
Charles Flato Jr. moved to Kingsville to help his wife's cousin, Robert J. Kleberg Jr. start Kingsville Lumber Company. In the early years of Kingsville Charles H. Flato Jr. was instrumental in the creation or operation of most of the businesses and services necessary in a fledgling community: Kingsville Lumber Company, Vice President and Treasurer; Robert J. Kleberg and Co. Bankers, Vice President; Kleberg County Oil and Gas Company, President; Raymondville Lumber Company, Vice President; Robstown Hardware Company, Vice President; Corpus Christi Hardware Company, Vice President; Kingsville Cotton Mill Company, Director; Flato Opera Company; Kingsville Land and Investment Company; Velvet Jersey Creamery; J.B. Ragland Mercantile Company; Kingsville Building and Loan Company; Kingsville Publishing Company. He was also committed to the betterment of the community as a whole. Mr. Flato was the first president of the Kingsville Independent School District School Board, and showed his dedication to the children of the community by sending all of them birthday cards yearly. He was active in issues affecting the town and its inhabitants; Glasscock-Parr Election Controversy, Anti-Cigarette Smoking Campaign, establishing a Post Office and many others. He used his vast influence to help establish the "Normal School", now House; Kingsville Auto and Electric Company; Kingsville Town and Development Texas A&M University - Kingsville. He became one of the biggest proponents of Kingsville and Kleberg County gaining the nickname "Mr. Kleberg County" Tragically, Charles H. Flato Jr. took his own life a month short of 44 years old. His family carried on his legacy after his early demise. Charles H. Flato III and his wife Frances Chatham Flato were both active professionally and throughout the community. Charles H. Flato III continued to manage the Flato Hardware Company and was active in the community with the school district, county historical associations, business organizations, and county fairs. Frances Flato was the Director of Music at the Epiphany Episcopal Day School, an internationally known judge for flower shows and active in Kingsville and the surrounding smaller communities organizing and participating in Garden Clubs and Women's Clubs.
The Flato Family Collection is comprised of ten donations given over a span of twenty-five years, (1974-1999). The material in these donations range from correspondence in 1874 to financial records in 1977. The collection is extremely rich in photographic material. There are over nine hundred images consisting primarily of photographs, postcards and negatives. The subject matter of the images deal with all aspects of life in the South Texas area, rural and urban, turn of the century up through the 1970's. The manuscript material in the collection provides materials concerning the activities of the Flato family members in the Kingsville area for as long as the city has existed. The bulk of the material follows the activities of Charles H. Flato Jr. during the first two decades of the existence of Kingsville, (1904-1922). This material covers the private and professional life of Mr. Flato Jr. including his business, philanthropic and activist roles in the community. The remaining material follows the life and activities of Charles H. Flato III and his spouse Frances Flato. These materials provide information of the business concerns of Charles H, Flato III and the community activities of Frances Flato in the Garden and Women's Clubs of the area.
The Charles Flato Family Collection is comprised of ten donations given over a span of twenty-five years, (1974-1999). The material in these donations range from correspondence in 1874 to financial records in 1977. The collection is extremely rich in photographical material. There are over nine hundred images consisting primarily of photographs, postcards, and negatives. There are five major series. Series I: Charles H. Flato Jr. Subseries A: Correspondence 001. Personal 002. Business Subseries B: Legal and Financial Documents Subseries C: Printed Materials Subseries D: Literary Productions Subseries E: Political Papers Series II: Charles H. Flato III Subseries A: Correspondence Subseries B: South Texas Fair and Exposition Subseries C: Business Documents Subseries D: Education Subseries E: Miscellaneous Series III: Frances L. Flato Subseries A: Correspondence Subseries B: Kingsville Women's Club Subseries C: Kingsville Garden Club Subseries D: Printed Materials Subseries E: Miscellaneous Series IV: Books Series V: Photographs and Negatives
South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Open for Research
Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards.
Flato Family Collection, A1974-030.XXXX; A1977-011.XXXX; A1979-029.XXXX; A1981-025.XXXX; A1981-078.XXXX; A1982-011.XXXX; A1985-009.XXXX; A1987-014.XXXX; A1997-011.XXXX; A1999-051.XXXX, South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
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A1974-030 Gift of Charles H. Flato III, 1974 A1977-011 Gift of Charles H. Flato III, 1977 A1979-029 Gift of Charles H. Flato III, 1979 A1981-025 Gift of Charles H. Flato III, 1981 A1981-078 Gift of Charles H. Flato III, 1981 A1982-011 Gift of Charles H. Flato III, 1982 A1985-009 Gift of Charles H. Flato III, 1985 A1987-014 Gift of William E. Sellers, Executor CHFII Estate,1987 A1997-011 Gift of Flato Opera House Committee, 1997 A1999-051 Gift of Charles H. Flato III
Jimmie R. Picquet processed many of the accessions, Lori Atkins reprocessed the ten accessions, adding all items to Seeker, South Texas Archive’s content management system and created the updated Finding Aid in March 2015.