Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
contact (v.)
Through functional shift from the noun, American English added this verb, meaning “to get in touch with by calling, visiting, or writing, or by any other means.” Economy of expression made it a success, even though for more than thirty years a partially successful but now failed rearguard action against it persuaded schools and editors to consider it Nonstandard or Colloquial at best. It is Standard, but you should be aware that a few mainly elderly readers and listeners out there may still object to contact as a verb.
