Benjamin Lee Smith papers, 1916-1961, bulk 1930-1961

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Summary

Creator:
Smith, Benjamin Lee
Abstract:
North Carolina educator and superintendent of public schools in Greensboro, N.C. The papers of Benjamin Lee Smith, North Carolina educator and Duke University alumnus, span the years 1916-1961, and contain correspondence, memoranda, clippings, and other printed material related to public education at both the local and state levels in North Carolina. There are also several dozen photographs of N.C. school buildings and personnel, circa 1930s-1950s. Papers are arranged in the following series: Correspondence, Subject Files (the largest series in the collection), Clippings, Printed Material, and Speeches. Other topics include prohibition and the elections of 1928, and religion and politics in North Carolina. A small but significant amount of material concerns school integration in Greensboro and associated civil rights issues in North Carolina (located within boxes 10, 11, 14-16, 21, 24, 26 and 31). Collection also includes material on charitable organizations in which Smith was active, especially the Methodist Church, North Carolina Education Association (NCEA), Kiwanis Club, Boy Scouts, and the Horace Mann League.
Extent:
12.4 Linear Feet
9300 Items
Language:
Material is in English
Collection ID:
RL.01210

Background

Scope and content:

The papers of Benjamin Lee Smith, North Carolina educator and Duke University alumnus, span the years 1916-1961, and contain correspondence, memoranda, clippings, and other printed material related to public education at both the local and state levels in North Carolina. There are also several dozen photographs of N.C. school buildings and personnel, circa 1930s-1950s. Papers are arranged in the following series: Correspondence, Subject Files (the largest series in the collection), Clippings, Printed Material, and Speeches. Other topics include prohibition and the elections of 1928, and religion and politics in North Carolina. A small but significant amount of material concerns school integration in Greensboro and associated civil rights issues in North Carolina (located within boxes 10, 11, 14-16, 21, 24, 26 and 31). Collection also includes material on charitable organizations in which Smith was active, especially the Methodist Church, North Carolina Education Association (NCEA), Kiwanis Club, Boy Scouts, and the Horace Mann League.

Biographical / historical:

Chronology List
Date Event
1893 Feb. 6 Benjamin Lee Smith born, Granite Falls, Caldwell County, N.C.
1916 A.B., Duke University
1916-1917 Served in U.S. Army
1919-1924 Superintendent of Schools, Forest City (N.C.)
1922-1934 Taught summer school classes for Appalachian State Teachers College, N.C.
1924-1929 Superintendent of Schools, Rutherfordton-Spindale
1925 Served as secretary for the newly chartered Rutherfordton Kiwanis Club
1927-1934 Member of NC Textbook Commission
1929-1934 Superintendent of Schools, Shelby
1935-1958 Superintendent of Schools, Greensboro
1937 M.A., Duke University
1938-1939 President, N.C. Education Association (NCEA)
1949-1950 President, Horace Mann League of the U.S.
1958 Retired from position as N.C. schools superintendent
1959 Participated in National Civil Rights hearing on school integration
1961 Year of death

Acquisition information:
The Benjamin Lee Smith Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 1961.
Processing information:

Processed by Ted Holt, February 2008

Encoded by Ted Holt, February 2008

Accession 68-238 is described in this finding aid.

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials


Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. The library may require up to 48 hours to retrieve these materials for research use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Benjamin Lee Smith Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University