Descriptive Summary
Smith, C. F.C. F. Smith Family Collection1950-1981Materials are
in English.MSS 02491 document box (0.5 linear feet)
Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public
Library
Historical Note
C. F. Smith grew up in Houston’s Fifth Ward. He attended Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, where in 1938 he received a Bachelor’s degree in Commercial Industries with an emphasis in electrical engineering. After a brief period during which he was the first black movie projectionist in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Smith served in the Navy Seabees. He returned to Houston after his discharge from the service, and in 1943 became the first African American to pass the City of Houston Electrician’s exam. In 1945, Smith opened his business, the C. F. Smith Electric Co. In addition to his business, Smith has been involved in various community organizations, from the Boy Scouts to the Houston chapter of the Associated Builders & Contractors. He was an active member of Tuskegee Institute alumni groups.
Scope and ContentsThis collection contains a selection of materials that document some of C. F. Smith’s activities. The collection is not comprehensive, but it does provide a glimpse into his life.
Access Restrictions
None.
Use Restrictions
None.
Preferred Citation
C. F. Smith Family Collection. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston
Public Library.
Acquisition Information
Donated by: Patricia Prather, 1984.
Processing Information
Processed by: Andrew Hempe, November 1999.
Index Terms
Subjects
African American business enterprises
Open and closed shop
Right to labor
Labor unions--Texas--Houston
OrganizationsC. F. Smith Electric Co.
Names
Smith, Clifford F., Jr.
Detailed DescriptionTuskegee Institute: Parents Day CommitteeContains primarily correspondence both to and from Smith relating to his activities as Chairman of the Parents Day Committee.
111965121966Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.13ABC Bylaws; Policy and Personnel Manual; Committee Structure; 1978 Officers; Merit Shop Construction Employment Agency Description14ABC of Texas Public Relations Report15ABC of Houston: Minutes, August 1976 - December 197716Reference Material for Campaign to Repeal Prevailing Wage Law, 1981Professional Activities17C. F. Smith Resume18Miscellaneous correspondence, 1977-197819CertificatesNews clippings110“The Right-to-Work Fight Misses the Point” Saturday Evening Post February 26, 1966110“Right-to-Work: Eases Union Discrimination” Independent Electrical ContractorSpring 1974 110“Clifford Farrell Smith, Jr.: Man with a Mission” The Josephine Harvest March-April 1968110“‘Prodigal Son’ in Song, Color Draws 5000” Houston Chronicle November 19, 1955110“Choral Group to Appear on TV” December 1965110“Smith Testifys Against Common Situs” ABC Merit Shop Construction Report March 11, 1977110“Tuskegee Graduates Point with Pride” Houston Post August 26, 1973110“AFL-CIO Asked to Help Eliminate Race Bias from Union Membership” 110“The Human Dynamo” Houston Post August 13, 1972110“Houston Electrician in U.S. Capital Trying to End Union Discrimination” Texas Catholic Herald July 28, 1967110“Businessman Fights Labor Union Bias” New Day, supplement to Houston Forward Times May 28, 1966110“Smith Co. Concentrates on ‘Little Job,’ Too” Houston Informer May 20, 1950110“‘Small Job’ Clients Save in Smith Co. Route Plan” May 27, 1950110“Smith Electric Company Puts Stress on Youth” Houston Informer April 29, 1950110“Smith Co. Journeyman Has Forty Years Experience” May 6, 1950110“C. F. Smith Electric Co. Rates Among Best in City” Houston Informer 1950110“Smith Electic Company Stresses High Quality Personnel and Materials”May 13, 1950110“Smith Co. Journeyman in Charge of $500,000 Job” Houston Informer April 22, 1950110“C. F. Smith Electric Co.”April 15, 1950110“C. F. Smith Co. Employees Protected with Insurance”June 3, 1950110“Electrician Says Cheap Material too Costly” June 10, 1950110“Zeta Sisters Add Charm to Sigma Program” Houston Informer August 24, 1963110“Phi Beta Sigma Sigma Organized in 1914”110Advertisement The Informer and Texas Freeman 110Advertisement The Reporter110Advertisement110Article on Boy Scouts Houston Forward Times November 9, 1963110“Clifford Smith Installed as ABC President” ABC Merit Shop Construction Report January 14, 1977110“He Made It on His Own: Smith Seeks Young Blacks to Follow as Electricians” Houston Chronicle July 27, 1977110Advertisement Gulf Coast Baptist October 13, 1949110“Snappy Grill, Bar Opens at 910 Prairie” Houston Press February 1952110Advertisement Houston Forward Times April 11, 1964110Advertisement The Greater Fifth Ward Citizen March 14, 1952110Photograph of C. F. Smith employees with trucks Houston Informer April 8, 1950110Advertisement Houston Times December 18, 1953110Excerpt from Standard Oil of Indiana 1975 Annual Report110“Houston-Tuskegee Alumni Club Gives Services Award” Houston Forward Times June 14, 1975110Advertisement The Informer and Texas Freeman December 21, 1968110“If You Want to Make Money. . .” Houston Post March 4, 1968110“So Many Brainwashed, Says C. F. Smith” Houston Post March 1968 [est.]110Untitled newsletter National Newspaper, published by Associated General Contractors of AmericaJuly 21, 1967110“Colo. Builders Discusses Boycott”110“Spotlight 1977 Installation” ABC Merit Shop Construction ReportJanuary 21, 1977110“The C. F. Smith Story” Houston InformerAugust 24, 1963110Photographs and captions of C. F. Smith being installed as president of ABC of Greater HoustonJanuary 1977 [est.]110“Secondary Boycott Conference Held in Denver” 1966110“Black Man is President of 400-Member Builders Group”1977 [est.]110“Leaders Determine Where We Are Led” The TribuneJune 23, 1977110Advertisement Houston InformerJanuary 30, 1954110Advertisement The Houston SportsmanFebruary 23, 1956110“Houston Man is Honored by Tuskegee” Houston ChronicleJune 8, 1958110“Receives Award”110“Houstonian to Get Tuskegee Award” Houston PressMay 24, 1958110“Electricians Organize Associated Electricians Inc” Houston InformerJuly 28, 1956110“Mr. and Mrs. Burnett Ross Invite Friends to Open House at New Home” Houston InformerFebruary 4, 1961110Photographs ABC Merit Shop Construction ReportAugust 19, 1977110Photographs ABC Merit Shop Construction ReportNovember 25, 1977110“Smith Appointed to T.E.C. Employers Advisory Council” ABC Merit Shop Construction ReportSeptember 2, 1977110Photograph ABC Merit Shop Construction ReportSpring 1979110Advertisement The ReporterJune 7, 1952110Advertisements Houston InformerDecember 26, 1964110“Skill a Must for Success Says C. F. Smith”November 1949110“Business Leaders to Speak for 24th Annual Convention” Houston InformerAugust 6, 1960110Advertisements110“‘Scout O-Rama’ to be Staged at Coliseum Wed.” Houston InformerMarch 10, 1953110Advertisement Houston InformerMarch 10, 1953110“Reflections: May 10th Membership Meeting” ABC Merit Shop Construction ReportMay 20, 1977110“Only the Strong Survive” Texas MonthlyFebruary 1979110“Smith Reflects on 1977” ABC Merit Shop Construction ReportJanuary 6, 1978110“Installation Dinner Huge Success”; photographs ABC Merit Shop Construction ReportJanuary 12, 1978Photographs 1MSS 249.1-22Various black and white undated photographs