C. F. Smith Family Collection: An Inventory of Records at the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library


Descriptive Summary
	Creator	Smith, C. F.
	Title	C. F. Smith Family Collection
	Inclusive Dates	1950-1981
	Identification	MSS 0249
	Extent	1 document box (0.5 linear feet)
	Language	Materials are in English.
	Repository	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.

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Scope and Contents

This 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.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

None.

Use Restrictions

None.

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Index Terms

	Subjects
		African American business enterprises
		Open and closed shop
		Right to labor
		Labor unions--Texas--Houston
	Organizations
		C. F. Smith Electric Co.
	Names
		Smith, Clifford F., Jr.

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Tuskegee Institute: Parents Day Committee
	Contains primarily correspondence both to and from Smith relating to his activities as Chairman of the Parents Day Committee.
Box	Folder
1	1	1965
	2	1966

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Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.
Box	Folder
1	3	ABC Bylaws; Policy and Personnel Manual; Committee Structure; 1978 Officers; Merit Shop Construction Employment Agency Description
	4	ABC of Texas Public Relations Report
	5	ABC of Houston: Minutes, August 1976 - December 1977
	6	Reference Material for Campaign to Repeal Prevailing Wage Law, 1981

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Professional Activities
Box	Folder
1	7	C. F. Smith Resume
	8	Miscellaneous correspondence, 1977-1978
	9	Certificates

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News clippings
Box	Folder
1	10	“The Right-to-Work Fight Misses the Point” Saturday Evening Post February 26, 1966
	10	“Right-to-Work: Eases Union Discrimination” Independent Electrical Contractor Spring 1974
	10	“Clifford Farrell Smith, Jr.: Man with a Mission” The Josephine Harvest March-April 1968
	10	“‘Prodigal Son’ in Song, Color Draws 5000” Houston Chronicle November 19, 1955
	10	“Choral Group to Appear on TV” December 1965
	10	“Smith Testifys Against Common Situs” ABC Merit Shop Construction Report March 11, 1977
	10	“Tuskegee Graduates Point with Pride” Houston Post August 26, 1973
	10	“AFL-CIO Asked to Help Eliminate Race Bias from Union Membership”
	10	“The Human Dynamo” Houston Post August 13, 1972
	10	“Houston Electrician in U.S. Capital Trying to End Union Discrimination” Texas Catholic Herald July 28, 1967
	10	“Businessman Fights Labor Union Bias” New Day, supplement to Houston Forward Times May 28, 1966
	10	“Smith Co. Concentrates on ‘Little Job,’ Too” Houston Informer May 20, 1950
	10	“‘Small Job’ Clients Save in Smith Co. Route Plan” May 27, 1950
	10	“Smith Electric Company Puts Stress on Youth” Houston Informer April 29, 1950
	10	“Smith Co. Journeyman Has Forty Years Experience” May 6, 1950
	10	“C. F. Smith Electric Co. Rates Among Best in City” Houston Informer 1950
	10	“Smith Electic Company Stresses High Quality Personnel and Materials” May 13, 1950
	10	“Smith Co. Journeyman in Charge of $500,000 Job” Houston Informer April 22, 1950
	10	“C. F. Smith Electric Co.” April 15, 1950
	10	“C. F. Smith Co. Employees Protected with Insurance” June 3, 1950
	10	“Electrician Says Cheap Material too Costly” June 10, 1950
	10	“Zeta Sisters Add Charm to Sigma Program” Houston Informer August 24, 1963
	10	“Phi Beta Sigma Sigma Organized in 1914”
	10	Advertisement The Informer and Texas Freeman
	10	Advertisement The Reporter
	10	Advertisement
	10	Article on Boy Scouts Houston Forward Times November 9, 1963
	10	“Clifford Smith Installed as ABC President” ABC Merit Shop Construction Report January 14, 1977
	10	“He Made It on His Own: Smith Seeks Young Blacks to Follow as Electricians” Houston Chronicle July 27, 1977
	10	Advertisement Gulf Coast Baptist October 13, 1949
	10	“Snappy Grill, Bar Opens at 910 Prairie” Houston Press February 1952
	10	Advertisement Houston Forward Times April 11, 1964
	10	Advertisement The Greater Fifth Ward Citizen March 14, 1952
	10	Photograph of C. F. Smith employees with trucks Houston Informer April 8, 1950
	10	Advertisement Houston Times December 18, 1953
	10	Excerpt from Standard Oil of Indiana 1975 Annual Report
	10	“Houston-Tuskegee Alumni Club Gives Services Award” Houston Forward Times June 14, 1975
	10	Advertisement The Informer and Texas Freeman December 21, 1968
	10	“If You Want to Make Money. . .” Houston Post March 4, 1968
	10	“So Many Brainwashed, Says C. F. Smith” Houston Post March 1968 [est.]
	10	Untitled newsletter National Newspaper, published by Associated General Contractors of America July 21, 1967
	10	“Colo. Builders Discusses Boycott”
	10	“Spotlight 1977 Installation” ABC Merit Shop Construction Report January 21, 1977
	10	“The C. F. Smith Story” Houston Informer August 24, 1963
	10	Photographs and captions of C. F. Smith being installed as president of ABC of Greater Houston January 1977 [est.]
	10	“Secondary Boycott Conference Held in Denver” 1966
	10	“Black Man is President of 400-Member Builders Group” 1977 [est.]
	10	“Leaders Determine Where We Are Led” The Tribune June 23, 1977
	10	Advertisement Houston Informer January 30, 1954
	10	Advertisement The Houston Sportsman February 23, 1956
	10	“Houston Man is Honored by Tuskegee” Houston Chronicle June 8, 1958
	10	“Receives Award”
	10	“Houstonian to Get Tuskegee Award” Houston Press May 24, 1958
	10	“Electricians Organize Associated Electricians Inc” Houston Informer July 28, 1956
	10	“Mr. and Mrs. Burnett Ross Invite Friends to Open House at New Home” Houston Informer February 4, 1961
	10	Photographs ABC Merit Shop Construction Report August 19, 1977
	10	Photographs ABC Merit Shop Construction Report November 25, 1977
	10	“Smith Appointed to T.E.C. Employers Advisory Council” ABC Merit Shop Construction Report September 2, 1977
	10	Photograph ABC Merit Shop Construction Report Spring 1979
	10	Advertisement The Reporter June 7, 1952
	10	Advertisements Houston Informer December 26, 1964
	10	“Skill a Must for Success Says C. F. Smith” November 1949
	10	“Business Leaders to Speak for 24th Annual Convention” Houston Informer August 6, 1960
	10	Advertisements
	10	“‘Scout O-Rama’ to be Staged at Coliseum Wed.” Houston Informer March 10, 1953
	10	Advertisement Houston Informer March 10, 1953
	10	“Reflections: May 10th Membership Meeting” ABC Merit Shop Construction Report May 20, 1977
	10	“Only the Strong Survive” Texas Monthly February 1979
	10	“Smith Reflects on 1977” ABC Merit Shop Construction Report January 6, 1978
	10	“Installation Dinner Huge Success”; photographs ABC Merit Shop Construction Report January 12, 1978

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Photographs

Box

Photograph

MSS 249.1-22

Various black and white undated photographs

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