urn:taro:utexas.cah.00362 A Guide to the Ashbel Smith Papers October 2004 Encoded in XMetal 2 by Evan Hocker according to instructions in TARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions. May 2005 Edited by Evan Hocker Descriptive Summary Smith, Ashbel. Ashbel Smith Papers, 1823-1926. Materials are written in English. 10 ft., 9 in. Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin Papers of Ashbel Smith, physician, statesman, and educator. Biographical Note

A native of Hartford, Connecticut, Ashbel Smith was born on August 13, 1805. His formal education included bachelors and masters degrees from Yale University, as well as an M.D. from the same university in 1828. Smith continued his education in Paris before settling down to establish a practice in Salisbury, North Carolina. By 1836 he moved to Texas and quickly became a close acquaintance of Sam Houston, earning the post of Surgeon General with the Republic of Texas army.

Houston also employed Smith as an aide in Texas' relations with England, France, Mexico, and other foreign powers. In the 1840s Smith worked to have Texas recognized by Mexico as an independent nation, a position that proved unpopular with Texans seeking annexation with the United States. Nonetheless, after Texas finally joined the United States he served three terms in the Texas state legislature. He fought in the Mexican War of 1846 and was a Confederate officer during the Civil War, suffering a wound to his arm at Shiloh.

Smith never abandoned his vocation as a doctor and was instrumental in treating those afflicted by yellow fever in Galveston in 1839 and went on to write a respected work on the epidemic. He helped to found the Texas Medical Association and served as the organization's president in the early 1880s. Smith also fought for public education in Texas and late in life worked to establish the University of Texas, which was founded in 1883. He served on the University of Texas Board of Regents and worked to attract top instructors from around the United States. Ashbel Smith died January 21, 1886.

 Scope and Contents

Papers include correspondence, letter books, speeches, publications, official records, clippings, and photographs documenting Smith's long career in medicine, diplomacy, business, and public and higher education.

Related Material

For additional manuscript material, see also:

Texas Authors Manuscript Collection

 Preferred Citation

Ashbel Smith Papers, 1823-1926, Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin

 Detailed Description of the Papers Inventory Correspondence: 2G219 1823-1835 2.325/T63b 1826 2G220 1836-1838 2B37 1839 2G221 1840-1842 2G222 1843-1847 2G223 1848-1854, January-June, 1855 2G224 July-December, 1855, 1856-1864 2G225 1865-1875, January-June, 1876 2G226 July-December, 1876, 1877, 1878, January-March, 1879 2G227 April-December, 1879, 1880, 1881, January-April, 1882 2G228 May-December, 1882, 1883, January-June, 1884 4A227a May, 1883 - June, 1884, photocopies 2G229 July-December, 1884, 1885, August-October, 1889, 1904-1926,Undated letters and fragments 2G230 Undated letters and fragments 2G230 Letter books to Henry Barnard, 1831-1838 2G230 Letter books, business, May-December, 1838 2G230 January-September, 1839 2G230 September, 1839 - May, 1840 2G230 Business, June-December, 1840 2G230 March-July, 1842 Letter press: 2G231 July-November, 1842 2G231 November, 1842 - September, 1843 2G231 November, 1842 - July, 1844 2G231 October, 1843 - November, 1844 2G231 Letter book, December, 1844 - August, 1845 Letter press: 2G232 October, 1843 - March, 1845 2G232 August, 1844 - September, 1847 2G232 August, 1845 - May, 1846 2G232 November, 1847 - July, 1851 Letter books: 2G232 October, 1863 - February, 1865 2G232 March - June, 1865 2G232 August, 1867 - February, 1874 2G233 February, 1874 - September, 1875 2G233 December, 1876-1882 2G234 Journal, 1832-1857 2G234 Weather diary of Houston and Galveston, 1838-1839 2G234 Genealogical notes and biographical sketches 2G234 Note books Legal papers: 2G235 Contracts 2G235 Certificates 2G235 Affidavits 2G235 Appointments 2G235 Powers of Attorney 2G235 Permissions and oaths 2G235 Miscellaneous Business papers: 2G235 Bills of sale 2G235 Receipts 2G235 Invoices 2G235 Medical sales ledger 2G235 Evergreen plantation purchase ledger 2G235 Military order books Military order books: 2G236 December 1863 2G236 February 1864 2G236 Military orders and reports 2G236 Treaties 2G236 Resolutions, bills, and acts Notes on Texas: 2G236 History 2G236 Agriculture 2G236 Industry 2G236 Foreign affairs 2G237 Speeches 2G237 Published works and essays 2G237 Clippings 2G237 Printed material 2G238 Miscellaneous 2R179 Papers: 2R179 Letter book one 2R179 Letter book two 2R179 Letter press, May 6-December 29, 1838 2R180 Letter book: 2R180 June 8-September 26, 1839 2R180 September 28, 1839-may 22, 1840 2R180 June 24-December 20, 1840 2R180 Letters of Ashbel Smith to Sam Houston Papers: 2R181 1830-June, 1833 2R182 August-December, 1838 2R182 Undated letters 3C63 Correspondence of A. Smith and John G. Bowers, 1845-1883 3L398 Scrapbook 4L261 Confederate States, Trans-Mississippi Department, correspondence and circulars, 1863-1865 4L262 Confederate States, Trans-Mississippi Department, correspondence and circulars, 1863-1865 4L263 Dispatch book, legation at Paris 4L234 Scrapbook Portraits: 3S180 Marquis de Pastoret, 1838 3S180 [John Lindley?], 1849 3S180 Alphonse de Saligny, undated 3S176 Commissions, appointments, passports, diplomas, and certificates [ca.-1824-1883] OD1281 Passport of Ashbel Smith, Charge d'Affairs of the Republic of Texas, March-April 1844 3T112 Photograph of London residence 3B30 Typescripts, letters from Sam Houston to Ashbel Smith, 1841-1843 3B30 Letter press book, July-November, 1842 2G233 Dr. Mires Stampless collection of letters and covers concerning the life of Ashbel Smith, 1836-1857