Ernest William Smith, journalist and special correspondent, was born in 1864 on the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Great Britain. Except for a few anecdotes from his autobiography,
Smith joined the
In the early 1890s, Smith traveled to Russia to report on the widespread famine and relief efforts. During these travels he became acquainted with Leo Tolstoy and his daughters. In 1891 Smith published a French translation of Tolstoy's
Leaving the
Smith acted as war correspondent for the duration of World War I, and also covered the Greek Revolution of 1916. He was especially interested in the initial use of aviation during the war, as well as the introduction of other turn of the century modern inventions such as the telephone and film. In 1930-31 British International Pictures engaged Smith as an advisor for the film
The Ernest Smith Papers, 1870-1976 (bulk 1890-1935), consist primarily of manuscripts, notes, photographs, correspondence, and memorabilia that reflect his career as a journalist. The majority of the manuscripts suggest the possibility of the preparation of a second autobiography, tentatively entitled 'From Newsboy to War Correspondent: An Anecdotal Retrospect of Fifty Years of Newspaper Life.' Also present are materials Smith collected from his travels, related especially to his interests in political movements and military history. There are also newspaper clippings collected by Ernest Smith and his son Arthur Smith. The papers are arranged in four series: Works, 1916-1930, nd; Correspondence, 1870-1931, nd; Personal, 1894-1935; and Smith Family, 1939-1976.
The Works series contains manuscripts and related materials possibly gathered together for Smith's second autobiography, `From Newsboy to War Correspondent: An Anecdotal Retrospect of Fifty Years of Newspaper Life.' These materials consist of drafts in both typescript and holograph versions, along with miscellaneous draft fragments, research notes, and/or outlines. These have been arranged to conform to an outline of the autobiography found among these papers (Folder 1.1). Also found here are several manuscripts and published versions of Smith's journalistic writings (1916-1930). While these also may have been intended as reference material for the new autobiography, their relationship to the other manuscripts is less clear. These articles and press releases are arranged alphabetically, and also are often accompanied by miscellaneous notes and research materials.
The small but unique correspondence, 1879-1931, is alphabetically arranged and consists primarily of correspondence relating to Smith's editorial duties on the
The Personal series, 1894-1935, comprises materials related to Smith's works and travels as a journalist. Found here is memorabilia of the Boer War (1899-1902), which includes two manuscripts by J. Stuart (1900), and printed flyers, as well as a broadside of song lyrics by Rudyard Kipling (ca. 1900). Photographs found here include those taken by Smith in the field during the siege of Ladysmith and other campaigns of the Boer War. Also present are the souvenir booklet and photographic stills for the 1931 British International Pictures film,
The last series, Smith Family, 1939-1976, consists of material collected by Arthur W. Smith, son of Ernest W. Smith, and includes correspondence, newspaper clippings and miscellaneous notes. These materials focus on exhibits of the Smith Papers, as well as their potential sale to the HRC and other institutions. In this series are also found two works of fiction of unknown date, origin, and authorship. A note found in the miscellaneous materials here suggest that these manuscripts were written by Arthur Smith's brother, who was killed while working for the Anglo-Persian Oil Company in Persia.
Purchase, 1975 (R6858)
Open for research
Karen Draper, 1983; revised David H. Sparks, 1994