Guide to the Graham B. Smedley Papers at the Tarlton Law Library

Historical Background

Graham Best Smedley was born on November 10, 1879 in Millersburg, Kentucky, to John Graham and Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Raines) Smedley. He studied classics at Georgetown College in Kentucky. After graduation he enrolled at Harvard University in pursuit of an advanced degree so that he could teach. However, he disliked it and after two weeks he returned home. In 1899 he was accepted to the University of Virginia where he studied law, there he graduated in three years with the highest honors. In 1905 he moved to Texas and began practicing law in Dallas. While in Dallas he met his wife Betty Dunn, whom he married on December 25, 1907. They moved to Midland where he was an oil and gas attorney and served a term as Midland Country Attorney. In 1913 Smedley was appointed Assistant Attorney General to Attorney General Ben Looney and moved to Austin, where he was in charge of all of Texas' litigation pertaining to school lands, oil and gas rights, and irrigation. Smedley resumed practicing law after Looney’s term ended in 1918. In 1925 he relocated to Wichita Falls, and later Fort Worth, but returned to Austin in 1933 following his appointment to the Commission of Appeals for the Supreme Court of Texas. In 1944, after a constitutional amendment elevated the number of justices of three to nine and abolished the Commission, Smedley and the other members of the Commission were appointed associate justices of the Supreme Court of Texas. Smedley served ten years on the Court and developed a tough reputation, earning the nickname "The Great Dissenter.” He was the author of a digest of Texas Oil and Gas Law and served on the editorial board of the Texas Law Review. Smedley was a Methodist, a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Shriner, a member of the Phi Delta Phi fraternity and the Order of the Coif as well as the Austin Town and Gown Club, and in 1950 he was bestowed an honorary degree of doctor of laws from Georgetown College. He died Thursday, November 10, 1954, after a brief illness, and was buried in the Texas State Cemetery.

Contents of the Collection

Correspondence, legal and associated documents, newspaper clippings, telegraphs, printed materials, and creative works (17 cubic feet) document Graham B. Smedley's personal and professional life as a lawyer and later an Associate Supreme Court Justice in Texas. As a judge Smedley filed his case materials (6 cubic feet) alphabetically in folders according to the plaintiff’s name. Prominent cases within this arrangement are Hagedorn v. Alexander and Ford Motor v. Maddin. Records regarding Smedley’s years working as a lawyer detail the cases he worked on, the opinions he shared with his colleagues and those he privately held (4 cubic feet), including Smedley’s work with the Gulf Production Company and Phillips Petroleum Company. Due to his work and interests Smedley collected printed material (4 cubic feet), including the Texas Bar Journal and materials regarding laws passed and cases tried in the Supreme Court of Texas and the Civil Court of Appeals.

Additionally, the Personal Correspondence series (3 cubic feet) contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, postcards, and telegraphs documenting Graham B. Smedley’s personal life, friends, interests, and charities. Graham B. Smedley filed his personal correspondence alphabetically according to the name Smedley associated with the document. For example, a letter from Allan Shivers will be filed under “S” while a letter regarding a recommendation to Professor Clerk regarding Thomas Gee will be filed under “G.” However a recommendation regarding Judge Rogers from T.E. Humphrey will be filed under “H.” Smedley corresponded with people and organizations throughout Texas including the Dallas Bar Association, Houston Bar Association, and the Texas Law Review. There is also substantial correspondence with Allen Duckworth in regard to the Hagedorn v. Alexander case. As an expert in oil, land, and natural gas laws Smedley consulted for professionals in Texas as well. Smedley was also involved with Georgetown College, the Town and Gown Club, and the Detective Book Club. Other correspondants include various universities in Texas, Robert Stayton, Fort Worth Bar Association, San Antonio Bar Association, Texas Bar Association, Phi Delta Phi Fraternity, and American Law Reports.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

None.

Related Material

Administrative Information

Cite As

Graham B. Smedley Papers, Tarlton Law Library, University of Texas at Austin.

Acquisition Information

Donated ca. 1959-1960.

Processing History

Processed by Eliza Sudol, Jessica Sanders, Alta Valliant, Fall 2007. Minor revisions to the finding aid performed by Jennifer Cummings, Archives Assistant, 2008.

Detailed Description of the Collection