smithbenjaminlee Inventory of the Benjamin Lee Smith Papers, 1916-1961, bulk 1930-1961 Processed by: Ted Holt; machine-readable finding aid created by: Ted Holt David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, N.C., USA

2008 Duke University. All Rights Reserved.

Aleph Number: 001826838

 Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: February 2008Processed by Ted Holt, February 2008; Finding Aid encoded by Ted Holt, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, February 2008 Description is in English Finding aid was prepared using DACS and local Style Guide Inventory of the Benjamin Lee Smith Papers, 1916-1961, bulk 1930-1961 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, North Carolina 27708-0185 USA

2008 Duke University. All Rights Reserved.

 Descriptive Summary David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University Smith, Benjamin Lee Benjamin Lee Smith Papers, 1916-1961, bulk 1930-1961 Material is in English 12.4 Linear Feet 9300 Items For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. North Carolina educator and superintendent of public schools in Greensboro, N.C. The papers of Benjamin Lee Smith, North Carolina educator and Duke University alumnus, span the years 1916-1961, and contain correspondence, memoranda, clippings, and other printed material related to public education at both the local and state levels in North Carolina. There are also several dozen photographs of N.C. school buildings and personnel, circa 1930s-1950s. Papers are arranged in the following series: Correspondence, Subject Files (the largest series in the collection), Clippings, Printed Material, and Speeches. Other topics include prohibition and the elections of 1928, and religion and politics in North Carolina. A small but significant amount of material concerns school integration in Greensboro and associated civil rights issues in North Carolina (located within boxes 10, 11, 14-16, 21, 24, 26 and 31). Collection also includes material on charitable organizations in which Smith was active, especially the Methodist Church, North Carolina Education Association (NCEA), Kiwanis Club, Boy Scouts, and the Horace Mann League. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.

Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

 Copyright Notice

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

 Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Benjamin Lee Smith Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University

 Provenance

The Benjamin Lee Smith Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a gift in 1961.

Processing Information

Processed by Ted Holt, February 2008

Encoded by Ted Holt, February 2008

Accession 68-238 is described in this finding aid.

Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

 Biographical Note

Chronology List 1893 Feb. 6 Benjamin Lee Smith born, Granite Falls, Caldwell County, N.C. 1916 A.B., Duke University 1916-1917 Served in U.S. Army 1919-1924 Superintendent of Schools, Forest City (N.C.) 1922-1934 Taught summer school classes for Appalachian State Teachers College, N.C. 1924-1929 Superintendent of Schools, Rutherfordton-Spindale 1925 Served as secretary for the newly chartered Rutherfordton Kiwanis Club 1927-1934 Member of NC Textbook Commission 1929-1934 Superintendent of Schools, Shelby 1935-1958 Superintendent of Schools, Greensboro 1937 M.A., Duke University 1938-1939 President, N.C. Education Association (NCEA) 1949-1950 President, Horace Mann League of the U.S. 1958 Retired from position as N.C. schools superintendent 1959 Participated in National Civil Rights hearing on school integration 1961 Year of death

Subject Headings

These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.

Smith, Benjamin Lee. Boy Scouts of America. Horace Mann League. Kiwanis International. Methodist Church--North Carolina. African Americans--Segregation--North Carolina. Civil rights--North Carolina. Educators--North Carolina--Correspondence. Elections--North Carolina--1928. Prohibition--North Carolina. Public schools--North Carolina. Presidents--United States--Election--1928. School integration--North Carolina. Segregation in education--North Carolina. Greensboro (N.C.)--History. North Carolina--Politics and government--1865-1950. North Carolina--Politics and government--1951- North Carolina--Race relations. North Carolina--Social conditions. Collection Overview

The papers of Benjamin Lee Smith, North Carolina educator and Duke University alumnus, span the years 1916-1961, and contain correspondence, memoranda, clippings, and other printed material related to public education at both the local and state levels in North Carolina. There are also several dozen photographs of N.C. school buildings and personnel, circa 1930s-1950s. Papers are arranged in the following series: Correspondence, Subject Files (the largest series in the collection), Clippings, Printed Material, and Speeches. Other topics include prohibition and the elections of 1928, and religion and politics in North Carolina. A small but significant amount of material concerns school integration in Greensboro and associated civil rights issues in North Carolina (located within boxes 10, 11, 14-16, 21, 24, 26 and 31). Collection also includes material on charitable organizations in which Smith was active, especially the Methodist Church, North Carolina Education Association (NCEA), Kiwanis Club, Boy Scouts, and the Horace Mann League.

 Contents of Collection Correspondence Series, 1935-1961 (4 boxes)

Folders house incoming and outgoing correspondence generated over the course of Benjamin Smith's career as an educator. Many letters are routine exchanges such as letters of recommendation, requests for assistance, and invitations to speak. Arranged alphabetically; some letters may have more than one folder of materials. Individuals or topics represented by their own folders include: Dr. George Harley, the Palmer Memorial Institute, Susan Blair Smith, and Personal Correspondence.

 1Folders A-G 2Folders H-P 3Folders P-S 4Folders S-Z Subject Files Series, 1916-1961, bulk 1930-1961 (23 boxes)

Houses files assembled by Smith on a variety of topics, chiefly related to associations with which he was involved, or events and activities of personal and professional interest. The largest two groups of files document the career and personal affairs of Benjamin Lee Smith, and selected activities and aspects of the Methodist Church. Other individuals or topics represented by a substantial group of folders include the Boy Scouts of America; the centennial celebration for public education; Duke University; Greensboro Public Schools; integration of schools in N.C.; and the North Carolina Education Association. Materials on the public school system of North Carolina and selected counties can be found scattered throughout the collection, particularly within boxes 10, 11, 14-16, 21, 24, 26 and 31. There is one folder containing several dozen exterior and interior photographs of N.C. public school buildings (most unidentified, but some in Shelby), circa 1930s-1950s, along with shots of school personnel; there are also photographs of Smith (circa 1899, 1916-1917, and circa 1958) included in his personal files. Arranged in alphabetical order as received, with original titles by Smith.

 5American Association of School Librarians(3 folders) American Trails Pioneer Association Appalachian Summer School Architects Aycock Memorial Boy Scouts of America(5 folders) 6Boy Scouts of America(6 folders) Brooks School dedication(2 folders) 7Carolina Charter Tercentenary Commission Centennial celebration of progress in public education in N.C.(8 folders) 8Centennial celebration of progress in public education in N.C.(8 folders) 9Centennial celebration of progress in public education in N.C.(3 folders) Character education, courtesy(3 folders) Christians and Jews, National Conference(2 folders) Children Church 10Citizen Award and retirement letters (3 folders) Commission on Civil Rights

[Contains material on integration]

 Conferences(3 folders) Daniels, Josephus Declamations, debates 11Desegregation(3 folders)

[Contains material on integration]

 Distribution of state funds Duke, centennial celebration of Normal College(2 folders) Duke University, Loyalty Fund(3 folders) 12Duke University(7 folders) 13Duke University(3 folders) Education(4 folders) Educational theory English Foreign Service, Mary Blair Smith Good roads Greensboro War Memorial Greensboro Mission Society 14Greensboro Public Schools(7 folders)

[Contains material on integration]

 15Greensboro Public Schools

[Contains material on integration]

 Guilford College, Greensboro advisory board Harrell, Bishop Costen, My Son Historical miscellaneous materials, clippings Holidays(2 folders) Hunter School Integration(3 folders) 16Integration(2 folders) Kiwanis Club(2 folders) Legislation(2 folders) 17Legislation Libraries(3 folders) Littlejohn's Church Log schoolhouse preservation Lowder, Hurley C., A Father's Letter to his Soldier Son Methodist Church(5 folders) 18Methodist Church(9 folders) 19Methodist Church(12 folders) 20Methodist Church Miscellany(2 folders) Moral and spiritual values(2 folders) Mount Grove dedication Nawakwa North Carolina North Carolina, Council of Churches 21North Carolina, Council of Churches North Carolina Education Association(9 folders) 22North Carolina Education Association(6 folders) North Carolina Public Schools(3 folders) Older Boy's Conference(2 folders) 23P.T.A. Pfeiffer College(4 folders) Phi Beta Kappa Pictures, school buildings and personnel, "Shelby"

[Contains photographic materials, most unidentified; not all are of Shelby schools.]

 Poetry Prohibition, Al Smith versus Herbert Hoover [elections of 1928] Public versus private, Conant versus Polk Readings Reports 24Rittenhouse, Montreal, Canada, the school library Rutherford County Rutherfordton-Spindale Schools Schools - finance(2 folders) Schools (2 folders) Schools and Universities Committee Schools - Shelby, North Carolina Segregation Smith, Benjamin Lee(2 folders) 25Smith, Benjamin Lee(12 folders)

[Contains photographic materials]

 26Smith, Benjamin Lee(4 folders)

[Contains material on integration]

 Southeastern Jurisdictional Council State School Commission, finance Superintendent's conference Supervised study Supplementary Election 27Supervisor-Teacher UNC United States George Washington(2 folders) West Market Church Woodrow Wilson Memorial Youth Conservation Clippings Series, 1930-1961 (3 boxes)

Contains loose clippings chiefly regarding education and the school system in N.C.; the majority are from the Greensboro Daily News. Series also includes a number of issues of State School Facts, a bi-monthly publication from the state superintendent of public schools office. Organized in order received, roughly chronological.

 271930s-1950s(7 folders) 281950s-1961(13 folders) Clippings and quotations(1 folder) 29State School Facts(4 folders) Printed Material Series, 1939-1961 (1 box)

Contains assorted materials which pertain to Benjamin Lee Smith's religious involvement and duties as superintendent of schools. In order as received.

 30Cities, promotional materials and Methodism Magazine excerpts Notes(2 folders) Pamphlets and programs(3 folders) Speeches Series, 1916-1961, bulk 1930-1961 (1 box)

Contains speeches primarily authored by Benjamin Lee Smith, some of which deal with issues from his years as superintendent of schools. Also included is an essay submitted as an undergraduate to the Braxton Craven Contest. Miscellaneous folders contain assorted topics, the majority of which pertain to education, character values, morality, and inspirational themes on American life. Arranged in alphabetical order by topic.

 31Education(4 folders) Horace Mann League Integration Libraries Methodist Church Miscellaneous(2 folders) Notes, from other's speeches Smith, Benjamin Lee, Public Education in the South Prior to 1860, Braxton Craven Contest Thirtieth anniversary of the chartering of the Rutherfordton Kiwanis Club