Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Edward Ellis Smith papers
Date (inclusive): 1879-1983
Collection Number: 82026
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: In English and Russian
Physical Description:
12 manuscript boxes, 8 card file boxes
(6.4 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Writings, correspondence, notes, printed matter, bibliographies, and photographs relating to the tsarist Russian secret police,
the youth of Joseph Stalin, Roman Malinovskii (Malinovsky), and the history of Soviet espionage. Digital copies of select
records also available at
https://digitalcollections.hoover.org.
Creator:
Smith, Edward Ellis, 1921-1982
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1982.
[Identification of item], Edward Ellis Smith papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Digital copies of select records also available at
https://digitalcollections.hoover.org.
Edward Ellis Smith was a historian, writer, foreign service officer, and CIA agent. After graduating from West Virginia University
in 1939, he was deployed to Germany to serve in World War II. Following the end of the war, he was chosen to attend Naval
Language School, where he became fluent in Russian. From 1946 until 1947, he attended Strategic Intelligence School at the
Pentagon and Counter Intelligence School at Camp Holabird.
Smith began work at the American Embassy in Moscow after graduation, serving as the assistant military and economic attaché.
In 1950 he was appointed by United States Army Intelligence to serve as Section Chief, managing the Soviet economic and political
section and analyzing policies on Soviet affairs. Towards the end of 1953, he resigned to become an intelligence officer for
the CIA and completed various missions throughout Moscow. After working as a secret agent, Smith served as a Foreign Service
Officer from 1954 until 1956, where he analyzed economic trends in the Soviet Union. He then served as a consultant and project
manager until 1962, leading teams of specialists to work on various economic policies, such as the Marshall Plan.
Following his extensive career in the United States government, Smith pursued a full-time profession lecturing and writing.
He wrote extensively for periodicals and published two historical books, both focused on Russian history, particularly Joseph
Stalin and the Okhrana. From 1970 until 1980, Smith was an international economist and later vice president of Crocker Bank.
He spent his final years working for Smith Bellingham International Incorporated until his sudden death in 1982.
Scope and Content of Collection
Writings, correspondence, notes, printed matter, bibliographies, and photographs relating to the tsarist Russian secret police,
the youth of Joseph Stalin, Roman Malinovskii (Malinovsky), and the history of Soviet espionage.
When possible, Smith's original folder titles were maintained, though some have been edited for clarity.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Secret service -- Soviet Union
Espionage, Russian
Secret service -- Russia
Russia. Okhrannyi͡a otdi͡elenīi͡a
Stalin, Joseph, 1878-1953
Malinovskiĭ, Roman Vat͡slavovich, 1876-1918