Inventory of the Waddell F. Smith Papers,1939-1976

Department of Special Collections

General Library

University of California, Davis

100 North West Quad

Davis, CA 95616-5292

Phone: (530) 752-1621

Fax: (530) 754-5758

Email: dmorrison@ucdavis.edu

Note

History--United States and North American History.

Inventory of the Waddell F. Smith Papers, 1939-1976

D-392

Department of Special Collections

General Library

University of California, Davis

Davis, California

Contact Information

Department of Special Collections
General Library
100 North West Quad
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA 95616-5292
Phone: (530) 752-1621
Fax: (530) 754-5758
Email: dmorrison@ucdavis.edu

Encoded by: Sara Gunasekara
Completed: 2003

Descriptive Summary

Title: Waddell F. Smith Papers,

Date (inclusive): 1939-1976

Collection number: D-392

Creator: Smith, Waddell F.

Extent: 20 linear feet

Repository: University of California, Davis. General Library.Dept. of Special Collections.

100 North West Quad

Davis, California, 95616-5292

Abstract: Waddell F. Smith, historian and collector, was the great grandson of William B. Waddell, member of freighting firm of Russell, Majors and Waddell, founders of Pony Express (1860). Smith retired from military service (1949) to devote time to study and promotion of Pony Express history. He settled in San Rafael, Calif. and organized a Pony Express History and Art Gallery. The Gallery became headquarters for the National Pony Express Centennial Association, of which Waddell Smith was President. In this capacity Smith organized and staged a reenactment of a Pony Express run (1960). He published "Stage Lines and Express Companies in California" (1965) and a number of pamphlets, such as "Pony Express versus Wells Fargo Express" (1966) The Papers contain the Pony Express Gallery Records as well as Smith's Pony Express scrapbook, research notes, writings and photographs.

Language: English.

Administrative Information

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17 of the U.S. Code. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Waddell F. Smith Papers, D-392, Department of Special Collections, University of California Library, Davis, California.

Acquisition Information

Acquired in 2003

Biography

Biographical Narrative

Waddell F. Smith (1899-1970) was a great grandson of William B. Waddell, member of the freighting firm of Russell, Majors and Waddell, founders, owners and operators of the Pony Express. Smith retired from military service in 1949 and fulfilled his lifelong wish to study the history of the Pony Express and correct "misinterpretations of history" crediting Wells Fargo as taking over the Pony Express. He settled in San Rafael, Calif. where he created the Pony Express History and Art Gallery. The Gallery was a part-time headquarters for the Pony Express Centennial Association, of which Smith was founder and President. Waddell Smith wrote Stage Lines and Express Companies in California (1965) and a number of smaller works.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Waddell Smith Papers contain the Pony Express Gallery Records as well as Smith's Pony Express scrapbook, research notes, writings and photographs.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects

Smith, Waddell F.

Pony Express History and Art Gallery

Pony express--History

Historians--Correspondence

Postal museums--California--San Rafael

Firearms--History

West (U.S.)--History--Sources

Collection Contents

Series 1 Correspondence

Box 1

Subseries 1.1 Letters to Individuals

Box 2

Subseries 1.2 Letters to Historical Organizations

Box 3

Subseries 1.3 Miscellany

Box 3

Subseries 1.3.1 Chronological

Box 3

Subseries 1.3.2 Social

Box 3

Subseries 1.3.3 Letters of Mrs. Waddell Smith

Series 2 Financial records of Pony Express Museum

Physical Description:

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Box 4

Subseries 2.1 Financial statements

Physical Description:

Scope and Content Note

Contains balance sheets, journals, and tax reports.

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Subseries 2.2 Sales records

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Box 5

Subseries 2.2.1 Medal sales

Physical Description:

Scope and Content Note

Contains sales records, ordering invoices, and correspondence.

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Box 5

Subseries 2.2.2 Memorabilia sales

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Series 3 Historical research material

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Box 6

Subseries 3.1 Pony Express vs. Wells Fargo

Physical Description:

Scope and Content Note

Contains editorials, speeches, pamphlets, books, clippings, and correspondence.

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Box 6

Subseries 3.2 Pony Express Riders

Physical Description:

Scope and Content Note

Contains lists of riders and research on individuals.

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Box 6

Subseries 3.3 Pony Express Company

Physical Description:

Scope and Content Note

Contains research notes, manuscripts, and correspondence.

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Box 6

Series 4. Pony Express Gallery records

Physical Description:

Scope and Content Note

Contains files on tours and information requests.

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Series 5. Pony Express Museum printed matter

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Box 7

Subseries 5.1 Books

Physical Description:

Scope and Content Note

Contains corrections, sales, and correspondence files.

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Box 7

Subseries 5.2 News stories

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Box 8

Subseries 5.3 Magazine articles

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Box 8

Subseries 5.4 Pamphlets

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Box 9

Subseries 5.5 Promotions

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Box 10-12

Series 6 Newspaper clippings

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Box 13

Series 7 Pony Express memorabilia

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Box 13

Series 8 Pony Express scrapbook

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Box 14

Series 9 Speeches

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Box 15-17

Series 10 Gun records

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Box 18

Series 11 Personal financial records

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Box 18

Series 12 Overland Mail Centennial Association records

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Box 19-21

Series 13 Photographs

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