Jack Smith Papers, 1925-2004

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Summary

Creators:
Smith, Jack, 1916-1996
Abstract:
This collection consists of the personal and professional papers of author and Los Angeles Times columnist Jack Smith (1916-1996). The collection provides a resource for studying journalism and the writing process and the history of Los Angeles. There are many letters written during World War II that discuss life in America as well as abroad, especially Iwo Jima.
Extent:
152.5 Linear Feet (205 boxes, 3 oversize folders, 2 objects)
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Jack Smith Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of the personal and professional papers of author and Los Angeles Times columnist Jack Smith (1916-1996). The collection has several strong subject points for the purpose of research including journalism and the writing process and the history of Los Angeles. There are many letters written during World War II that discuss life in America as well as abroad, especially Iwo Jima.

The collection consists of the following series:

1. Manuscripts by Jack Smith and Various Authors (Boxes 1 - 19) are arranged alphabetically by author and then by title and date. This series includes manuscripts by various authors as well Jack Smith. This series also includes notebooks that Jack Smith kept with miscellaneous notes for columns and meetings.

Post-it notes from Denise, Curtis, and Douglas Smith were on drafts of Eternally Yours. These notes were removed from the manuscripts and placed on acid free paper. Most of the post-it notes either covered or pointed to handwritten notes on the page. Cataloger made notes on the acid free paper with the page number and reference if the note was pointing directly to something.

2. Correspondence with Readers, Family, and Friends (Boxes 20 - 58) are arranged alphabetically by author. This series includes letters from many famous and noteworthy people and also letters from other readers. Please note that Jack Smith filed these letters separately, but the cataloger has combined the letters for easier access. Smith used and quoted many of these letters in his columns. This series also includes Christmas cards and Get Well cards and condolence cards sent to the Smith family after Jack Smith's death. Also included are business and personal letters and cards to Denise Smith, as well as condolence cards sent to the Smith family upon the death of Denise Smith.

Please note that Jack Smith was in the habit of jotting down comments and responses on the letters he received from readers, therefore, many of the letters also contain autograph or typewritten notes by Jack Smith written on or attached to the original letter.

3. World War II Correspondence (Boxes 59 - 61) are arranged alphabetically by author. This series includes letters written to and from Jack and Denise Smith as well as other friends and family during World War II.

4. Correspondence regarding Smith, Jack, 1916-1996 Memorial Fund (Boxes 62-65) are grouped alphabetically by author. This series includes letters, notes, and copies of checks regarding donations to the Jack Smith Memorial Fund. Also included are notes written by Denise Smith regarding the paperwork and administration of the memorial fund.

5. Oversize Correspondence (Box 66) are grouped alphabetically by author. This series includes letters and attachments from readers and family to Jack and Denise Smith that are printed on legal size paper.

6. Subject Files (Boxes 67-111, 168-169, 198-200) includes files kept by Jack Smith over many years and is divided into two large groups: the files stored in the garage, covering the late 1960s - 1990 (Boxes 67-99, 168, 198-199) and the files stored in the house, covering 1991-1996 (Boxes 100-111, 169, 200). Please also note these files are not always in alphabetical order because, as much as possible, Smith's original order was retained. Because of this, these files also contain manuscripts and letters by readers and Jack Smith, photographs, newspaper and magazine articles, etc. Oversize items are located in boxes 168-169 and 198-200.

7. Ephemera (Boxes 112-167, 170-189) This series includes Jack Smith's collection of printed material including newspaper and magazine clippings of articles by himself and others, magazines, programs, newsletters, financial documents, photographs, and awards, etc.

Financial Documents are foldered by year and then alphabetically if it contains a span of years. This box includes tax returns; letters from the Smith's accountant, E. Evans Banbury; letters from the IRS; and letters from organizations that the Smiths made donations to; as well as letters from other publications that published Jack Smith. Also included are letters from the Los Angeles Times or Times Mirror regarding finances and employment.

Brochures, Flyers, and News Releases - includes information from parks, museums, music centers as well as information regarding gadgets.

Oversize Ephemera (Boxes 191-197)

Magazines- Some of the magazines are damaged in the corners. The magazines were housed in Jack Smith's garage and it appears that mice may have eaten the spines and corners.

Programs - Book Documents: Book Documents section includes correspondence and information regarding book signings in addition to legal contracts regarding royalties and rights. This section also includes some promotional materials. Programs section includes some invitations if attached to the program.

8. Addenda (Boxes 201-205) Additional manuscripts, correspondence, and ephemera, including yearbooks for both Jack and Denise Smith, and audio transcription discs.

9. Computers [NOT AVAILABLE] Two computer tower hard drives.

Biographical / historical:

Jack Clifford Smith (1916-1996), born August 27, 1916, in Long Beach, California, was a journalist and author who began his career in Bakersfield in 1937; he served in the USMC, 1944-1945. Smith was a reporter for several newspapers before coming to the Los Angeles Times as a reporter in 1953; he became a columnist in 1958 until his death on January 9, 1996. Smith is also the author of Three Coins in the Birdbath, 1965, Smith in Wry, 1970, God and Mr. Gomez, 1974, The Big Orange, 1976, Spend All Your Kisses, Mr. Smith, 1978, Jack Smith's L.A., 1980, How to Win a Pullet Surprise, 1982, Cats, Dogs, and Other Strangers at My Door, 1984, Alive in La La Land, 1989; a compilation of his columns, Eternally Yours, was published posthumously in 1996.

Smith married Denise Bresson in 1939 and they had two sons, Curtis B. Smith and Douglas F. Smith. They lived for many years in the Mt. Washington area of Los Angeles as well as in Baja, California.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Curtis B. Smith and Douglas F. Smith in May 2004, November 2004, May 2016, and May 2023. One undated letter from Jack Smith to June Haws Allen gift of June Lee Pilsitz in May 2008. Two snapshots of Denise Smith and Jack Smith gift of Jeanne Cornwell in April 2008.
Processing information:

Processed by Robyn Gleasner, Gayle Richardson and Natalie Russell, January 6, 2009. Updated July 7, 2011; July, 2016; and July 12, 2017. In August 2023, Kelly Kress processed the 2023 addendum and updated the finding aid to include that material, which is housed in box 205.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in the following series:

  1. Manuscripts by Jack Smith and Various Authors (Boxes 1-19)
  2. Correspondence with Readers, Family, and Friends (Boxes 20-58)
  3. World War II Correspondence (Boxes 59-61)
  4. Correspondence regarding Smith, Jack, 1916-1996 Memorial Fund (Boxes 62-65)
  5. Oversize Correspondence (Box 66)
  6. Subject Files (Boxes 67-111)
  7. Oversize Subject Files (Boxes 168-169, 198-200 + oversize folder)
  8. Ephemera (Boxes 112-167, 170-189)
  9. Oversize Ephemera (Boxes 190-197)
  10. Addenda (Boxes 201-205)
  11. Computer towers [NOT AVAILABLE]
Physical / technical requirements:

NOT AVAILABLE. Audiovisual items: 12 audio transcription discs in box 205 not available for paging until reformatted. Please contact Reader Services for more information.

NOT AVAILABLE: Born digital items: computer hard drives not available for paging until reformatted. Please contact Reader Services for more information

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Terms of access:

Jack Smith's copyright is maintained by the Smith family.

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Jack Smith Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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