Addie Viola Smith papers

Summary

Title:

Addie Viola Smith papers 1763-1975

Language:

English Chinese Thai Spanish;Castilian French

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Addie Viola Smith papers, 1763-1975, M000090, Sutro Library, California State Library, San Francisco, Calif.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists primarily of Addie Viola Smith's correspondence, reports, scrapbooks, genealogy, speeches, newspaper clippings, photographs, and notebooks. Topics include trade and commerce in Shanghai, motors and highways in China, international and Chinese law, the United Nations, tourism development in China and promotion in Asia and the Far East, international women’s movements and organizations, Smith's personal recollections, and Eleanor Hinder. Highlights include Smith's work with E.C.A.F.E. (the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East), correspondence from former First Lady Lou Henry Hoover and Judge Florence Ellinwood Allen, manuscripts on the China Trade Act (1922), Smith's work as trade commissioner in Shanghai, and censored love letters written by Smith's partner, Eleanor Hinder, to Smith.

Biographical / historical:

Addie Viola Smith, otherwise known as 施芳蘭 (Shi Fanglan), ‘Viola,’ ‘Auntie Vee,’ 'Vee,’ 'Elephant Child,' or 'Elfie,' was born in Stockton, California on November 14, 1893. At the height of her career in 1928, she served as a trade commissioner in Shanghai, China. However, throughout the years leading up to her international career, Smith spent the years prior pursuing education and gaining work experience. In 1908, she studied business administration at Heald’s Business College, San Francisco, and by 1910, Smith worked in the import and export department at a large merchandising firm in California. In 1917, she moved on from her previous job to work for the United States Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. while simultaneously pursuing an LL.B. degree at the American University Washington College of Law. During her time at the United States Department of Labor, she held several positions such as confidential clerk to assistant secretary, assistant chief of the women’s division of the United States employment service, chief of the information division of the United States training and dilution service, clerk to the employers group of the President’s first industrial conference in 1919, and assistant editorial clerk to the first international labor office conference at Washington in 1919. Finally, in October 1920, she was assigned as clerk to the trade commissioner in Beijing, China, making her the first woman to join the Foreign Service of the United States Department of Commerce and perhaps one of the most important people who helped facilitate trade between the United States and China. After taking the civil service examinations in October 1922, she was promoted to assistant trade commissioner in Shanghai and finally to trade commissioner in 1928.

Her work in China extended beyond her role as trade commissioner. In addition to serving as registrar of the 1922 China Trade Act and being admitted to practice in the United States Court for China in 1934, Smith specialized in automotives and highways in China, practiced genealogy during her spare time, and was an international activist and feminist. Even during the earlier years of her career, Smith was an advocate for women’s rights in the United States, and her activism broadened to the international stage during the later years of her life as she participated in and greatly contributed to several women's organizations such as the Australian Federation of University Women, the International Alliance of Women and Australian Federation of Women Voters, the Australian Local Government Women's Association (ALGWA), the International Federation of Women Lawyers (IFWL), and the American Women’s Club of Shanghai.

Though Smith is primarily remembered for her professional career and international activism, she was also a dedicated friend and lover. Her collection at Sutro Library contains an abundance of letters, scrapbooks, and collected memories that display her continuous devotion to many people in her life. Smith died in Sydney on December 13, 1975.

The items included in this collection were personally curated by Smith. As such, it is worth noting that the collection is primarily in her perspective as well as the one she seeks to portray herself in. While the collection is largely painted in her favor, it is still a valuable account on how women, like Smith, navigated and found their place in the world. Smith was indeed both a product of her time and a facilitator of that time's agenda. However, her personal experiences complicates her character and extends it beyond a product or facilitator of American imperialism.

Processing information:

There were earlier attempts at processing this collection. When it was reprocessed in 2023, few changes to the order were made. The entire collection was reboxed and rehoused.

Due to space and conservation concerns, the scrapbook binders were dismantled. However, before the scrapbooks were removed from their binders, the scrapbook pages were numbered with pencil and scanned in their entirety. The genealogy scrapbooks were placed in "series" 7 along with the Original and Duplicate scrapbooks.

No original order was found for the photographs. Within the photograph "series" ("series" 8), negatives and postcards that were found with the photographs were separated and placed in their own folders. The negatives were kept in the same "series" as the photographs ("series" 8); however, the postcards were placed in the misc. "series" ("series" 5).

The collection was processed by student assistant Thai-Van Stanoff and Sutro Library staff in 2023.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into eight different "series":

"series" 1: Correspondence, 1923-1975

"series" 2: Reports, 1917-1975

Sub-"series" 1: China, 1971-1972

Sub-"series" 2: Women's movement, 1928-1975

Sub-"series" 3: Women in the legal profession, 1920-1973

"series" 3: Speeches, 1918-1962

"series" 4: Field reports, 1920-1971

"series" 5: Miscellaneous, 1918-1975

"series" 6: Genealogy and honors of Smith, 1893-1973

"series" 7: Scrapbooks, 1763-1973

Sub-"series" 1: Original Scrapbooks, 1893-1969

Sub-"series" 2: Duplicate Scrapbooks, 1893-1969

Sub-"series" 3: Genealogy Scrapbooks, 1763-1973

"series" 8: Photographs and negatives, 1903-1971

Sub-"series" 1: China, 1921-1940

Sub-sub-"series" 1: Motorning/Transportation and highway development in China, 1929-1933

Sub-sub-"series" 2: Provinces and municipalities in China, 1921-1940

Sub-"series" 2: Asia [excluding China], 1923-1950

Sub-"series" 3: Canada, the United States, and Mexico, 1918-1957

Sub-"series" 4: Europe, 1954-1971

Sub-"series" 5: Australia, 1959-1970

Sub-"series" 6: Misc., 1903-1971

Sub-"series" 7: Negatives, n.d.

Related resources

Related material:

The papers of Addie Viola Smith's partner, Eleanor M. Hinder, are found in the Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, MLMSS770, State Library of New South Wales. There are papers from Smith in Hinder's collection but also in a collection called A. Viola Smith, further papers, 1957-1975, MLMSS7032.

Information about related materials is available at https://www.womenaustralia.info/archives/AWH001788.htm

Separated material:

The publications that came with the collection were removed and catalogued separately. There are published items by Smith as well as ones from her personal collection. Publications include:

Alley, Rewi. An Anhuei Motor Tour. S.l: s.n., n.d. Call number: DS793.A6 A44

Alley, Rewi. New Routes from Shanghai to Soochow. S.l: s.n., n.d. Call number: DS793.K45 A44

Annual Report for the Fiscal Year ... New York, N.Y: The Council, 1900. Call number: HF296.A29 C54 1944/45 [includes a typed label on the cover and annotations by Smith]

Annual Report for the Fiscal Year ... New York, N.Y: The Council, 1900. Call number: HF296.A29 C54 1945/46 [includes a typed label on the cover and annotations by Smith]

Arnold, Julean Herbert. China through the American Window = Chung Mei Kuan Hsi Chih Li Ts’ê. Shanghai, China: American Chamber of Commerce, 1932. Call number: HC106 .C352 [includes Smith’s signature, a typed label on the cover, annotations by Smith, and an annotated pamphlet for “American Foreign Trade Week”]

Arnold, Julean Herbert. Commercial Handbook of China. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1919. Call number: HF3836 .A7 1919 V.1 [includes annotations (may or may not be done by Smith)]

Arnold, Julean Herbert. Commercial Handbook of China. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1920. Call number: HF3836 .A7 1920 V.2 [includes annotations (may or may not be done by Smith)]

Arnold, Julean Herbert, Ming-Shih. Tan, and Shi Hu. Some Bigger Issues in China’s Problems. Shanghai, China: Commercial Press, 1928. Call number: HC427 .A74

Bulletin. Shanghai: The Joint Committee, 1927. Call number: HQ1766 .J6 [includes a typed and annotated document attached to cover, Smith’s signature on multiple pages, a handwritten note from Eleanor Hinder to Smith, and annotations by Smith]

Chao, Fung-chiai. Chung kuo fu nü tsai fa lü shang chi ti wei. Shanghai, China: Shang wu yin shu kuan, 1928. Call number: MISC002352 [includes Smith’s signature on cover and annotations (may or may not be done by Smith)] [English title: The Woman’s Position in Chinese Law]

The Conduct of Business with China. Washington: Govt. Printing Office, 1919. Call number: HF3120 .A4 1919 [includes Smith’s signature and annotations (may or may not be by Smith)]

“First National Good Roads Conference and Exhibition : Shanghai, China, September 12 to October 2, 1931.” Shanghai, China: s.n., 1931. Call number: MISC002351

Fischer, Emil Sigmund, and A. Viola. Smith. From Shanghai to Changsha in an Automobile : Interesting Account of a Test Journey by Mr. Emil Fischer, Who Accompanied by Miss A. Viola Smith as Her Pilot. Shanghai?: s.n.], 1935. Call number: DS710 .S48 1941

Fischer, Emil Sigmund. Travels in China, 1894-1940. Tientsin: Tientsin Press, 1941. Call number: DS710 .F48 1941 [includes a copy of From Shanghai to Changsha in an Automobile: Interesting Account of a Test Journey by Mr. Emil Fischer, who accompanied Miss A. Viola Smith as her Pilot, annotations by Smith, and Smith's signature]

Fitch, Robert F. Hangchow-Chekiang Itineraries. 4th, rev. and enl. ed. Shanghai: Kelly & Walsh, Ltd., 1935. Call number: DS793.C3 F57 1935 [includes Smith's Australian address stamped on inside]

Gould, Randall. Chungking Today. Shanghai: The Mercury Press, 1941. Call number: DS777.53 .G67 1941 [includes a handwritten message from Randall to Smith]

The Hangchow-Hweichow Highway Upon the Occasion of Its Opening to Traffic = Hang-Hui Kung Lu Tung Ch’ê Chi Nien K’an. Nanking, China: Bureau of Public Roads, National Economic Council, 1933. Call number: MISC002350 [includes a handwritten note addressed to Smith from Mr. Chao and a typed label on cover]

Hinder, Eleanor M. Life and Labour in Shanghai’s International Settlement : Problems of Administration and Reform. Shanghai: Shangai Municipal Council, 1942. Call number: MISC002356 includes Smith’s Australian address stamped on the cover]

Hinder, Eleanor M. Women in the Pacific: A Contribution to the Pan-Pacific Women’s Conference, Honolulu, August 9-19,1928. Shanghai?: s.n., 1928. Call number: MISC002355[includes Smith’s signature on cover]

Moser, Charles Kroth. Where China Buys and Sells. Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Office, 1935. Call number: MISC002359 [includes some annotations on the cover (may or may not be by Smith) and a typed insert]

The Nanking-Wuhu and Süancheng-Changhing Highways Upon the Occasion of Their Opening to Traffic = Chin-Wu Shuan-Chang Êrh Kung Lu Tung Ch’ê Chi Nien K’an. Nanking, China: Bureau of Public Roads, National Economic Council, 1933. Call number: TE102.N3 A5 1933

“National Good Roads Exhibition: Official Catalogue.” Shanghai, China: s.n., 1931. Call number: MISC002351 [includes typed label on cover and annotations by Smith]

The New Shanghai Hangchow Highway. Shanghai: Printed by the China Science Corp., 1932. Call number: TE102.S5 A5 1932

Smith, A. Viola., and Chuh, Anselm. Motor Roads in China. Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Office, 1931. Call number: MISC000745 [includes Smith’s signature and a handwritten caption on cover]

Smith, A. Viola. Motor Touring in China: through Kiangsu, Chekiang, Anhwei, Kiangsi and Around Shanghai. 1st ed. Shanghai: Kelly & Walsh, Ltd., 1934. Call number: MISC002354 [includes some annotations (may or may not be done by Smith)]

Smith, A. Viola. Trade Promotion Facilities. S.l: United Nations, 1949. Call number: HF3751.8.A48 U5 [includes Smith’s signature and a typed label on the cover]

Smith, A. Viola. Women’s Club Movement in China. Shanghai?: s.n., 1926. Call number: MISC002357 [includes Smith’s signature on cover, annotations by Smith, and annotations that may not have been done by Smith]

Sokolsky, George Ephraim. China, a Sourcebook of Information. Shanghai: Pan-Pacific Association, 1920. Call number: MISC002358 [includes Smith signature on cover]

The Soochow-Kashing Highway Upon the Occasion of Its Opening to Traffic = Su Chia Kung Lu Tung Ch’ê Chi Nien K’an. Nanking, China: Bureau of Public Roads, National Economic Council,cre *3., 1933. Call number: MISC00353

Tcheng, Soumay. My Revolutionary Years: The Autobiography of Madame Wei Tao-Ming. New York: Scribner, 1943. Call number: DS778.W4 A3 [includes signature by author, a typed description about the author by Smith, annotations (may or may not be by Smith)]

Williamson, Isabelle. Old Highways in China. London: Religious Tract Society, 1884. Call number: DS709 .W73 1884 [includes a typed and signed memo by Smith, which includes a brief review. Also includes an additional anonymous signature]

Wong, Dorothy T. Chinese Women of Today. Shanghai, China: [s.n.], 1928. Call number: MISC001492 [includes annotations by Smith]

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:

Finding Aid Authors: Thai-Van Stanoff.

Date Prepared:

2023-01-01

Date Encoded:

This finding aid was encoding in EAD by Archon 3.21 from an SQL database source on January 31st, 2024 .

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research. Please page materials three business days in advance of your visit by email: sutro@library.ca.gov

Terms of access:

Property rights reside with the repository. Any applicable literary rights would reside with the creators of the documents or their heirs. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please email sutro@library.ca.gov

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Addie Viola Smith papers, 1763-1975, M000090, Sutro Library, California State Library, San Francisco, Calif.

Location of this collection:

California State Library, Sutro Library

SFSU - J. Paul Leonard Library

1630 Holloway Ave, Room 610

San Francisco, CA 94132-4030, US

Contact:

(415) 469-6100

sutro@library.ca.gov

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