Smith (Daniel E.) papers, 1970-2018

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Summary

Title:
Daniel E. Smith papers
Dates:
1970-2018
Creators:
Smith, Daniel E., 1953-2023
Abstract:
Reverend Dan Smith was a pastor and LGBTQ activist. The collection, 1970-2018, is comprised largely of materials related to Smith's 35+ years as the pastor of the West Hollywood Presbyterian Church (later the West Hollywood United Church of Christ) and his advocacy and activism both within and without the church. The collection includes administrative records, sermons, programs, correspondence, publications, and ephemera.
Extent:
6.25 Linear Feet 6 boxes.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Box/folder #, or item name] Reverend Daniel E. Smith Papers, Coll2023-002, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Daniel Smith collection, 1970-2018, is comprised largely of materials related to Smith's 35+ years as the pastor of the West Hollywood Presbyterian Church (later the West Hollywood United Church of Christ) and his advocacy and activism both within and without the church. The materials document Smith's work as a pastor for the church, and his work within the larger Presbyterian Church to advocate for greater inclusion and ministry for LGBTQ Christians, especially regarding persons with HIV/AIDS. The collection also includes documentation of the WHPC's separation from the Presbyterian Church and decision to join the United Church of Christ.

Materials in the collection include administrative records, sermons, programs, correspondence, books, studies, publications, and ephemera.

Biographical / historical:

Reverend Daniel E. Smith was an LGBTQ rights activist and a pastor with the United Church of Christ.

Daniel E. Smith was born on February 2, 1953 in Buffalo, NY. He attended Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ, after which he joined the Presbyterian Church. He served for six years as an Associate Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Geneva, New York before coming to Los Angeles. In 1984, Smith became the first openly gay pastor at the West Hollywood Presbyterian Church, serving a predominantly LGBTQ congregation.

Smith was active within the Presbyterian Church, advocating for acceptance and inclusion of LGBTQ Christians, as well as ministry for persons with HIV/AIDS and marriage equality. He served on the Presbyterian Church's "Special Committee to Study Human Sexuality" and was one of the major contributors to the committee's report, "Keeping Body and Soul Together: Sexuality, Spirituality and Social Justice (1991)."

He is a cofounder of the Los Angeles GLBT Interfaith Clergy Association and was one of the first religious leaders in Los Angeles to provide spiritual care and support to persons with HIV/AIDS.

In 2012, Smith led the congregation through its separation with the Presbyterian Church over its anti-gay views. The church joined the United Church of Christ and Smith was ordained as a pastor in the UCC. Smith served as pastor for another 8 years before retiring in February 2020.

He died on June 12, 2023.

https://lgbtqreligiousarchives.org/profiles/dan-smith

The West Hollywood Presbyterian Church (WHPC) was founded in 1913 as part of the Presbyterian Church. The church has long been known for its progressive position and its advocacy and activism for the LGBTQ community.

As early as 1964, the church had established special services and meeting groups for the gay community in West Hollywood. They ran a long-time program called the Lazarus Project to campaign for the full inclusion of LGBTQ Christians.

In 1984, the church selected Reverend Dan Smith as full-time pastor, making him one of the first openly gay pastors serving a majority gay and lesbian congregation in the Presbyterian Church.

In 2012, because of conflicts over anti-gay positions held by the Presbyterian Church, the WHPC congregation unanimously voted to leave the Presbyterian Church after 99 years and join the United Church of Christ. The church continues to serve the LGBTQ community of West Hollywood and Los Angeles today.

References:

https://wehoucc.org/history/

https://lgbtqreligiousarchives.org/profiles/dan-smith

Acquisition information:
Gift of Rev. Daniel E. Smith, February 2020. Additional materials were donated and added to the collection following Smith's death in June 2023.
Processing information:

Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the California State Library. Collection processed by Beth McDonald, 2023.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in four series. Series 1: West Hollywood Presbyterian Church; Series 2: United Presbyterian Church; Series 3: Daniel Smith Papers; Series 4: LGBTQ Issues and Activism.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Beth McDonald
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-12-05 16:28:47 -0800 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries 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.

Preferred citation:

[Box/folder #, or item name] Reverend Daniel E. Smith Papers, Coll2023-002, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Location of this collection:
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007, US
Contact:
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu
Website