This collection contains material belonging to Ernest C. Smith and his family. The majority of the collection contains documents regarding Ernest's life as a sheet metal contractor; teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District; educator; politician; and African American civil rights activist. This collection includes: articles, reports, certificates, correspondence, event programs, photographs, ephemera, and other material. Also included in this collection are items that belonged to two of his Ernest's daughters- Cheryl L. Smith Vincent and Lynetta Ann Smith McElroy; as well as a dissertation and curriculum vitae belonging to Foraker Ulysses Smith.

Ernest "Ernie" C. Smith was born December 14, 1929 in Bastrop, Louisiana to Carl David Smith and Luvinia (Tinkschell) Johnson. The Smith family moved from Louisiana to Los Angeles circa 1944. Ernest attended Thomas Jefferson High School where he graduated in 1948, and went on to attend Los Angeles Trade Technical College (LATT College), Los Angeles Southwest College (LASW College), UCLA, and Cal State Los Angeles where he received his Bachelor of Arts in industrial arts in 1975. In 1978 he received his Master's Degree in School Management and Administration from Pepperdine University. After graduating from college, Ernest taught Industrial Arts and Social Studies at a few secondary schools in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) for twenty-six years. He was also very active in his participation in education associations and held memberships in California Industrial Education Association, California Democratic Council, Epsilon Pi Tau, Alpha Psi Chapter Cal State LA, California Teachers Association, and United Teachers Los Angeles- where he was a part-time information assistant and served on the board of directors for 12 years.

18 boxes

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