Collection Guide
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Smith (Ernest C.) Family Collection
SPC.2019.019
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Ernest C. Smith Family Collection
source:
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Los Angeles Branch
source:
California Teachers Association
source:
United Teachers Los Angeles
source:
National Education Association
Creator:
Smith, Ernest C.
Creator:
McElroy, Lynetta A.S.
Creator:
Smith Vincent, Cheryl
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2019.019
Physical Description:
18 boxes
Physical Description:
67 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1930-2011; undated
Abstract: 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.
Language of Material:
English
.
The Ernest C. Smith Family Collection (1930-2011; undated) contains 17 boxes and 66.68 linear feet of 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; educator; politician; and African American civil rights activist. Series One contains personal papers
such as correspondence; greeting cards; notes; diplomas; transcripts; wedding invitations; commencement programs; resumes;
material related to church and religion; and other material belonging to Ernest C. Smith, Cheryl L. Smith Vincent, Lynetta
Ann Smith McElroy, and Foraker Ulysses Smith. Series Two contains material related to Ernest's professional career including
documents related to his time as a sheet metal contractor; and newsletters, programs, ephemera, meeting notes, reports, and
other material generated from Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), National Education
Association (NEA), and California Teachers Association (CTA) collected from when Ernest was a teacher. Also included in this
series is material from Ernest's time as member of the Los Angeles Branch's Executive Committee with the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) including meeting minutes; awards dinner and convention programs; and material
related to H.R. 40, Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African American Act. Finally, Series Two contains materials
from Ernest's senate campaigns; documents from his time as a coordinator for Yvonne W. Brathwaite's California State Assembly
campaign; and other material related to politics. Series Three contains journal issues and articles; essays; fact sheets;
and other material related to education, race, civil rights, and activism; and Series Four contains mostly photographs featuring
the Smith family and their friends at various events and gatherings.
This collection is arranged into four series:
- Series I: Personal Papers, 1948-2010; undated
- Sub-Series A: Ernest Smith Personal Papers, 1948-2010; undated
- Sub-Series B: Smith Family Personal Papers, 1974-1978
- Series II: Professional Materials, 1930-2011; undated
- Sub-Series A: Sheet Metal Contracting, 1950-1996; undated
- Sub-Series B: Teaching and Education, 1930-2009; undated
- Sub-Series C: Activism and Politics, 1960-2011; undated
- Series III: Subject Files, 1963-2010; undated
- Series IV: Photographs and A/V Material, circa 1930s-2000s; undated
- Sub-Series A: Photographs; circa 1930s-2000s
- Sub-Series B: A/V Material; undated
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Lynetta A.S. McElory, June 2019
This collection was processed by Karen Clemons, February 2020
For information about citing archival material, see the
Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
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.
Along with his career and commitment to teaching and education, Ernest was also involved with church, politics, and the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Ernest was chairman of the board of trustees at St. Mark United
Methodist Church; founded the Zephyr Democratic Club; held memberships of the Committee for Reprehensive Government and California
Democratic Council; worked as a coordinator for Yvonne Braithwaite Burke's election campaign to California State Assembly
in 1966, later serving as Burke's field deputy; volunteered for former President Obama's 2008 presidential campaign; and in
1978 Smith ran for the California State Senate seat in the 30th District. As a life member of the NAACP; Smith served on the
Los Angeles Branch's Executive Committee, had volunteer duties serving as chair of the Political Action Committee; was partially
responsible for organizing a town hall meeting in April 2003 regarding HR40, a bill by Congressman John Conyers Jr. "A Commission
to Study Reparations Proposals for African Americans Act"; was the assistant treasurer from 2003-2004; and won NAACP's volunteer
of the year in 2003.
Smith and his wife Mary Ann had five children: Cheryl L. Smith-Vincent; Lynetta Ann Smith McElroy; Tracie Wilson; Phillip
Bowdoin; and Lesley Pierce.
Sources: "Annual Roy Wilkins Freedom Fund Awards Dinner, Continuing to Make Difference in the Community" [program]; "Resume,
Ernest C. Smith" and other material located in the Ernest C. Smith Family Collection, SPC. 2019.019
This collection contains books, pamphlets, and DVDs that are separated from the archival collection.
- "The Block" by Herb Goro. Random House, Inc., 1970
- "Surviving and Thriving 365 Facts in Black Economic History" by Julianne Malveaux. Last Word Productions, Inc., 2010
- "Emerging Artists: Figurative Abstraction", Second Biennial Exhibition. California Afro-American Museum, 1988
- "The Black West. A Documentary and Pictorial History" by William Loren Katz. 1971
- "The Negro in Modern American History Textbooks" 3rd edition. American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, October 1968
- "The Second People's Song Book, Lift Every Voice! With an Introduction by Paul Robeson. Edited by Irwin Silber. A People's Artists Publication, 1953
- "The ABC Picture Book of Eminent Negroes Past and Present" by Thomas M. Southern. The ABC Publishing Co. 1951
- "Freedom Destination Corps U.S.A., A Black Man's Last Plea" by Cleveland O. Harris. 1961
- "The Hero. A Short Biography of Patrice Emery Lumumba" by R.C. Kamanga. circa 1960s
- "Family Life and School Achievement, Why Poor Black Children Succeed or Fail" by Reginald M. Clark. University of Chicago Press, 1983
- "A Guide to Negro Marketing Information". U.S. Department of Commerce, September 1966
- "Assimilation and the Jewish People" by Paul Novick. October 1964
- "How to Love a Black Woman" by Muntu Mwaminifu (Thomas Meloncon) Truth Publication, 1980
- "And Don't Call Me a Racist! A Treasury of Quotes on the Past, Present, and Future of the Color Line in America". Selected and arranged by Ella Mazel. Argonaut Press, 1988
- "Code Name: The Long Sobbing. The Allies, The Axis, and the Victims: An Anthology from D-Day to V-E Day". Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1994
- "Debating Race with Michael Eric Dyson" Basic Civitas Books, 2007
- "The Movement, Documentary of a Struggle for Equality" Text by Lorraine Hansberry, Simon and Schuster, 1964
- "Understanding the Riots, Los Angeles Before and After the Rodney King Case" by the staff of the Los Angeles Times, 1992
- "19 Sixties, a Cultural Awakening Re-evaluated 1965-1975". Organized by the California Afro-American Museum. Essays by Lizzetta LeFalle-Collins, Curator; Cecil Fergerson, Contributor. 1989
- "Family Ties: Restoring Unity in the African American Family" by Colleen Birchett, Ph.D Urban Ministries Inc., 2006. "Workbook for "Family Ties: Restoring Unity in the African American Family" written by Rev. Cheryl P. Clemetson, Ph.d. Evangeline Carey. Edited by Kathryn Hall. 2006
- [DVD] "Protect Voting Rights: Renew the VRA" Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, 2005
- [DVD] "Matthew Kennedy: One Man's Journey" a film by Nina Kennedy; undated
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Education
Education, higher -- California
Race relations
Civil rights
California -- Politics and government -- 1951-
Reparations for historical injustices -- United States
Sheet-metal work
Los Angeles (Calif.)
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Los Angeles Branch
California Teachers Association
United Teachers Los Angeles
National Education Association
Los Angeles (Calif.). Police Department