The Reverend George Walker Smith Papers document Smith's ministerial career in San Diego at the Golden Hill United Presbyterian Church and Christ United Presbyterian Church, as well as his political, social, educational, and religious achievements.  The collection includes sermons, church announcements, correspondence, Board of Education scrapbooks, news clippings, accolades, plaques and certificates of achievement, Kiwanis Club Information, and newsletters.  The collection is divided into three series:  Personal Files, Scrapbooks, and Awards/Plaques.

Reverend George Walker Smith was born in Hayneville, Alabama in 1929. He came from a family of sharecroppers on a large plantation. As a child, Smith had always loved to read and learn, but his local school was only in session for a few months out of the year, and there was no public high school for African-American students. The plantation owner, however, decided to send Smith to an African-American high school, run by a church, in another county. Smith was the valedictorian of his graduating class. He then received a scholarship for the Presbyterian College in Knoxville, TN. While at college, Smith met his wife, Irene. After graduating, he began teaching during the school year and taking classes for a master's in education at Alabama State University in the summer. Eventually, Smith became the vice principal of his school. During his teaching career, he witnessed several violent acts of racism and social injustice that persuaded him to leave Alabama.

23.30 linear ft

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