Descriptive Summary
Administrative Information
Access Points
Biography
Scope and Content
Descriptive Summary
Title: Jedediah Smith Society Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1943-
Collection number: Mss18
Creator:
Jedediah Smith Society
Extent: 6.25 linear ft.
Repository:
University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of
Special Collections
Shelf location: For current information on the location of
these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language: English.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Jedediah Smith Society Collection, Mss18,
Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific
Library
Access Points
Personal Names
Smith, Jedediah Strong (1799-1831)
Smith family
Ashley, William Henry (1778-1838)
Henry, Andrew
Sublette, William L.
Jackson, David E.
Corporate Names
Rocky Mountain Fur Company
Jedediah Smith Society
Subjects
Fur trade -West (U.S.)
Explorers -West (U.S.)
California -History -To 1846
Oregon -History -To 1859
West (U.S.) -History
Biography
Jedediah Strong Smith (1799-1831) was the first American citizen to
enter California by an overland route. His travels (1821-1831) demonstrated
feasible routes across the West to California. Smith trapped first along the
Missouri River under William Ashley and Andrew Henry. He rediscovered South
Pass, Wyo. (1824), a passageway from the High Plains into the Pacific
Northwest. After forming a partnership to trap in the Pacific Coast region with
David Jackson and William Sublette, Smith trapped and explored in Central
California and Oregon (1827-1828). The partners sold out to the Rocky Mountain
Fur Company in 1830 and turned to the Santa Fe trade. Smith was killed by
Indians on the Southern Plains the following year.
The Jedediah Smith Society was formed (1957) to promote the reputation
of Smith as an important historical figure. It holds regular meetings,
publishes a newsletter and promotes publications devoted to the education of
the public on this theme.
Scope and Content
The Jed Smith Society Collection contains two types of materials: Series
1 consisting of items pertaining to the life of Smith; and, series 2 containing
items describing activities of the Society. In the first category are:
manuscripts of writings on Jed Smith; biographical and genealogical materials;
articles on Smith's explorations; and, correspondence between Society members
regarding various aspects of Smith's life. In the second category are: Society
minutes; programs; speeches; publications; and, business correspondence.