Collection Guide
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Smith (Waddell F.) Papers
D-392
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Davis Library, Dept. of Special Collections
Title: Waddell F. Smith Papers
Creator:
Smith, Waddell F.
Identifier/Call Number: D-392
Physical Description:
21.6 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1939-1976
Abstract: Waddell F. Smith, historian and collector, was the great grandson of
William B. Waddell, member of freighting firm of Russell, Majors and Waddell, founders of Pony Express (1860). Smith retired
from military service (1949) to devote time to study and promotion of Pony Express history. He settled in San Rafael, Calif.
and organized a Pony Express History and Art Gallery. The Gallery became headquarters for the National Pony Express
Centennial Association, of which Waddell Smith was President. In this capacity Smith organized and staged a reenactment of
a
Pony Express run (1960). He published "Stage Lines and Express Companies in California" (1965) and a number of pamphlets,
such as "Pony Express versus Wells Fargo Express" (1966) The Papers contain the Pony Express Gallery Records as well as
Smith's Pony Express scrapbook, research notes, writings and photographs.
Physical Location: Researchers should contact Special Collections to
request collections, as many are stored offsite.
Waddell F. Smith (1899-1970) was a great grandson of William B. Waddell, member of the freighting firm of Russell, Majors
and Waddell, founders, owners and operators of the Pony Express. Smith retired from military service in 1949 and fulfilled
his lifelong wish to study the history of the Pony Express and correct "misinterpretations of history" crediting Wells Fargo
as taking over the Pony Express. He settled in San Rafael, Calif. where he created the Pony Express History and Art Gallery.
The Gallery was a part-time headquarters for the Pony Express Centennial Association, of which Smith was founder and
President. Waddell Smith wrote Stage Lines and Express Companies in California (1965) and a number of smaller works.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Waddell Smith Papers contain the Pony Express Gallery Records as well as Smith's Pony Express scrapbook, research
notes, writings and photographs.
[Identification of item], Waddell F. Smith Papers, D-392, Special Collections, UC Davis Library, Davis, California.
Collection is open for research.
All applicable copyrights for the collection are protected under chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code. Requests for
permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California as the owner of the physical items. It is
not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Acquired in 2003
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Pony express -- History
Postal museums -- California -- San Rafael
Historians -- Correspondence
West (U.S.) -- History -- Sources
Firearms -- History
Smith, Waddell F. -- Archives
Pony Express History and Art Gallery