Murphy DeWitt and Robert Neill Smith Papers
This collection contains correspondence, photographs, clippings, short stories, poems, musical compositions, and other materials documenting the lives of brothers Murphy DeWitt and Robert Neill Smith. Series I: Murphy DeWitt Smith, 1942-1993 consists primarly of correspondence between Murphy and various members of his family. It also houses a number of photographs (many of them portraying Murphy himself) and various other materials relating to his family and life.
Series II: Robert Neill Smith, 1929-1998 (bulk 1937-1971) is somewhat more varied. It is composed primarily of personal and professional correspondence (Sub-Series A) and materials documenting Smith's artistic endeavors (Sub-Series B). Artistic materials consist of short story manuscripts, poems, plays, musical compositions, and information about Smith's involvement with a number of small theatres. Other materials in this series document Smith's personal life (Sub- Series C), education (Sub-Series D), professional life (Sub-Series E), and death and estate (Sub-Series F). Finally, this series includes photographs (Sub- Series G) and scrapbooks (Sub-Series H) relating to Robert Smith and his family, friends, and activities.
See also MS.2400: Letter to Murphy D. Smith from Christopher Sandford, 1960.
Dates
- 1929-1998 (bulk 1937-1993)
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
12.25 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection contains correspondence, photographs, clippings, short stories, and other materials documenting the lives of brothers Murphy DeWitt and Robert Neill Smith.
Biographical/Historical Note
Murphy DeWitt Smith, Jr. was born to Murphy DeWitt Smith, Sr. and Damie Hogan Smith (d. 1968) on October 16, 1920 in Birmingham, Alabama. He was the third youngest of 10 children: Margaret Big Sis Cates (born about 1906), Harry (born about 1909), F. Eleanor (born about 1911), Evelyn Evy Caldwell (born about 1914), Avis Abie Byers McDonald (born about 1916), William (born about 1918), Albert Lester (born about 1923), Robert Neill (born in 1924), and C. Leonard (born about 1927). Murphy Smith began his undergraduate education at Carson-Newman College and transferred to the University of Tennessee in 1945. He graduated with his BA in 1948, and again with his MA in 1949. He continuted on to work toward his doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania. It is unclear when he began working for American Philosophical Society Library in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but he remained in this position until his retirement. Smith also enjoyed travelling, and kept journals and slides documenting his trips around the world both alone and with various of his siblings. The UT Special Collections library now holds many of these records.
Robert Neill Smith was born on December 26, 1924 in Birmingham, Alabama. After graduating from Red Bank High School in 1942, he entered the Air Force. He served as an aviation cadet and was honorably discharged in 1944. His military service exacerbated a preexisting heart condition, and he continuted to have heart trouble throught his life. Immediately after his discharge, Smith returned to his education. He graduated from Duke University with a BA degree in 1948 and from the Drexel Institute of Technology with a Master of Science in Library Science (MSLS) degree in 1954. In 1955, he began working as the Science-Technology Librarian for the Georgia Institute of Technology. He left this position in 1959 to become the Director of the Flint River Regional Library in Griffin, Georgia. He changed jobs again in 1966, this time working as the Head Librarian at the Woman's College of Georgia. At the time of his death on April 24, 1971, he was planning a move to Clearwater, Florida, to become the Director of Libraries for the City of Clearwater.
Arrangement
Collection consists of twelve boxes. Material is divided into two series:
Missing Title
- Series I: Murphy DeWitt Smith
- Sub-Series A: Correspondence, 1942-1993
- Sub-Series B: Letter Books and Diaries, 1965-1984
- Sub-Series C: Personal Papers, undated
- Sub-Series D: Photographs, undated
- Series II: Robert Neill Smith
- Sub-Series A: Correspondence, 1953-1971
- Sub-Series B: Literary and Artistic Activities, 1948-1966
- Section 1: Short Stories and Novels, 1948-1959
- Section 2: Music and Poetry, 1955
- Section 3: Theater, 1955-1966
- Sub-Series C: Personal Papers, 1929-1971
- Sub-Series D: Education, 1936-1967
- Sub-Series E: Professional Papers, 1959-1971
- Sub-Series F: Death and Estate, 1970-1998
- Sub-Series G: Photographs, 1937-1971
- Sub-Series H: Scrapbooks, 1938-1952
- Series III: Oversized Materials, 1937-1969
Acquisition Note
Murphy DeWitt Smith donated this collection to the Special Collections Library.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository