Joshua Soule Smith papers

Abstract

Papers written by Joshua Soule Smith, African American photographs, and other family materials, 1863-1905.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Joshua Soule Smith papers
Creator
Smith, Joshua Soule, 1848-1904
Extent
4.0 Cubic feet
Subjects
African Americans.
Aprons--United States
Etidorhpa--Criticism, Textual
Fiction
Freemasonry--Kentucky--Lexington
Freemasonry--United States
Freemasons--Grand Lodge of Kentucky
Freemasons--Rituals
Membership certificates
Newspaper employees
Newspaper industry--Kentucky--Lexington--1860-1900
Programs
Speeches, addresses, etc., American
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by format.
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Sara Abdmishani Price
Preferred Citation
52M1: [identification of item], Joshua Soule Smith papers, 1863-1905, University of Kentucky Special Collections.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Joshua Soule Smith (1848-1904) was born in Clifton, Georgia. Smith joined the Confederate Army at the age of fifteen where he served in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864 and was held as a prisoner in Point Lookout, Maryland. In 1866, Smith moved to Kentucky where he graduated from Kentucky University's School of Law in 1871. Smith later served as a law lecturer at Kentucky University's School of Law and held the positions of Fayette County Attorney and judge of the Lexington Recorder Court. Smith wrote for various periodicals including the "Lexington Observer and Reporter, the "Lexington Press," the "Cincinnati News Journal," the "The Louisville Times," the "Gatling Gun" and served as the Lexington correspondent for "The Courier-Journal." Often Smith wrote under the pen name "Falcon." In addition, Smith wrote extensively regarding Freemasonry and the Knights Templar Webb Encampment, No. 1 of Lexington, Kentucky of which he was an active member in high standing. Smith served as Kentucky Grand Lodge Grand Master from 1887-1888 and was appointed a Freemason High Priest in 1880.
In 1875 Smith married Juliet G. Bryan (1851-1937) and had four children, Hallie Appleton Smith (1876-1878), Sydney A. Smith (1878-1953), J. Soule Smith, Jr. (1880-?), and Ralph W. E. Smith (1882-1953). Sydney A. Smith was a journalist for Lexington's newspaper, "The Herald."
Scope and Content
The Joshua Soule Smith collection is comprised of manuscript materials (1863-1905) and photographs (1900). The bulk of the collection is comprised of manuscripts that include works written by Smith: poetry, essays, short stories, parts of novels, speeches, and debate arguments. Many works are written under Smith's pen name "Falcon" and are on various topics including the Kentucky region and Knights Templar (Masonic Order). Smith's account book and certificates, correspondence written from and to Smith, and marginalia and ephemera are also present. Also included are Smith's published works in the form of full-text publications, loose newspaper clippings, or newspaper clippings collected together in a scrapbook. Publications represented are the "Lexington Observer and Reporter," the "Lexington Press," the "Cincinnati News Journal," the "The Louisville Times," the "Gatling Gun," "The Courier-Journal," and Lexington's "The Herald." Some of the newspaper clippings are written by Smith's son, Sydney A. Smith. Smith's personal materials such as notebooks and diaries are also present. Smith's Masonic apron is included.
The photographs include albumen cabinet cards of African Americans including Alexander C. "Peter" Vinegar, M.C. Davies, and a family portrait of Robert C. O. Benjamin.

Restrictions on Access and Use

Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Access note Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Use Restrictions
The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections.

Contents of the Collection

Papers, 1863-1905

Papers, 1863-1905 includes handwritten works by Joshua Soule Smith. Some works are written under Smith’s pen name, “Falcon.” Also present are Smith’s scrapbooks that include his published works as well as his son, Sydney A. Smith’s, published works. In addition, personal items such as an account book, certificates, diaries, and ephemera are included. Smith’s Freemason apron is also present.

Dated essays, 1874-1904

  • Box 1, Folder 1
Dated essays, 1878-1904 contains dated handwritten drafts of essays written by Joshua Soule Smith covering various topics. Some essays are written under Smith's pen name "Falcon." Essay titles include "Milton's Minor Poems," "Papers about Henry Clay," "Mac-o-check, "Eroticism in Fiction," "The ancient flint lock rifle," and "Why Knight Templars celebrate Easter." Also present is a string-bound collection of essays and poetry that includes the titles "Does the," "The Mechanism of the heavens," "The Plurality of World's," "A Tear," "Man," "Mountains," "Night," "Ocean," "Passion," "Memories of other times, and "There is a God."
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Undated essays

  • Box 1, Folder 2
Undated essays contains undated handwritten drafts of essays written by Joshua Soule Smith. Some essays are written under Smith's pen name "Falcon." Essay titles include "The Old and the New," "The Man and the Mansion," "Dieu et mon droit," "Free Charlotte," "General George Rogers Clark," "Alas for the sheep," "The Delicacy of white shoes," "Par Nobile Fratrum," "The Ethics of the Unseen," "Some Thoughts on Lockley Hall," "Arbor of Roses," "In God's Providence there is no waste," "The New Woman," "Chant of a Woodland Spirit by Robert Burns Wilson: A Review," "Some Thoughts on Social Purity," "Something about the 'Sage of Whitehall,'" "Caleb Wesley Cloud," "The blossoming of a Soul," "Is there no balm in Gilead?," "Admiral Da Garma," "Spiritual Spoonmeat," and "The Mystery of Life."
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Short stories

  • Box 1, Folder 3
Short stories contains undated handwritten drafts of short stories written by Joshua Soule Smith. Some short stories are written under Smith's pen name "Falcon." Short story titles include "Shy Ann," "The Squire, as 'Gran's Bolus,'" "How the feud was born: a story of Kentucky," and "Weary Watkins' Valentine." A short story about Peter Vinegar is also included titled "Watch Dat Snake."
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Parts of novels

  • Box 1, Folder 4
Parts of novels contains undated handwritten drafts of unfinished novels written by Joshua Soule Smith. Titles include "The White Fern."
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Dated poetry, 1866-1902

  • Box 2, Folder 1
Dated poetry, 1866-1902 contains dated handwritten poetry written by Joshua Soule Smith. Some of the poetry is written under Smith's pen name, "Falcon." Poetry titles include "Rain," "Paddy Naggerty's Ould Leather Breeches," "Beautiful Eyes," "An Office Dream," "Paddy Morant," "To my Valentine," "Little Minnie May," "Sweet Marguerite," "My Good Cigar," "Kentucky to Winona," "Lilies of the Valley," "My Typewriter's Chair."
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Undated poetry

  • Box 2, Folder 2
Undated poetry contains undated handwritten poetry written by Joshua Soule Smith. Some of the poetry is written under Smith's pen name, "Falcon." Poetry titles include "A Madrigal," "How beautiful is death," "A Thought or Two," "She gave a flower," "Blue eyes," "Soft lips," "Moon eyed Sal," "Wish a tuberose," "Love's Petulance," "Cheer Up," "Creation's Lord," "The moss rose bud," "Sonnet," "A Tribute to J. 'Spot' [illegible]," "A Song of Hafez: from the Latin of Sir William Jones," "Mister Speaker," and "Nirvana."
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Long poetry, 1866-1874

  • Box 2, Folder 3
Long poetry, 1866-1874 contains handwritten poetry written by Joshua Soule Smith. Some of the poetry is written under Smith's pen name, "Falcon." All the poems are ten pages are longer. Poetry titles include "Ras Powell's dream," "The Human Mind," and "Alice."
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Speeches, 1873-1877

  • Box 2, Folder 4
Speeches, 1873-1877 contains speeches written by Joshua Soule Smith for events such as commencement ceremonies. Included is a speech addressed to Joshua Soule Smith's Kentucky University Law School classmates.
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Debate

  • Box 2, Folder 5
Debate contains handwritten affirmative and negative arguments on debate topics by Joshua Soule Smith. Debate titles include "Aff. That Capital Punishment ought to be abolished," "Is the Advancement of the 19th Century Principally Due to Skepticism- Aff.," and an untitled debate with J. Hazelogge.
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Marginalia

  • Box 2, Folder 6
Marginalia contains handwritten poetry and miscellaneous sketches and essays by Joshua Soule Smith written on legal documents, letters, broadsides, brochures, and other various papers. Some papers include numerous poems written on one page.
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Correspondence, 1868-1905

  • Box 2, Folder 7
Correspondence, 1868-1905 contains handwritten correspondence between Joshua Soule Smith and others. Letters are regarding poems and articles Smith submitted to various publications, business matters including recognition of payments, and letters to friends.
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Account book, 1865-1904

  • Box 2, Folder 8
Account book, 1865-1904 contains Joshua Soule Smith's handwritten account book. It also contains an IOU written to M.O. Shearer for rent and a receipt for January 1904 dues paid to the Webb Commandery No. 2, K.T in Lexington, Kentucky.
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Certificates, 1865-1904

  • Box 2, Folder 9
Certificates, 1865-1904 contains dated certificates belonging to Joshua Soule Smith for various occasions. Certificates include Smith's "Legum Baccalaurei" from Kentucky University's Law College (1871), a Head-Quarters Camp of Instruction (1865), membership certificates for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a certificate for military duty by order of Brigade General E.M. McMcook (1865), a certificate from Kentucky Governor, J. Proctor Knott (1830-1911) and Secretary of State, James Andrew McKenzie (1840-1904) appointing Smith as Kentucky's representative at the North, Central, and South American, Exposition (1885), a certificate naming Smith a Freemason High Priest (1880), a certificate from Vermont's Freemason Grand Lodge naming Smith Virginia's Grand Lodge representative to Kentucky (1887), a certificate from the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar, State of Kansas naming Smith representative to Kentucky (1899), a certificate in Latin (1903), and a certificate naming Smith in good standing with the Knights Templar (1904). Some certificates are dated using "Year of the Order" and some are dating using Roman numerals. Some certificates are in Latin.
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Newsletters and periodicals, 1897-1902

  • Box 2, Folder 10
Newsletters and periodicals, 1897-1902 contains newsletters and periodicals with articles and poetry written by Joshua Soule Smith including some articles and poetry written under Smith's pen name "Falcon." Newsletters and periodicals include "The Morning Herald" (Lexington, Kentucky), "The American" (Lexington, Kentucky), and "The Gatling Gun" (Cleveland, Ohio).
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General published works, 1885-1889

  • Box 2, Folder 11
General published works, 1885-1889 contains miscellaneous formats of published works by Joshua Soule Smith. Formats include a poem titled "Rosebud" from an unknown publication, a "Carrier's Address To the Patrons of the Lexington Observer, January 1, 1885," a poem titled "As We Part" in "The Kappa Alpha Journal," a short story titled "The Woman and the Piano" from an unknown publication, and a review of John Uri Lloyd's "Etidorhpa" in the same unknown publication.
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Articles and poetry, 1883-1900

  • Box 2, Folder 12
Articles and poetry, 1883-1900 contains loose clippings of published miscellaneous articles and poetry. Articles and poetry are mostly written by Joshua Soule Smith and some articles are written under Smith's pen name, "Falcon." Some articles are about Smith. Clippings are from various publications including "The Lexington Daily Press" (Lexington, Kentucky), "The Lexington Leader" (Lexington, Kentucky), "The Louisville Times" (Louisville, Kentucky), "The Capital" (Frankfort, Kentucky), and "The Cincinnati Enquirer" (Cincinnati, Ohio).
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Freemasonry articles, 1897-1901

  • Box 2, Folder 13
Freemasonry articles, 1897-1901 contains loose clippings of newspaper articles, some written by Joshua Soule Smith, regarding the Knights Templar Webb Encampment, No. 1 of Lexington, Kentucky.
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“The Gatling Gun” articles, 1897-1899

  • Box 3, Folder 1
“The Gatling Gun” articles, 1897-1899 contains a scrapbook with pasted clippings of articles and poetry written by Joshua Soule Smith from the "The Gatling Gun," a periodical published by Walter Hurt of Cincinnati, Ohio. Articles titles include "Decoration Day," "William McKinley vs. Spain," "An Ode - Children of Heroes Tried and True," "July 4th, 1898," "Lilies of the Valley," "Give Old Kaintuck a Chance," "Something about Jews," "Camp Meeting and Chautauqua," "The Devil and Autumn Girl," "The Grand Turk of Canton," "Dewey and Others," "Thanksgiving Thoughts," "Concerning Carl Schurz," "A Dissertation on Drummers," "Southern Outrages," "Female Foot-Ball," "The Sexual Sin," "A Rousing Roast," "A Sermon to Sermonizers," "A Pilgrimage to Paradise," "The Red-Haired Girl," "Votaries of Valentine," "A Jewish Christmas," "The Red-Headed Man," "Shall Patrick Speak Latin," and "The New Woman's Trousers."
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Joshua Soule Smith articles, 1868-1883

  • Box 3, Folder 2
Joshua Soule Smith articles, 1868-1883 contains a scrapbook with pasted clippings of articles and poetry written by Joshua Soule Smith from various publications including the "Peninsular Herald," "The Kentucky Gazette," "The Commercial Advertiser," "The Observer and Reporter," "The Herald," "The News Journal," "Louisville Argus," and the "Courier Journal." Some articles and poetry are written under Smith's pen name Falcon. Also included are a "Carrier's Address of the Lexington Dispatch, January 1st, 1875" and "The Carriers of the Observer and Reporter to its Patrons, On the First of January, 1873." Topics include politics, arts and culture, society, education, love, and the Kentucky region.
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Sydney A. Smith articles, 1898-1900

  • Box 3, Folder 3
Sydney A. Smith articles, 1898-1900 contains a scrapbook with pasted clippings of articles written by Sydney A. Smith, Joshua Soule Smith's son and a reporter for Lexington, Kentucky's newspaper, "The Herald." Topics include local news, Masonic news, an article regarding a day in the newspaper industry, a history of the Lexington, Kentucky newspaper, a history of Paris, Kentucky, an article regarding the Business Department of "The Herald," and an article regarding Kentucky's former Secretary of State, Caleb Powers.
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Personal notebooks, 1866-1870

  • Box 4, Folder 1
Personal notebooks, 1866-1870 includes Joshua Soule Smith's personal bound notebooks that contain handwritten poetry and essays. Also included in the notebooks are detailed financial transactions and account information.
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Diaries, 1863-1903

  • Box 4, Folder 2
Diaries, 1863-1903 includes Joshua Soule Smith's personal diaries that contain journal entries, poetry, and essays. Also included in the diaries are miscellaneous notes such as names, addresses, and financial transactions.
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Freemason apron, 1899

  • Box 4, Folder 3
Freemason apron, 1899 includes Joshua Soule Smith's leather freemason apron from the 100th anniversary of the death of George Washington at Mount Vernon, Virginia December 14, 1899.
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Ephemera, 1871-1899

  • Box 4, Folder 4
Ephemera, 1871-1899 includes miscellaneous ephemera such as a program from "Class Day of Kentucky State College, 1899," a "Funeral Service for the use of all bodies of the A and A Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction" arranged by Joshua Soule Smith," a program for the "Twentieth Biennial Convention for the Kappa Alpha Order," a program for the Kentucky University Law College commencement 1869, a "Campaign Song" written by Alexander Williamson, a "Carrier's Address of the Lexington Dispatch, January 1st, 1875," and a program and a broadside for the "Last Annual Exhibition of the Kick-u-crow-pie-an, Darwinian, Donkey Drome."
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Photographs, 1900

Photographs, 1900 includes albumen cabinet card portraits of African Americans including Reverend Alexander C. “Peter” Vinegar, M.C. Davies, and the Robert C.O. Benjamin family.

Alexander C. "Peter" Vinegar better known as Reverend Peter Vinegar., undated

  • Box 5, Item 1
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Alexander C. "Peter" Vinegar better known as Reverend Peter Vinegar., undated

  • Box 5, Item 2
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Alexander C. "Peter" Vinegar better known as Reverend Peter Vinegar., undated

  • Box 5, Item 3
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Alexander C. "Peter" Vinegar better known as Reverend Peter Vinegar., undated

  • Box 5, Item 4
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M.C. Davies ; written on back: "To my friend \\ J. Soule Smith - \\ from \\ M.C. Davies \\ Thomasville \\ Ga. \\ Please accept photo. \\ upon our boyhood \\ friendship and love. \\ So now let us unite \\ With the poet when he said \\ 'Fleecy locks and black \\ Complexion cannot forfeit \\ nature's claims; \\ Skins may differ, but \\ affection Dwells in white and black the same.' \\ W. C. Poet \\ pag 210", undated

  • Box 5, Item 5
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The family of R.C.O. [Robert Charles O'Hara] Benjamin. Picutured in the photograph are Robert Charles O'Hara Benjamin, 45, Lulu Maria Benjamin, 27, Robinson Charles O'Hara Benjamin, 4, Lillian Allen Benjamin, 4, and grandfather W.S. Robinson, 53; written on the back of the photo "LAST PICTURE OF THE BENJAMIN FAMILY. R.C.O. Benjamin was assassinated Octer 2, 1900. This picture represents his family group taken during the visit of Mrs. Benjamin's father, W.S. Robinson of Alabama, September 19, 1900, twelve days before the tragedy.", 19 September 1900

  • Box 5, Item 6
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Researchers are required to have an SCRC Researcher Account in order to request or order digital copies of materials. Research Account set-up and use instructions can be found at: http://libguides.uky.edu/SCRCaccount

If you are visiting the Breckinridge Research Room, please request materials at least 48 business hours in advance of your arrival.

For all other questions, contact us at: https://libraries.uky.edu/ContactSCRC.

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