Joshua Soule Smith papers
Abstract
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.
- 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
Dated essays, 1874-1904
- Box 1, Folder 1
Undated essays
- Box 1, Folder 2
Short stories
- Box 1, Folder 3
Parts of novels
- Box 1, Folder 4
Dated poetry, 1866-1902
- Box 2, Folder 1
Undated poetry
- Box 2, Folder 2
Long poetry, 1866-1874
- Box 2, Folder 3
Speeches, 1873-1877
- Box 2, Folder 4
Debate
- Box 2, Folder 5
Marginalia
- Box 2, Folder 6
Correspondence, 1868-1905
- Box 2, Folder 7
Account book, 1865-1904
- Box 2, Folder 8
Certificates, 1865-1904
- Box 2, Folder 9
Newsletters and periodicals, 1897-1902
- Box 2, Folder 10
General published works, 1885-1889
- Box 2, Folder 11
Articles and poetry, 1883-1900
- Box 2, Folder 12
Freemasonry articles, 1897-1901
- Box 2, Folder 13
“The Gatling Gun” articles, 1897-1899
- Box 3, Folder 1
Joshua Soule Smith articles, 1868-1883
- Box 3, Folder 2
Sydney A. Smith articles, 1898-1900
- Box 3, Folder 3
Personal notebooks, 1866-1870
- Box 4, Folder 1
Diaries, 1863-1903
- Box 4, Folder 2
Freemason apron, 1899
- Box 4, Folder 3
Ephemera, 1871-1899
- Box 4, Folder 4
Photographs, 1900
Alexander C. "Peter" Vinegar better known as Reverend Peter Vinegar., undated
Alexander C. "Peter" Vinegar better known as Reverend Peter Vinegar., undated
Alexander C. "Peter" Vinegar better known as Reverend Peter Vinegar., undated
Alexander C. "Peter" Vinegar better known as Reverend Peter Vinegar., undated
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
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
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.
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.