Aristotle Smith Scrapbook
Collection
Collection Number: A&M 4531
Scrapbook of Aristotle Smith (1863-1911), doctor, lawyer, teacher, and historian. The scrapbook consists of newspaper clippings (1897-1909) and other ephemera glued onto pages of a book, Report on Population and Resources of Alaska (1893) from the 11th census, published in 1890. The scrapbook also includes handwritten text on the book’s pages and regards the history of various West Virginia counties: Calhoun, Clay, Braxton, Roane; the genealogy of the Chenowiths, his wife’s family; his own Smith family; other families include Stalnaker, Smith, and Westbrook; some diary-like entries detailing the weather, visitors, and reminiscences; and profiles of individuals, some recounting Civil War stories and accounts of settler skirmishes with Native Peoples.
The newspaper clippings, most unidentified with date, author and newspaper. concern Christian teaching, politics including election results, Smith and his politics, obituaries, and world affairs. More than twenty history columns were written by Albert Payson Terhune (ca. 1908-1909). William Jennings Bryan was also a favorite subject of the clippings. Newspaper clippings with articles by R.J. Chenowith are also included. The newspapers identified include: The Calhoun Chronicle, The Grantsville News, and The Roane County Record.
Correspondence is scant but there are a few letters, both handwritten and typed, a postcard, a political solicitation, and among the items at the back of the book correspondence regarding Smith’s research into the genealogy of the Chenowith family. Of note is Smith’s transcription of a letter (May 7, 1885) to his wife Losie J. Smith from her aunt, Rachael Godden, who detailed her 12 children’s births and deaths as well as details on other family members.
Also handwritten biographical notes about Confederate officer Daniel S. Dewees of Gilmer County. Smith transcribed Dewees’ story as dictated to him and it resulted in an autobiography titled Recollections of a Life. The book can be found in A&M 4360. There is also a transcription of a story by Andy Mace regarding the murder of Jonathan Nichols.
Typewritten pages of the contents of the scrapbook are inserted at the beginning of the book, and some typed transcripts of handwritten text are also included. Book pages are out of order, some early pages have penciled page numbers for handwritten texts interweaved with individual numbered sheets.
Digital files include three photographs of Aristotle Smith (one appears to be on newsprint), one of Aristotle and Eloise (Losie) Jane, and three pages of a biographical sketch which also appears to be on newsprint.
No special access restriction applies.
Researchers may access born digital materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia & Regional History Center reference department at https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc.
The donor of this collection has transferred rights to the intellectual property they created to the Center. For more information regarding permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the West Virginia and Regional History Center.
0.25 Linear Feet (1 clamshell box, 3 in.)
0.005 Gigabytes (7 .jpg files)
English
This item is fragile and should have limited handling.
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia Univesity / 1549 University Avenue / PO Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / Fax: 304-293-3981 / URL: https://wrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Gift of Mary Jane Flossie, November 5, 2021.
Part of the West Virginia and Regional History Center Repository