Hoke Smith Papers, 1879-1931
138 boxes, 69 linear feet

Administrative Information

- Access Restrictions
- User Restrictions
- Processing Notes
- Copyright Information
- Preferred Citation

Biographical Note

Scope and Content

Home

Organization and Arrangement

Related Collections

- In Russell Library
- In other repositories


Series Descriptions


Access Points

Folder List

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Access Restrictions: Letter books are fragile and may require special procedures for access.

User Restrictions: Library acts as “fair use” reproduction agent.

Processing Notes: Newspaper clippings and thermofax papers have been copied onto bond paper for protection of content. Fragile documents have been placed in a mylar sleeves. Photographs have been separated for preservation.

Copyright Information: Before material from collections at the Richard B. Russell Library may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permission. Persons wishing to quote from materials in the Russell Library collection should consult the Director. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.

Preferred Citation: Hoke Smith Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, The University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia.


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BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL NOTE:

Born on September 2, 1855, in Newton, North Carolina, Hoke Smith played an important role in Georgia politics that spanned both the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Smith became a resident of Georgia in 1872 when he moved from North Carolina with his parents, Hildreth and Mary Brent Smith. After being tutored by his father, Smith passed the bar in 1873 and began his own law practice. During the 1880's, he made a name for himself as a personal damage lawyer, specifically in cases dealing with railroad accidents. This opposition to the railroads would continue throughout his political career. Smith's early political career was spent serving as the chairman of the Fulton County Democratic Convention and the State Democratic Convention, as well as the president of the Atlanta Board of Education. He also campaigned for the Georgia state capital to be located in Atlanta. In 1887, Smith purchased the Atlanta Evening Journal and set about transforming it into one of the state's largest newspapers, as well as a political tool from which he would benefit throughout his career.

During the Agrarian Uprising of the 1880's and 1890's, Smith became a champion of the farmer who supported his stance against railroad monopolies as well as his belief in the need for tariff reform. It was this stand on tariffs, along with his role in Georgia politics and his efforts in the 1872 presidential campaign that brought Smith to the attention of the newly elected president, Grover Cleveland. Impressed by the Georgian's support, Cleveland appointed Smith as Secretary of the Interior. In this capacity, he continued his fight against railroad monopolies and attempted to direct capital to the South for new industries, agricultural progress, and improved education. Eventually, however, he broke with Cleveland over his support of William Jennings Bryan and his disapproval of the administration's sound money policy. Smith, therefore, resigned his Cabinet post and retired back into private practice. He did not remain silent for long, however.

In 1905 and 1906, Hoke Smith ran for governor after allying himself with the former Populist Tom Watson. Up until this time, Smith had been moderate on racial issues, but soon reversed his platform to include black disenfranchisement. Other aspects of his platform included railroad reform, as well as an end to political corruption and corporate domination. Once elected, Smith achieved black disenfranchisement through literacy and property requirements. He also strengthened the Railroad Commission in order to weaken the powerful railroads. While in office, Smith accomplished the passage of the Primary Regulatory Act, which sought to end corruption by freeing the state from political machines. Along with these campaign promises, Governor Smith also achieved many other reforms. He abolished the convict lease system and improved Georgia's penal institutions. He also established juvenile courts and worked to improve child labor conditions. Smith, then, earned the label of a reform governor on all issues, except race.

After making political enemies of both Tom Watson and Joseph M. Brown, however, he failed to win re-election for the next term, losing the office to Joseph M. Brown. Once again Hoke Smith's political career was far from over. He was re-elected as governor in 1910 but resigned in 1911 after the Georgia General Assembly elected him to finish the unexpired term of U.S. Senator Alexander S. Clay. He was later re-elected to the Senate in 1914 after defeating his former opponent, Joseph M. Brown. During Smith's career in the Senate, he was instrumental in the passage of both the Smith-Lever Bill, establishing extension services for land grant colleges, and the Smith-Hughes Bill, providing for vocational education programs in secondary schools. He also worked to create a federal department of education and to gain federal support for rural schools.

In 1920, Hoke Smith's political career ended in defeat by his former political ally, Tom Watson. Once again, Smith returned to private practice, this time in Washington, D.C. By 1925, however, he was back in Atlanta and remained there until his death.

On December 19, 1883, Smith married Marion “Birdie” Cobb. The couple had five children before Mrs. Smith's death on June 7, 1919. Smith later remarried in August 1924. His second wife was his secretary, Mazie Crawford, with whom he remained married until his death on November 27, 1931.

 


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SCOPE AND CONTENT:

The papers of Hoke Smith mainly document his legal career, as well as some of his political activities. Documentation of the gubernatorial election of 1926, the Tacna Arica Dispute and war risk insurance are represented.

Originally the collection was donated in three separate accessions to the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library in 1937, 1953 and 1958. In 1982, the collection was transferred to the Richard B. Russell Library. Unfortunately, the bulk of Smith's correspondence was destroyed soon after his death, so the letters in this collection cover only the last years of his Senate career and for ten years following his retirement from politics in 1921.



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ORGANIZATION AND ARRANGEMENT

The papers are organized into six series: I. Subject Files, II. Chronological Files, III. Printed Materials, IV. Letter Books, V. Clippings, VI. Administrative, and VII. Photographs. Types of materials in these papers include correspondence, speeches, letter books, newspaper clippings, printed materials, legal documents, scrapbooks, and maps. Arrangement is chronological and alphabetical.



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RELATED COLLECTIONS IN THIS REPOSITORY:

Thomas W. Hardwick Papers
Lamartine G. Hardman Papers, 1856-1937
William J. Harris Papers, 1905-1916
Dudley M. Hughes Collection, 1806-1927
Richard B. Russell, Sr. Papers, 1888-1938
Joseph M. Terrell Papers, 1882-1912

 

 

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RELATED COLLECTIONS IN OTHER REPOSITORIES:

Hoke Smith Papers, E. Merton Coulter Manuscript Collection II, Hargrett Library, UGA.
Lucy Cobb Institute collection, Hargrett Library, UGA.
Hoke Smith Letters Received, 1893-1895 (microfilm), Brigham Young University Archives

Thomas E. Watson Papers, Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina


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SERIES DESCRIPTIONS:

I. Subject files, 1891-1929
32 boxes, 16 linear feet
The Subject Files consist of Smith's personal, legal and political papers. The personal papers mainly document Smith's financial and family issues. Legal papers document his representation on several cases including alien property custodian (Germany), war finance corporation, freight rate, railroad injury, military pensions, the Tacna Arica Dispute (a land dispute between Peru and Chile) and war risk insurance. There is also correspondence between Smith and Piel Brothers concerning the 18th Amendment. It was a case regarding the sale of medicinal beer (Piel Brothers vs. Day). Finally, there are materials related to the United States senate race of 1922 and the 1926 Georgia governor race. These files contain correspondence, newspaper clippings, maps, printed materials and legal documents. Arrangement is alphabetical.

II. Chronological Files, 1898-1930
24 boxes, 12 linear feet
The Chronological Files are arranged into three subseries: A. 1898-December 31, 1920, B. Election of 1920, and C. 1921-1930, Undated. The files consist of personal correspondence, legal and political papers. The legal papers include a copy of the proceedings regarding a military accident on Kennesaw Mountain and two Supreme Court cases in which Smith served as counsel (USA vs. Chestatee Pyrites and Chemical Corporation and USA vs. Swift Company and others). Most of the political papers focus on Smith's unsuccessful senatorial campaign in 1920.

A. 1898 - December 31, 1920
The majority of the papers are personal correspondence pertaining to financial account and insurance holdings of Smith. However, there are some political papers including copies of minor congressional bills, newspaper clippings, and legal papers. Some legal papers concentrate on the Southern Cotton Oil Company incorporation and contain a copy of the proceedings from the coroner's inquest into the Kennesaw Mountain military accident that killed four civilians. Arrangement is chronological.

B. Election of 1920
This subseries contains variations on a basic form letter sent to possible supporters among Smith's constituents during his senatorial campaign in 1920. The final folders contain financial records from the unsuccessful campaign as well as political lists. Arrangement is alphabetical by county.

C. 1921-1930, Undated
These files cover the time period following Smith's senatorial defeat in 1920, as Smith resumes his private law practice in Washington D.C. and Atlanta. It contains newspaper clippings, family correspondence, and some legal briefs. In general, the correspondence pertains to investment advice and financial solicitations, as well as minor legal questions. Also included among the correspondence are concerns regarding the 1928 United States presidential election. The legal briefs include transcriptions of two United States Supreme Court cases in which Smith provided counsel (USA vs. Chestatee Pyrites and Chemical Corporation and USA vs. Swift Company and others).

III. Printed Materials, 1890-1927
2 boxes, 1 linear foot
This series contains flyers and small booklets relating to specific legal cases, speeches, and legislative proposals. It includes a copy of Governor Smith's inaugural address and a speech of Smith's to William Jennings Bryan.

IV. Letter Books, 1879-1921
35 boxes, 17.5 linear feet
The letter books are arranged chronologically and within each book are copies of correspondence pertaining mostly to legal cases, financial dealings, political appointments, and letters of congratulations. One book focuses entirely on the appointment of Aaron J. Pratt to a financial position in the Georgia state government, and one book contains letters of congratulations upon Smith's appointment to the presidential cabinet.

V. Clippings, 1870-1928
39 boxes, 19.5 linear feet
The clippings are arranged in chronological scrapbooks. Most of the clippings relate to political nominations and speeches. However, some scrapbooks contain clippings pertaining to one particular issue such as the Cherokee, Railroads, African American appointments, and the Presidential Primary of 1920.

VI. Administrative, 1883-1875
6 boxes, 3 linear feet
This series is a collection of financial records, legal briefs, and correspondence pertaining to Smith's early law practice.

VII. Photographs, 1922, 1926-1927, 1929, undated
8 items
This series contains eight images of various unknown individuals sent to Hoke Smith from friends and acquaintances of his.



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ACCESS POINTS

Walker, Clifford, 1877-
United States. Congress. Senate.
United States. Dept. of the Interior.
Legislators --United States.
Governors --Georgia.
Georgia --Politics and government --1865-1950.
Congressional papers.



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FOLDER LIST

Not available at this time. Please contact Russell Library for more information.


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