Archives West Finding Aid

The C. J. Smith papers primarily consist of correspondence (mainly incoming letters to Smith) most likely retained by his wife, Elizabeth McMillan Smith, as well as some material associated with other family members. Smith's correspondents include: officials from Blackburn College (regarding donations to Smith's alma mater), Alden J. Blethen (a copy of his letter to Frank I. Shaw protesting the invitation of George Cotterill to a program at the Rainier Club in honor of Secretary of the Navy, Josephus Daniels), Senator Jonathan Bourne (regarding "the desire of Whitman College to secure the land now occupied by the Army Post at Walla Walla") and Ezra Meeker (about the location of the "Pioneer Exhibit" at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition). Another folder contains several letters of condolence sent to Smith's widow, including one written by former Senator Samuel H. Piles. A folder supposed to contain letters written by Smith appears instead to be comprised of two manuscript drafts of speeches (one on the coal industry in Washington State and another relating to the campaign of Senator Piles) and a carbon copy of an undated letter to C. E. Conover congratulating him on his letter to Collier's Weekly in response to their reporting on the "Pinchot hysterics." Of particular note is a folder with several items related to the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, including printed invitations (such as the two luncheons for President Taft) and letters written on AYPE letterhead. Additional ephemera and certificates include: programs for musical recitals given by his daughter, Myra, Smith's certificate of appointment in 1887 to a clerkship in the office of George Adams, and his original diploma from Blackburn College.