James Frederick Smithcors (1920-2006) was a veterinarian, veterinary historian, educator, publisher, and editor. He developed and taught the first course on the history of veterinary medicine in the United States at Michigan State University. In addition, he developed a veterinary history program for Washington State University (WSU) veterinary students with College of Veterinary Medicine dean Leo Bustad. Dr. Smithcors lectured on veterinary history every fall from 1978 to 1998 as a visiting professor to the WSU Pullman campus.
MS 2021.13 consists of personal and professional papers from veterinarian and veterinary historian J. F. Smithcors. It includes photographs, newspapers clippings, article reprints, research materials on the history of the veterinary profession, and materials related to Dr. Smithcors’ teaching at Michigan State University.
MS 2023.17 consists of J. F. Smithcors Ph.D. diploma from Michigan State University, 1951 June 03, and a 9" x 5.5" x 5.5" wooden box labelled as "Humphry's Veterinary Specifics for the cure of horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, dogs, and poultry. Humphry's Homeopathic Specific Med Co. 109 Fulton St NY". The book is copyright 1887. Within the box is a bound manual and 3 smaller paperback guides, 11 glass vials, 1 glass instrument, and 3 brass and wood instruments.
This is an unprocessed collection. Any arrangement reflects either a pre-existing order from the records' creators or previous custodians, or preliminary sorting performed by staff.
This collection is open and available for research use.
Copyright restrictions apply.
[Item description]
Preliminary Guide to the J. F. Smithcors Personal Papers, circa 1887-1991 (MSSM 105)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Ann Smithcors donated this collection to the Washington State University Libraries in 2021 (MS.2021.13). An additional donation was made in 2023 (MS 2023.17).
The repository expects to receive additions to this collection.
Four books recieved with MS 2023.17 were cataloged seperately and added to the MASC stacks.
Smithcors Collection of Veterinary History Documents, 1851-1996
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.