Palmer Smith papers, 1793-2004

Palmer Smith (1922-2004) was a Seattle attorney and civic activist with an interest in the problems of inner city schools. He grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, worked in Naval intelligence, and earned a B.S. and a law degree from Harvard University. He moved to Seattle in 1953 and practiced law for over forty years.

From 1967 to 1968, he taught a course at Garfield High School titled “Science For Living.” This was an experimental course for students who had been expelled from school or were at risk of dropping out. From 1968 to 1970, he was a visiting fellow at Battelle Seattle Research Center. While at Battelle, he undertook the development of the Seattle Urban Academy (with Charles P. Huey.) to serve black students of the Central District. Smith left Battelle in 1970 and in 1972 incorporated the Seattle Urban Academy as a non-profit corporation, but the school faced opposition from groups promoting integration of schools over separate educational opportuniites. It was never opened. Smith was also a Steering Committee member and attorney for the Coalition for Quality Integrated Education, a citizen group which assisted with transfer programs in the Seattle Public Schools in the 1970’s. He was active in other groups concerned with public education, civil rights, and good government. He also belonged to and served as attorney for the Citizens’ Abortion Discussion Group, in the State of Washington, later the Washington Citizens for Abortion Reform. In this role he drafted the first abortion-rights legislation in Washington State. Smith died in Seattle in January 2004.