William Armstrong Smith Papers, 1966-1978
38 boxes, 19.5 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:

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

Processing Notes:

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: William Armstrong 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:

William Armstrong Smith was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on March 30, 1914, to William Henry Smith and Josephine McIntosh Smith. In 1936 he graduated with a degree in chemistry from Northeastern University. He made his career in paint manufacturing, first working as a chemist for Frank Bownes Company in Chelsea (Massachusetts) from 1936 to 1941, then he moved to Brunswick (Georgia), where he served as vice-president of Dixie Paint & Varnish Company from 1941 to 1952. During this time, Smith also acted as president of the William Armstrong Smith Company located in East Point (Georgia), and as president of the Reliance Chemical Company, Topeka (Kansas) and Richmond (California). Smith produced special paints used nationwide to mark roads. Although a noted industrialist, Smith dedicated much of his life to public service. He died on July 21, 1996 and was survived by his wife, Priscilla Smith and three children, Johanna Smith Roswell, Baker Smith, and Deborah Penner.

An active member of the Republican Party, Smith haphazardly entered politics in 1966 after being asked by the Republican Party to stand for the 34th District (Fulton County, Fairburn, East Point, and College Park) state senate seat after it was vacated by the departure of Fletcher Thompson. Smith held the seat from 1966 to 1974. One of only eight Republicans during the 1973-1974 term, Smith became senate minority leader. As a leader in Georgia's Republican Party, Smith was an instrumental factor in the construction of the party within the state, helping many new members get their start in politics (including Newt Gingrich and Paul Coverdell). He was also a leading member of the Fulton County Delegation and Republican Caucus. While in office, Smith championed various issues like the creation of public parks and the rights of the mentally infirm while taking a stand against the Equal Rights Amendment and the adoption of a commemorative day for Martin Luther King, Jr. He chaired and/or served on numerous senate committees and subcommittees, including but not limited to the Industry and Labor Committee; Equal Rights Amendment Committee; Economy, Reorganization & Efficiency in Government; Tourism Committee; Human Resources Committee; Senate Rules Committee; Law Enforcement Study Committee; Senate Investment Committee of Housing for Aged; Georgia Right to Life Committee; South Fulton Study Committee; Health & Welfare Commission; Expansion & Annexation; Senate Administrative Affairs Commission; Senate Commission Reform, Defense and Veterans Affairs, Appropriations, Banking & Finance; Rules, Temperance, University System of Georgia; Senate Administrative Affairs, & Vocational & Technical Education.

After he sold his paint company to Prismo International, Smith devoted himself to politics and land improvement in Georgia. He was a major actor in the development of Chattahoochee Industrial Park in Atlanta and the Stathmore subdivision in Coweta County. After his legislative career ended, Smith showed a continued interest in legislative matters through regular correspondence from 1975 to 1978 with Georgian (Howard “Bo” Callaway, John J. Flynt, Jr., Wyche Fowler, Zell Miller, Sam Nunn) and national politicians (Presidents Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, and Richard Nixon). In addition to his political and business activities, Smith was a board member of the DeKalb Christian Academy, elder emeritus at Westminster Presbyterian Church, and president of both the Southern Paint & Varnish Association and Associated Industries of Georgia.



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SCOPE AND CONTENT:

The materials document William Armstrong Smith's career as state senator from the 34th District (Fulton Co., GA), 1966-1974. During this time, Smith introduced various bills, served on and/or chaired numerous Senate committees, and actively supported the development of the Republican Party in Georgia. Documented to a lesser degree are his senate campaigns as well as his continued interest in legislative matters after his senate career ended (1975-1978). The papers consist of correspondence, newspaper clippings, financial records, legislative bills, publications, and photographs. Approximately six linear feet of materials are publications produced by various sources covering subjects such as education, insurance, transportation, planning. After his senate career, Smith corresponded regularly with Georgia politicians, including: Howard “Bo” Callaway, John J. Flynt, Jr., Wyche Fowler, Miller, Nunn, as well as with Presidents Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon offering his opinions on proposed legislation and commenting on their conduct in office.

 

 

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ORGANIZATION AND ARRANGEMENT

The papers are organized into seven series: I. General (1967-1973), II. Legislative Materials (1966-1974), III. Committee Materials (1966-1974), IV. Political and Campaign Materials (1966-1974), V. Correspondence (1966-1978), VI. Publications (1966-1978), and VII. Photographs. The bulk of the collection is organized chronologically, and further arranged alphabetically by subject. Since Smith's interests and activities were so varied, researchers will need to examine the entire collection thoroughly in order to cover material addressing their interest.

 


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RELATED COLLECTIONS IN THIS REPOSITORY:

Clifford Hodges Brewton Collection of Lester G. Maddox Speech and Press Research Files, 1965-1975
Braswell D. Deen, Jr. Papers, 1925-1997, bulk 1965-1990
 Charles L. Gowen Papers, 1946, 1954-1958
Sidney J. Marcus Papers, 1968-1983
George L. Smith II Papers, 1956-1974
Herman E. Talmadge Collection, 1945-1987
Augustus Turnbull Collection of Carl Sanders Speech and Press Files, 1963-1967
S. Ernest Vandiver Papers, 1954-1998
Zell Miller Papers
Fletcher Thompson Papers
Howard H. "Bo" Callaway Papers
John J. Flynt, Jr. Papers
Rodney M. Cook Papers
Kill V.R. Townsend Papers


 

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RELATED COLLECTIONS IN OTHER REPOSITORIES:

Sam Nunn Papers, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Wyche Fowler Papers, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Jimmy Carter Presidential Records, Jimmy Carter Library and Museum
Gerald Ford Presidential Records, Gerald R. Ford Library



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SERIES DESCRIPTIONS:

I. General, 1967-1973
5 boxes, 2.0 linear feet

The General files Include publications, programs, calendars, and other manuscripts that are not directly related to the legislative, committee, or political materials. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject.

II. Legislative Materials, 1966-1974
9 boxes, 3.75 linear feet
This series consists of legislative files from Smith's service in the Georgia General Assembly as a senator from the 34th District (Fulton County), and as the Senate Minority Leader (1973-1974). The legislative series includes materials that assisted Smith with monitoring legislative issues, researching and writing legislation, voting records of individual legislation, as well as supervising committees and members in the Georgia Senate. Topics address a wide variety of legislative matters from taxes to equal rights. Constituent mail concerning items of legislation is also included in this series. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject.

III. Committee Materials, 1966-1974
8 boxes, 3.5 linear feet
This series consists mainly of materials from Smith's service in various senate committees and subcommittees while a member of the Georgia Senate. Listings of committee members, committee reports, programs, and calendars, as well as minor correspondence concerning committee activities. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject.

IV. Political and Campaign Materials, 1966-1974 (bulk 1973-1974)
3 boxes, 1.25 linear feet
This series consists chiefly of materials relating to Smith's senate campaigns. Materials document the activities of communicating Smith's view on various issues and position through speeches, press releases, and newspaper columns. The series also includes materials Smith collected on organizing and operating a political campaign. The bulk of this series concentrates on the later years of Smith's senate career.

V. Correspondence, 1966-1978 (bulk 1974-1978)
4 Boxes, 1.5 linear feet
Includes some constituent correspondence concerning Smith's activities in the senate, from legislation to committee work, as well as constituent petitions for assistance on various matters. This series also has Smith's correspondence with various Georgia politicians, including: Callaway, Flynt, Fowler, Miller, Nunn, as well as with Presidents Carter, Ford and Nixon, offering his opinions on proposed legislation and commenting on their conduct in office.

VI. Publications, 1966-1978 (bulk 1966-1974)
6 Boxes, 6 linear feet
This series contains materials that Smith collected on a wide variety of subjects. He probably used it as a source for speeches, as well as study for pending legislation. This group of materials includes publicity releases, newspaper articles, state and government agency publications, as well as brochures printed as publicity by different companies and organizations.


VII. Photographs
157 photographs, 2 scrapbooks
This series consists of photographs documenting Smith's career as state senator from the 34th District (Fulton Co., GA). The images are primarily posed shots of Smith with various political figures such as Lester Maddox, Jimmy Carter, Paul Coverdell, Ronald Reagan, John Ashbrook, Barry Goldwater, Bob Dole, and Jesse Helms.


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ACCESS POINTS

Smith, William Armstrong, 1914-
Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )
Legislators --United States.
Georgia --Politics and government --1951-
Legislative records.
Political campaigns.
Correspondence.



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FOLDER LIST

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


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