William Armstrong Smith Papers
Collection DescriptionBiographical NoteWilliam 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, and then he moved to Brunswick (Georgia), where he served as vice-president of Dixie Paint and 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 and 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 and Welfare Commission; Expansion and Annexation; Senate Administrative Affairs Commission; Senate Commission Reform, Defense and Veterans Affairs, Appropriations, Banking and Finance; Rules, Temperance, University System of Georgia; Senate Administrative Affairs, and Vocational and 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 and Varnish Association and Associated Industries of Georgia. Scope and ContentThe 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. Organization and ArrangementThe papers are organized into seven series: I. General, II. Legislative Materials, III. Committee Materials, IV. Political and Campaign Materials, V. Correspondence, VI. Publications, and VII. Photographs. The bulk of the collection is organized chronologically, and further arranged alphabetically by subject. Administrative InformationPreferred CitationWilliam Armstrong Smith Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641. User RestrictionsLibrary acts as "fair use" reproduction agent. Copyright InformationBefore 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. Finding Aid PublicationFinding aid prepared on: 2008. Related Materials and SubjectsSubject TermsRelated Collections in this Repository
Clifford Hodges Brewton Collection of Lester G. Maddox Speech and Press Research Files Augustus Turnbull Collection of Carl Sanders Speech and Press Files S. Fletcher Thompson Congressional Papers Howard H. (Bo) Callaway Papers Killean Van Resselaer Townsend Papers Related Collections in Other RepositoriesGerald Ford Presidential Records, Gerald R. Ford Library Sam Nunn Papers, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia Wyche Fowler Papers, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia Jimmy Carter Presidential Records, Jimmy Carter Library and Museum |
Special Collections Libraries
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-1641