Lindley Smith Collection

Title

Lindley Smith Collection

Subject

Families
Smith, Lindley, M., 1881-1966
Smith, Grace Selby, 1882-1967

Description

Lindley M. Smith was an Assistant State Entomologist (1906-1914) and orchardist (1914-1966) in Ozark, Illinois. He was active in the Ozark Missionary Baptist Church, Johnson County Farm Bureau, Fruit Belt Service Company, Federal Land Bank of St. Louis, Illinois Horticultural Society, and the Ozark Public School. He was instrumental in the development of the University of Illinois Extension Service experimental farms in Johnson County. 

Smith m
arried Grace Selby of Bartlett, Ohio on December 28, 1906. Together they operated a three hundred acre apple and peach orchard and raised a family of eight boys and two girls. Five of their sons serviced in the military during World War II, one of which died in New Guinea in 1944. Grace was active in the Ozark Missionary Baptist Church, girl’s 4-H, Tri-County Home Bureau, Ozark Home Bureau, Ozark District School Board and the P.T.A. (Parent Teacher Association). In 1952 she was proclaimed Mother of the Year by the Illinois Golden Rule Company.

A daughter, Alice Elisabeth (Betty) Smith (1913-1973), graduated from the University of Illinois (B.S. degree in Home Economics) in 1937 and the University of Colorado (M.A. degree in Home Economics) in 1943; taught home economics in the Crete Public schools (1937-1943); served as a University Home Demonstration Agent (1943-1947), and worked as Assistant State Girls’ 4-H Club Leader with the University of Iowa at Ames (1947-1954). Betty completed a series of home economics overseas assignments through the Agency for International Development in the United States State Department that took her to the Philippines (1955-1957), Iran (1957-1961), Morocco (1962-1963), Nigeria (1963-1966), and Southern Vietnam (1967-1970). She returned to Iowa in 1970 to serve as Extension Home Economist and Head of the Extended Nutrition Program in Des Moines. Betty was in charge of Mrs. Patricia Nixon’s visit to the program on March 1, 1971.

The finding aid for the Lindley M. and Grace Selby Smith Family Papers, 1903-1973 may be found at http://alplm-cdi.com/chroniclingillinois/items/show/581.

Photographs in this collection include several family portraits.

Collection Items

Family of Lindley Smith
Lindley M. Smith and Grace Smith sit surrounded by their ten children, Phillip, Homer, Malcom, Alice, Alfred, David, Daniel, Mary, Stephen, and Samuel.

Grace Smith and Children
Grace Smith sits on a porch with her children, Phillip, Homer, Malcom, Alice, Alfred, David, and Daniel.

Smith Family and Others
The Lindley and Grace Smith family pose for a photo with other family members at the Leland Hotel in Springfield. On verso: "Top left: Malcolm, David, Philip, R. E. W., Sam, Vera, L. M., Grace, Bertha W., Louise, Donald, Homer and Ellen."

Alice Elisabeth Smith
Alice Elisabeth Smith stands for a portrait at 6 1/2 years old. On verso: "For Grandmother Lambert."

Children of Lindley and Grace Smith
A group photo taken at the Leland Hotel in Springfield just after funeral services for Daniel Smithincludes seven of his siblings. On verso: "Standing: Alfred, Malcom, Philip, Homer. Seated: David, Elisabeth, and Sam."
View all 5 items

Collection Tree