Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Ellison A. Smyth, Jr. Papers
Smyth, Ellison A. (Ellison Adger), 1863-1941
Ms.1981.098
/repositories/2/resources/1355
7.8 Cubic Feet
15 boxes
1859-1927
The Ellison A. Smyth, Jr. collection contains papers including his correspondence with professional and amateur scientists, collectors, dealers and suppliers around the world concerning entomology and zoology, his publications, and field journals from his entomological work.
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Ellison A. Smyth, Jr. Papers, Ms1981-098, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated to Virginia Tech in multiple accessions from 1981 to 2011.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Ellison A. Smyth, Jr. Papers was completed in April 2013.
Biographical Note
The son of a prominent cotton merchant and mayor, Ellison Adger Smyth, Jr. was born in Summerton, South Carolina on October 26, 1863 and died in Salem, Virginia on August 19, 1941. Smyth received a Master's degree from Princeton in 1887 and an honorary degree of LL.D in 1906 from the University of Alabama. He studied law at Columbia University in 1885, practicing in Charleston, South Carolina until accepting the position of Adjunct-Professor of Biology at the University of South Carolina in 1889.
In 1891, Smyth moved to Blacksburg, Virginia in order to found the Biology Department at VPI with John McLaren McBryde. At VPI, Smyth was a Professor of Biology from 1891 until 1925, the first dean of the faculty from 1903-1906, the dean of the Department of Applied Science from 1916-1920, and faculty advisor to students in biology and pre-medical from 1920-1925. Ellison Adger Smyth, Jr. married Grace Allan in 1896, with whom he had five children.
Ellison Adger Smyth, Jr. is not to be confused with his son, also named Ellison Adger Smyth, Jr., who was born in 1903 and died in 1998.
External sources:
https://web.archive.org/web/20130225032425/http://herbarium.unc.edu/Collectors/Smyth_Ellison_A_Jr.htm
https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/08/20/87659472.html?pageNumber=19
Scope and Contents
The Ellison A. Smyth, Jr. collection contains papers including correspondence with professional and amateur scientists, collectors, dealers and suppliers around the world, including H.H. Bailey, Carl Braun, Jonathan Dwight, E.K. Harvey, and James R. Randolph. The collection also includes correspondence with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the American Entomological Society, Boston Society of Natural History, Linnean Society of New York, and the University of Notre Dame Botany Department; reprints of articles written by Smyth; literature on topics in biology and science; and his notes, written in 1912, on birds in Montgomery County, Virginia. Additionally, the collection contains a series of field journals and film negatives from Smyth's trips abroad. Other items in the collection include lecture notes (biology, botany, and evolution) and exam questions from the 1900s-1920s.
Please note: This collection does include Ellison A. Smyth, Jr.'s glass plate negatives. The glass plate negatives are boxes and included in the description. We have a working spreadsheet inventory that is linked to the finding aid.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in seven series, organized by material type.
Series I: Correspondence, includes personal and professional correspondence to and from Smyth. Loose letters are arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Correspondence in letterbooks is in its original order.
Series II: Elliot Society Ephemera includes information on the natural history organization, as well as publications from it.
Series III: Publications and Research Notes contains copies of publications by Smyth and notes from his research in and around Montgomery County, Virginia.
Series IV: Newspaper Clippings consists of a single scrapbook created by Smyth.
Series V: Field Journals includes Smyth field research on a variety of biology and botany topics.
Series VI: Teaching Materials consists of handwritten notes by Smyth during his tenure at Virginia Agriculture and Mechanical College. The majority of the notes relate to biology, botany, and evolution lectures, although there are also exam questions.
Series VII: Photographic Negatives contains three collections of negatives--a set of images from Bedford County, Virginia; a set of images from Bermuda, taken in 1904; and a set of images taken in Jamaica in 1906.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Ellison A. Smyth, Jr. Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Existence and Location of Copies
Some of this collection has been digitized and is available online.
Faculty and staff
Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
Montgomery County (Va.)
Science and Technology
University History
Smyth, Ellison A. (Ellison Adger), 1863-1941
Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (1872-1896)
Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (1896-1944)
Series I: Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/9600Correspondence A-O/repositories/2/archival_objects/9601American Educational Material/repositories/2/archival_objects/96021917-191811American Entomological Society (Henry Skinner)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96031894-191112American Museum of Natural History (Beutenmuller; Chapman)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96041893-191613Audobon Society/repositories/2/archival_objects/96051906-190914A (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96061884-191415Babbitt, James P. /repositories/2/archival_objects/96071904, n.d.16Bailey, H.H. (Bailey Museum of Natural History)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96081913-191817Barrett/repositories/2/archival_objects/96091898-190518Barrett's Latest/repositories/2/archival_objects/96101899-190019Barringer, P.B./repositories/2/archival_objects/96111909-1917110Bodley, H./repositories/2/archival_objects/96131904-1910111Braun, Carl/repositories/2/archival_objects/96141889-1895112Brehme, H.H./repositories/2/archival_objects/96151898-1910113Burns, Fred/repositories/2/archival_objects/96161897-1899114Burrison, H. K. (M.I.T.)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96171894-1902115B (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96181882-1918116The "Cabbage Snake" Scare/repositories/2/archival_objects/9619n.d.117Campbell, W.C./repositories/2/archival_objects/96201909-1910118Caldwell, A.E. (Lizzie)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96211892-1893119Canada/repositories/2/archival_objects/96221890-1891120Carnegie/repositories/2/archival_objects/96231900121Charleston Museum (Herbert R. Sass)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96241906-1912122Chicago Entomological Society/repositories/2/archival_objects/96251902123Clark, B. Preston/repositories/2/archival_objects/96261913-1915, 1920124Coker/repositories/2/archival_objects/96271895-1925125Columbia University/repositories/2/archival_objects/96281907, 1908126Cormack, F./repositories/2/archival_objects/96291896-1899127Cotton/repositories/2/archival_objects/96301892128Crenshaw/repositories/2/archival_objects/96311912-1913129Cushwa, Victor M./repositories/2/archival_objects/96321927130C (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96331889-1918131Daniel, John W./repositories/2/archival_objects/96341901132Dannatt, Walker/repositories/2/archival_objects/96351904133Denton/repositories/2/archival_objects/96361889-1906134Dodge, G.M./repositories/2/archival_objects/96371903-1904135Dwight, Jonathan (Dr.)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96381907-1915136D (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96391887-1913137Eggleston, J.D./repositories/2/archival_objects/96401907-1918138Elliot Society Proceedings/repositories/2/archival_objects/96411886-1888139Erb/repositories/2/archival_objects/96421894-1912140Entomological Society of America/repositories/2/archival_objects/96441914-1915141E (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96431888-1912142Faculty/repositories/2/archival_objects/96451899-1927143Family/repositories/2/archival_objects/96461898-1939144Field, William/repositories/2/archival_objects/96471898, 1904145Foster, L.S./repositories/2/archival_objects/96481892, 1895146Frazar/repositories/2/archival_objects/96491895-1898147French/repositories/2/archival_objects/96501897, 1898, 1903148Fulda, O. ("The Butterfly Store")/repositories/2/archival_objects/96511906-1909149F (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96521889-1915150Glass, Carter Letter /repositories/2/archival_objects/96531908151G (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96541888-1924152Hartman, Leopold/repositories/2/archival_objects/96551888-1889153Harvey, E.K./repositories/2/archival_objects/96561902-1905154Hensel, B. L./repositories/2/archival_objects/96571894-1900155Howieson/repositories/2/archival_objects/96581899156Hutcheson, J. R./repositories/2/archival_objects/96591909157H (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96601882-1927158I (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96611892, 1894159Johns, Julian/repositories/2/archival_objects/96621899160J (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96631891-1916161Keller, George/repositories/2/archival_objects/96641903-1905162Kny-Scheerer Co. /repositories/2/archival_objects/96651894-1915163Kwiat, Alexander/repositories/2/archival_objects/96661902-1905164K (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96671889-1911165L (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96681893-1915166McBryde, John M./repositories/2/archival_objects/96691905-1925167McBryde, John M., Jr./repositories/2/archival_objects/96701902-1910168The MacMillan Co./repositories/2/archival_objects/96711891-1924169Markenhaus (J. Krapf)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96721894-1898170Matthews, John H. /repositories/2/archival_objects/96731908-1911171Mazyck, Wm./repositories/2/archival_objects/96741885, 1905172Meik, A./repositories/2/archival_objects/96751907-1910173Mengel, Levi W./repositories/2/archival_objects/96761890-1896174Merrick, Frank A. & Merrick, Harry D./repositories/2/archival_objects/96771899-1905175M (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96791888-1923177Newcomb, H. H./repositories/2/archival_objects/96801902178Northwest Entomological Society/repositories/2/archival_objects/96811899-1900179Nourse, D. O./repositories/2/archival_objects/96821908, 1909, 1911180N (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96831894-1914, n.d.181Old Dominion Building & Loan Association/repositories/2/archival_objects/96841898-1900182Osgood, Fletcher/repositories/2/archival_objects/96851898183Ottolengui, Rodriguez/repositories/2/archival_objects/96861890, 1891, 1897184Owen, Edward T./repositories/2/archival_objects/96871888-1895, 1905185O (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96881915, n.d.186Correspondence P-Z/repositories/2/archival_objects/9693Paul, R. W./repositories/2/archival_objects/96891914187Re: Personal/Business/repositories/2/archival_objects/96901894-1921188Re: Personal/repositories/2/archival_objects/96911893-1912189Re: Personal Cont./repositories/2/archival_objects/96921884-1926190Re: Personal (Family)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96941909-192721Re: Personal (Income Tax)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96971914, 191722Re: Personal (Property Insurance/Stocks)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96981895-192623Re: Personal (Recommendations)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96951889-192524Re: Personal (Religion)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96961909-192725Re: Professional Matters (A)/repositories/2/archival_objects/96991916, 1917, 1926, 1927, n.d.26Re: Professional Matters (B)/repositories/2/archival_objects/97001894-192627Personal/Professional/repositories/2/archival_objects/970128Re: Poe Shrine/repositories/2/archival_objects/9702192328Poling, T.C./repositories/2/archival_objects/97031899-190219Porcher, Lila Davis/repositories/2/archival_objects/97041895-1896210Princeton University/repositories/2/archival_objects/97051890-1924211P (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/97061885-1916212Quaritch, Bernard/repositories/2/archival_objects/97071894-1896, 1903-1904, n.d.213Q (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/97081881, 1888, 1909, n.d.214Rankin, Walter M./repositories/2/archival_objects/97091890215Robinson, Wirt/repositories/2/archival_objects/97101901-1904216Robinson, Wirt (Cont.)/repositories/2/archival_objects/97111905-1916217Rosenfeld, Arthur H./repositories/2/archival_objects/97121908, 1909, 1912218R (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/97131889-1923, n.d.219Salem (Town of)/repositories/2/archival_objects/97141925, 1926220Sawyer, E.L./repositories/2/archival_objects/97151900, 1901, 1902, n.d.221Scudder, Samuel H./repositories/2/archival_objects/97161889, n.d.222Seitz/repositories/2/archival_objects/97171900-1904, n.d.223Shanks/repositories/2/archival_objects/97181899224Sigma Nu, Delta Chapter/repositories/2/archival_objects/2091671889-1891, n.d.225Skinner, Henry/repositories/2/archival_objects/97191897-1901, n.d.226Smithsonian Institution/repositories/2/archival_objects/97201894-1939227Smyth Family/repositories/2/archival_objects/97211913-1925228Smyth, Thomas/repositories/2/archival_objects/2091681925-1927229Souther, [William] N./repositories/2/archival_objects/97221901, 1902, n.d.230Southern Planter Publishing Co./repositories/2/archival_objects/97231891, 1892, 1894, 1910, n.d.231Spencer Lens Co./repositories/2/archival_objects/97241906-1921232Stahl, Horatio S./repositories/2/archival_objects/97251908, 1925, 1927233Staudinger, O./repositories/2/archival_objects/97261889, 1895, 1896, n.d.234Stechert & Co./repositories/2/archival_objects/97271907, 1911, 1915235Stone, John W./repositories/2/archival_objects/97281902, 1903, 1904236Strecker, Herman/repositories/2/archival_objects/97291893-1900, n.d.237Swanson, Claude A./repositories/2/archival_objects/97311916238Swinhoe, Ernest/repositories/2/archival_objects/97301894239S (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/97321888-1915, n.d.240Thomas, Arthur H. (Co.)/repositories/2/archival_objects/97331904-1916241T (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/97341893-1911, n.d.242United States Department of Agriculture/repositories/2/archival_objects/97351890-1918, n.d.243U (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/97361889-1917, n.d.244Virginia Academy of Science/repositories/2/archival_objects/97371925245Virginia Polytechnic Institute: Burruss, Julian A./repositories/2/archival_objects/97381921-1925246Virginia Polytechnic Institute/repositories/2/archival_objects/97391894-1925, n.d.247-49Virginia State Museum/repositories/2/archival_objects/97411910, 1911250V (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/97431889-1907, n.d.251Waith, R.J./repositories/2/archival_objects/97451894, 1895252Wayne, Arthur T./repositories/2/archival_objects/97461887-1912, n.d.253Webster, Frank B./repositories/2/archival_objects/97471888254Werum Bros. /repositories/2/archival_objects/97481888-1890255William Wesley & Son/repositories/2/archival_objects/97491901-1903256William Wood & Company, Publishers/repositories/2/archival_objects/2091911910-1916257Wittkugel, Erich/repositories/2/archival_objects/2091921895-1898258Woodrow Wilson, Thomas/repositories/2/archival_objects/97501917259Worthen, Charles K./repositories/2/archival_objects/97511901-1908260Wytsman, P./repositories/2/archival_objects/97521897-1911, n.d.261W (Miscellaneous)/repositories/2/archival_objects/97441889-1923, n.d.262Y-Z/repositories/2/archival_objects/97541913, 1914263Zoological Garden (Frankfurt, Germany)/repositories/2/archival_objects/97551896-1899264Unknown/Miscellaneous/repositories/2/archival_objects/97561889-1927, n.d.265Letterbooks/repositories/2/archival_objects/9758Letters/repositories/2/archival_objects/97591896-189866Letters/repositories/2/archival_objects/97601898-190067Letters/repositories/2/archival_objects/97611900-190268Letters/repositories/2/archival_objects/97621902-190569Letters/repositories/2/archival_objects/97631904-1910610Letters/repositories/2/archival_objects/97641905-1906611Letters/repositories/2/archival_objects/97651906612Series II: Elliot Society Ephemera/repositories/2/archival_objects/9766Proceedings of the Elliot Society of Natural History (1859)/repositories/2/archival_objects/9767185931Journal of the Elliot Society of Natural History/repositories/2/archival_objects/9768185932Rules for the Accentuation of Names in Natural History (Lewis R. Gibbes)/repositories/2/archival_objects/9769186033Proceedings of the Elliot Society/repositories/2/archival_objects/97701875-188934Writings by Smith for the Experiment Station and Entomological News/repositories/2/archival_objects/97711892-190735Reprints from Science Magazines (not written by Smyth)/repositories/2/archival_objects/97721904, 190837Series III: Publications and Research Notes/repositories/2/archival_objects/9773Morpho Thoosa Smyth/repositories/2/archival_objects/9774190741An Unusual Graafian Follicle. Reprinted from Biological Bulletin./repositories/2/archival_objects/9775190842"Poe's Gold Bug from the Standpoint of an Entomologist"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9776191043Notes on Birds of Montgomery County, Virginia/repositories/2/archival_objects/9777191244Birds Observed in Montgomery County, Virginia/repositories/2/archival_objects/9778191245Assorted Sketches and Notes/repositories/2/archival_objects/209108c. 1895176GeneralContains pressed flowers, which are fragile and should be handled with care.
VPI History/repositories/2/archival_objects/2091961922266Research Notes, Drafts, and Publications/repositories/2/archival_objects/2091971910-1982, n.d.267Research Notes and Photographs/repositories/2/archival_objects/2091981890, n.d.268Series IV: Newspaper Clippings/repositories/2/archival_objects/9779Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings/repositories/2/archival_objects/9780n.d.51Series V: Field Journals/repositories/2/archival_objects/9781Catalogue of Lepidolptera Vol. I-III./repositories/2/archival_objects/97821939-01-n.d.61Catalogue of Lepidolptera Vol. IV-V./repositories/2/archival_objects/9783n.d.62Field Journals 1-4/repositories/2/archival_objects/97841881-1885, n.d.63Illustrations/repositories/2/archival_objects/9785188464Pamphlets/repositories/2/archival_objects/97861882-09-1912-10, n.d.65Series VI: Teaching Materials/repositories/2/archival_objects/9787Biology Lectures and Notes (4 folders)/repositories/2/archival_objects/97881882-1930, undated71-4Botany Lectures and Notes (3 folders)/repositories/2/archival_objects/9789Oct. 1897-Feb. 1923, undated75-7Botany Notes/repositories/2/archival_objects/97901899-n.d.36Evolution Lecture Notes/repositories/2/archival_objects/9791Feb. 28, 1913-May 8, 1969, undated81Exam Questions/repositories/2/archival_objects/9792June 1, 1910-June 4, 1925, undated82Series VII: Photographic Negatives/repositories/2/archival_objects/9793Bedford County, Virginia, Negatives/repositories/2/archival_objects/9794July 14-Oct. 18, 1911, undated83Bermuda Negatives/repositories/2/archival_objects/9795190484Jamaica Negatives/repositories/2/archival_objects/9796190685Glass plate negatives/repositories/2/archival_objects/1599869101112131415