Frank Smith, Jr. papers
Scope and Contents
This collection contains the office records; constituent correspondence; event materials; Council committee documents; copies of legislation and resolutions; materials related to the planning, creation, and early administration of the African American Civil War Memorial from Frank Smith Jr.'s time as a member of the District of Columbia City Council. These records date from 1978-1998, with the bulk of the material dating from 1993-1998. These files cover the subjects such as housing, crime, education, lottery, correspondence from constituents, and the Civil War Memorial.
This collection does not contain materials from all of Smith's time in Council. Smith served from 1982 to 1998--these materials mostly represent his last five years. It also does not include materials from Smith's personal life.
Dates
- Creation: 1978-1998
Creator
- Smith, Frank Jr. (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Some records may be restricted.
Conditions Governing Use
Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.
Biographical / Historical
Frank Smith Jr. (1942- ) served as a member of the District of Columbia City Council from 1982-1998. During his time on the Council, Smith supported legislation creating subsidies for housing down payments, a lottery system for disposing of condemned and surplus housing, and establishing tax incentives for new business development. In 1998, Smith became Chairman for the Board and Chief Executive Officer for the organization which worked to establish the African American Civil War Memorial and accompanying museum.
While studying at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Smith was a founding member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). From 1962-68 he worked with SNCC organizing and registering African-American voters in Mississippi and Alabama. In 1968, he moved to Washington to work as an education and planning researcher for the Institute for Policy Studies. Smith's first elected role in Washington, DC was as an ANC, and then in 1979, he was elected and served one term on the Board of Education. He was elected to Council in 1982.
Frank Smith Jr. was born on September 17, 1942 in Newnan, Georgia. He earned a Ph.D from the Union Institute in Ohio in 1980.
Extent
41.5 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Frank Smith Jr. (1942- ) served as a member of the District of Columbia City Council from 1982-1998. In 1998, Smith also became Chairman for the Board and Chief Executive Officer for the organization which worked to establish the African American Civil War Memorial and accompanying museum.
This collection contains the office records; constituent correspondence; event materials; Council committee documents; copies of legislation and resolutions; materials related to the planning, creation, and early administration of the African American Civil War Memorial from Frank Smith Jr.'s time as a member of the District of Columbia City Council. These records date from 1978-1998, with the bulk of the material dating from 1993-1998.
Arrangement
This collection is organized into six series: African American Civil War Memorial and Related information; General Office Files; Events; Legislative and Committee files; Letters and general correspondence; and Topical files.
Physical Location
Materials are stored off-site, and will require additional retrieval time. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Frank Smith Jr., 1998
Subject
- District of Columbia. City Council (Organization)
- Smith, Frank Jr. (Person)
- African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation & Museum (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Frank Smith, Jr. papers, 1978-1998
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
- Date
- 2022
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository
George Washington University Gelman Library
2130 H Street NW
Washington DC 20052 United States of America
speccoll@gwu.edu
