http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf409nb3f6 No online items Department of Special Collections General Library University of California, Davis 100 North West Quad Davis, CA 95616-5292 Phone: (530) 752-1621 Fax: (530) 754-5758 Email: speccoll@lib.ucdavis.edu 2003 2003 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. History--United States and North American History. D-392 1
Papers, 1939-1976 D-392 Department of Special Collections General Library University of California, Davis Davis, California Contact Information Department of Special Collections General Library 100 North West Quad University of California, Davis Davis, CA 95616-5292 Phone: (530) 752-1621 Fax: (530) 754-5758 Email: speccoll@lib.ucdavis.edu Encoded by: Sara Gunasekara Completed: 2003 2003 The Regents of the University of California Descriptive Summary Title: Waddell F. Smith Papers, Date (inclusive): 1939-1976 Collection number: D-392 Creator: Smith, Waddell F. Extent: 20 linear feet Repository: University of California, Davis. General Library.Dept. of Special Collections. 100 North West Quad Davis, California, 95616-5292 Abstract: Waddell F. Smith, historian and collector, was the great grandson of William B. Waddell, member of freighting firm of Russell, Majors and Waddell, founders of Pony Express (1860). Smith retired from military service (1949) to devote time to study and promotion of Pony Express history. He settled in San Rafael, Calif. and organized a Pony Express History and Art Gallery. The Gallery became headquarters for the National Pony Express Centennial Association, of which Waddell Smith was President. In this capacity Smith organized and staged a reenactment of a Pony Express run (1960). He published "Stage Lines and Express Companies in California" (1965) and a number of pamphlets, such as "Pony Express versus Wells Fargo Express" (1966) The Papers contain the Pony Express Gallery Records as well as Smith's Pony Express scrapbook, research notes, writings and photographs. Language: English. Access Collection is open for research. Publication Rights Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17 of the U.S. Code. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Waddell F. Smith Papers, D-392, Department of Special Collections, University of California Library, Davis, California. Acquisition Information D-392 2
Acquired in 2003 Biographical Narrative Waddell F. Smith (1899-1970) was a great grandson of William B. Waddell, member of the freighting firm of Russell, Majors and Waddell, founders, owners and operators of the Pony Express. Smith retired from military service in 1949 and fulfilled his lifelong wish to study the history of the Pony Express and correct "misinterpretations of history" crediting Wells Fargo as taking over the Pony Express. He settled in San Rafael, Calif. where he created the Pony Express History and Art Gallery. The Gallery was a part-time headquarters for the Pony Express Centennial Association, of which Smith was founder and President. Waddell Smith wrote Stage Lines and Express Companies in California (1965) and a number of smaller works. Scope and Content of Collection The Waddell Smith Papers contain the Pony Express Gallery Records as well as Smith's Pony Express scrapbook, research notes, writings and photographs. Indexing Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog. Subjects Smith, Waddell F. Pony Express History and Art Gallery Pony express--history Historians--Correspondence Postal museums--california--san Rafael Firearms--History West (U.S.)--History--Sources Series 1 Correspondence Box 1 Subseries 1.1 Letters to Individuals Box 2 Subseries 1.2 Letters to Historical Organizations Subseries 1.3 Miscellany Subseries 1.3.1 Chronological Subseries 1.3.2 Social Subseries 1.3.3 Letters of Mrs. Waddell Smith Series 2 Financial records of Pony Express Museum Box 4 Subseries 2.1 Financial statements Scope and Content Contains balance sheets, journals, and tax reports. D-392 3
Series 2Financial records of Pony Express Museum Subseries 2.2Sales records Subseries 2.2 Sales records Box 5 Subseries 2.2.1 Medal sales Scope and Content Contains sales records, ordering invoices, and correspondence. Box 5 Subseries 2.2.2 Memorabilia sales Series 3 Historical research material Subseries 3.1 Pony Express vs. Wells Fargo Scope and Content Contains editorials, speeches, pamphlets, books, clippings, and correspondence. Subseries 3.2 Pony Express Riders Scope and Content Contains lists of riders and research on individuals. Subseries 3.3 Pony Express Company Scope and Content Contains research notes, manuscripts, and correspondence. Series 4. Pony Express Gallery records Scope and Content Contains files on tours and information requests. Series 5. Pony Express Museum printed matter D-392 4
Series 5.Pony Express Museum printed matter Subseries 5.1Books Box 7 Subseries 5.1 Books Scope and Content Contains corrections, sales, and correspondence files. Box 7 Subseries 5.2 News stories Box 8 Subseries 5.3 Magazine articles Box 8 Subseries 5.4 Pamphlets Box 9 Subseries 5.5 Promotions Box 10-12 Series 6 Newspaper clippings Box 13 Series 7 Pony Express memorabilia Box 13 Series 8 Pony Express scrapbook Box 14 Series 9 Speeches Box 15-17 Series 10 Gun records Box 18 Series 11 Personal financial records D-392 5
Series 12Overland Mail Centennial Association records Box 18 Series 12 Overland Mail Centennial Association records Box 19-21 Series 13 Photographs D-392 6