Robert P. Smith Papers, 1888-1950

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Smith, Robert P. (Robert Philip), 1863-1955
Title
Robert P. Smith Papers
Dates
1888-1950
Quantity
15.5 linear feet
Collection Number
Collection 522, MtBC, us (collection)
Summary
The Robert P. Smith Papers consist of personal correspondence, sermons and personal ephemera. The correspondence is primarily of a business nature as pertains to his time as president of both Kansas and Montana Wesleyan Universities and real estate investments. There are also numerous letters from other pastors and religious colleagues. His sermons cover numerous topics ranging from Agriculture to Women. Smith's non-sermon writings and personal ephemera fall into broad categories of General Biographical, Kansas Period, Montana Period, Europe 1921, Clippings Books, and Printed Ephemera. Some family pictures are also included.
Repository
Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT
59717-3320
Telephone: 4069944242
Fax: 4069942851
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Reverend Robert Philip Smith was born April 7, 1863 in Grove Port, Ohio. He received his advanced education from Ohio Normal University where he completed degrees in both the Liberal Arts and Science in 1886. In the following years he also earned a Doctorate of Divinity from Ohio Wesleyan University. Smith then taught for several years in the Ohio school system. He first come to Montana as a professor of Greek at Intermountain Union. From there he moved to Kansas Wesleyan where he served for seven years as President beginning in 1908. He then returned to Montana and served as pastor in Sheridan for three years, Dillion for four years, St. Paul's church in Helena for two years and finally Bozeman where he served for a total of 34 years. During his tenure in Bozeman he also served as the president of Montana Wesleyan University for five years. Although he officially retired in 1930, he remained a pastor emeritus of the Bozeman Methodist Episcopal church, served the West Yellowstone church during the summer for several years and was constantly in demand as a public speaker. Smith also traveled extensively to national church conventions, and was sent as a representative to the 1921 Rotary International Convention in Edinburgh, Scotland. He remained active in Bozeman community affairs until his death in 1945, serving on the Board of Directors of the Deaconess Hospital for 23 years, participating in the Masonic society, the Odd Fellows Club and the QK Discussion Club of which he was a founding member. Smith published numerous tracts on religion as well as several books of prose including "The Domine Goes A-Fishing". He married Jennie Patrick of Alger, Ohio in 1893. They had two daughters, Ruth (Mrs. Bertil Linfield), and Lois.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Smith papers consist of personal correspondence, sermons and personal ephemera. The correspondence is primarily of a business nature as pertains to his time as president of both Kansas and Montana Wesleyan Universities and real estate investments. There are also numerous letters from other pastors and religious colleagues. Major correspondents include George Mecklenburg, Attree Smith and The Preachers Aid Society. These were received in a semi-chronological order and refoldered in chronological order except for those pertaining to business which were filed separately. His sermons cover numerous topics ranging from Agriculture to Women. These were arranged alphabetically by topic and have been refoldered in this order. Smith's non-sermon writings and personal ephemera were basically chronological in their original arrangement, and have been maintained in a similar order within broad categories of General Biographical, Kansas Period, Montana Period, Europe 1921, Clippings Books, and Printed Ephemera. Some family pictures are also included.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Series 1 Personal Correspondence, 1888-1945

Series 2 Sermons

Series 3 Writings, non-sermon

Series 4 Financial Papers

Subseries 1 - Insurance Papers

Subseries 2 - Real Estate Papers

Series 5 Scrapbook and Memorabilia

Subseries 1 - General Biographical

Subseries 2 - Kansas Period, 1908-1914

Subseries 3 - Montana Period, 1915-1945

Subseries 4 - Europe, 1921

Subseries 5 - Ruth Smith Linfield

Subseries 6 - Clippings Books

Subseries 7 - Printed Ephemera

Series 6 Photographs

Acquisition Information

Correspondence, publications, sermons and personal ephemera created or collected by Robert P. Smith were saved by his daughter, Ruth Linfield, and donated to the Montana State University Special Collections in two gifts, 1967 and 1972. The gifts have been processed as one set.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2009 May 18

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1:  Correspondence, 1888-1945Return to Top

Personal and ministerial correspondence written or received by R. P. Smith. The earliest letters deal in family matters and with his tenure as president of Kansas Wesleyan University including a bitter faculty dispute that eventually led to his resigning from the university. The later parts deal with his tenure in Montana as President of Montana Wesleyan University and his terms as pastor in Sheridan, Dillion, Helena and Bozeman, Montana. Throughout the series is correspondence with other pastors, religious friends and parents of college students under his care. The letters are chronologically arranged. Letters pertaining to Financial matters [specifically insurance and real estate (except those purchases made for/by Montana Wesleyan University)] may be found in Series 4. Letters pertaining to 1920 Pastor's Conference are in Series 5, Subseries 3. Special folders exist for his correspondence with George Mecklenberg, Attree Smith and The Preachers Aid Society. There is also one bound volume of circular letters and one folder of misc. and incomplete correspondence. Smith recycled much of his correspondence as scrap paper for his sermons. These can be found in Series 2. No attempt has been made to arrange the pages of correspondence so used in Series 2 in any order other than by the sermon written on it.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
December 1888
1/2
April 1901
1/3
August 1902
1/4
February 1904
1/5
May 1904
1/6
February 1905
1/7
April 1905
1/8
June 1905
1/9
July 1905
1/10
August 1905
1/11
September 1905
1/12
October 1905
1/13
November 1905
1/14
December 1905
1/15
January 1906
1/16
March 1906
1/17
April 1906
1/18
May 1906
1/19
June 1906
1/20
July 1906
1/21
August 1906
1/22
September 1906
1/23
October 1906
1/24
November 1906
1/25
December 1906
1/26
January 1907
1/27
February 1907
1/28
March 1907
1/29
April 1907
1/30
May 1907
1/31
June 1907
1/32
July 1907
1/33
August 1907
1/34
September 1-14, 1907
1/35
September 15-30, 1907
1/36
October 1907
1/37
November 1907
1/38
December 1907
2/1
January 1908
2/2
February 1908
2/3
March 1908
2/4
April 1908
2/5
May 1908
2/6
June 1908
2/7
July 1908
2/8
September 1908
2/9
October 1908
2/10
January 1909
2/11
February 1909
2/12
September 1909
2/13
October 1909
2/14
November 1909
2/15
December 1909
2/16
January 1910
2/17
February 1910
2/18
March 1910
2/19
May 1910
2/20
June 1910
2/21
July 1910
2/22
August 1910
2/23
September 1910
2/24
October 1910
2/25
November 1910
2/26
December 1910
2/27
January 1911
2/28
February 1911
2/29
March 1911
2/30
April 1911
2/31
May 1911
2/32
June 1911
2/33
July 1911
2/34
August 1911
2/35
September 1911
2/36
October 1911
2/37
November 1911
2/38
January 1912
2/39
February 1912
2/40
March 1912
2/41
April 1912
2/42
May 1912
2/43
June 1912
2/44
July 1912
2/45
August 1912
2/46
September 1912
2/47
October 1912
2/48
November 1912
2/49
December 1912
3/1
January 1913
3/2
February 1913
3/3
March 1913
3/4
April 1913
3/5
May 1913
3/6
June 1913
3/7
August 1913
3/8
September 1913
3/9
October 1913
3/10
November 1913
3/11
December 1913
3/12
January 1914
3/13
February 1914
3/14
March 1914
3/15
April 1914
3/16
June 1914
3/17
July 1914
3/18
August 1914
3/19
September 1914
3/20
October 1914
3/21
November 1914
3/22
December 1914
3/23
January 1915
3/24
February 1915
3/25
March 1915
3/26
April 1915
3/27
May 1915
3/28
June 1915
3/29
July 1915
3/30
August 1915
3/31
September 1915
3/32
October 1915
3/33
November 1915
3/34
December 1915
3/35
January 1916
3/36
February 1916
3/37
March 1916
3/38
April 1916
3/39
May 1916
3/40
June 1916
3/41
July 1916
3/42
August 1916
3/43
September 1916
3/44
October 1916
3/45
November 1916
3/46
December 1916
4/1
February 1917
4/2
March 1917
4/3
April 1917
4/4
April 1919
4/5
May 1919
4/6
November 1919
4/7
December 1919
4/8
January 1920
4/9
February 1920
4/10
March 1920
4/11
April 1920
4/12
May 1920
4/13
June 1920
4/14
August 1920
4/15
September 1920
4/16
October 1920
4/17
November 1920
4/18
December 1920
4/19
January 1921
4/20
February 1921
4/21
March 1921
4/22
April 1921
4/23
May 1921
4/24
June 1921
4/25
July 1921
4/26
August 1921
4/27
September 1921
4/28
October 1921
4/29
November 1921
4/30
December 1921
4/31
January 1922
4/32
February 1922
4/33
March 1922
4/34
April 1922
4/35
May 1922
4/36
June 1922
4/37
July 1922
4/38
August 1922
4/39
September 1922
4/40
November 1922
4/41
December 1922
4/42
January 1923
4/43
March 1923
4/44
April 1923
4/45
June 1923
4/46
July 1823
4/47
August 1923
4/48
October 1923
4/49
November 1923
4/50
December 1923
5/1
February 1924
5/2
August 1924
5/3
December 1924
5/4
January 1925
5/5
February 1925
5/6
September 1925
5/7
October 1925
5/8
February 1926
5/9
May 1926
5/10
October 1926
5/11
December 1926
5/12
January 1929
5/13
February 1929
5/14
March 1929
5/15
June 1929
5/16
August 1929
5/17
July 1930
5/18
September 1930
5/19
October 1930
5/20
February 1931
5/21
January 1932
5/22
May 1932
5/23
June 1932
5/24
March 1933
5/25
October 1933
5/26
December 1935
5/27
January 1936
5/28
July 1936
5/29
August 1936
5/30
September 1936
5/31
October 1936
5/32
December 1937
5/33
September 1938
5/34
January 1939
5/35
February 1939
5/36
January 1940
5/37
December 1940
5/38
February 1941
5/39
July 1941
5/40
May 1942
5/41
July 1942
5/42
September 1942
5/43
October 1942
5/44
December 1942
5/45
January 1943
5/46
February 1943
5/47
March 1943
5/48
April 1943
5/49
May 1943
5/50
August 1943
5/51
September 1943
5/52
November 1943
5/53
December 1943
5/54
January 1944
5/55
March 1944
5/56
April 1944
5/57
May 1944
5/58
June 1944
5/59
August 1944
5/60
November 1944
5/61
January 1945
5/62
March 1945
5/63
April 1945
5/64
May 1945
5/65
June 1945
5/66
July 1945
5/67
August 1945
6/1
George Mecklenburg
(1919-1920)
6/2
Attree Smith
(ca. 1925)
6/3
Preachers Aid Society
(1936-1941)
6/4
Undated/Incomplete correspondence
6/5
Circular Letters
(bound volume)

Series 2:  SermonsReturn to Top

Sermons and Public addresses created by R.P. Smith. There are also many unfinished sermon sketches, note, etc. relevant to the sermon topics which are included in the folders. The documents are arranged alphabetically by sermon topic. This original order was preserved when the sermons were reboxed.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
7/1
Age
7/2
Agriculture
7/3
Art
7/4
Baccalaureate
7/5
Baptism for the Dead
7/6
Beauty, Inspiration of
7/7
Belief, Christian Fundamentals
7/8
Bible - Appreciation
7/9
Bible - Beauty
7/10
Bible - Chief Personality
7/11
Bible - Fiction
7/12
Bible - Friendship
7/13
Bible - God's Speech
7/14
Bible - Greatest Passages
7/15
Bible - History
7/16
Bible - How to Study It
7/17
Bible - Ideals and Goals
7/18
Bible - Inspiration
7/19
Bible - Journalism
7/20
Bible - Law, Art, Science
7/21
Bible - Literary Excellence
7/22
Bible - Literature
7/23
Bible - Oratory
7/24
Bible - Poetry
7/25
Bible - Shadows of the Almighty
7/26
Bible - State
7/27
Bible - Wit and Humor
8/1
Biblical Solutions
8/2
Boy Scouts and Youth Groups
8/3
Character - 1
8/4
Character - 2
8/5
Character - 3
8/6
Children
8/7
Christ - Following
8/8
Christ, Spirit of
8/9
Christ, Supremacy of
9/1
Christian Life
9/2
Christian Truth
9/3
Christianity
9/4
Christmas
9/5
Church
9/6
Citizenship
9/7
Civilization, Seven Pillars of
9/8
Clear Vision
9/9
Commercialism
9/10
Common Man
9/11
Conscience
9/12
Conversion
9/13
Creeds
9/14
Cross
9/15
Depression
9/16
Determinism
9/17
Domestic Virtues
9/18
Dorcus
10/1
Doubt
10/2
Earthquake
10/3
Easter
10/4
Education
10/5
Epworth League
10/6
Errors of Religion
10/7
Europe
10/8
Evangelism
10/9
Evolution
10/10
Failure
10/11
Faith
10/12
Family
11/1
Fathers
11/2
Finance
11/3
Flesh - Lust Against the Spirit
11/4
Forgiveness - Tolerance
11/5
Formalism
11/6
Free Will
11/7
Friendship
11/8
Fundamentalism
11/9
Funerals
11/10
Future
11/11
God
11/12
Golden Rule
11/13
Good Friday
11/14
Good Works
11/15
Gospel
11/16
Great Men
12/1
Happiness
12/2
Holy Spirit
12/3
Home
12/4
Hope
12/5
Human Touch
12/6
Ideals
12/7
Immortality
12/8
Increase
12/9
Invention
12/10
John, Book of
12/11
Joy or Cheerfulness
12/12
Judging
12/13
Kindness
12/14
Kingdom of God
12/15
Labor Day
12/16
Lent
12/17
Life
12/18
Lincoln
12/19
Lord's Prayer
12/20
Lord's Supper
13/1
Man and Manhood
13/2
Masons
13/3
Maturity
13/4
Mercy
13/5
Meditation
13/6
Mind
13/7
Miracles
13/8
Missions
13/9
Mistakes
13/10
Mother's Day
13/11
Modern Scholar
13/12
Music
13/13
Mystery
14/1
Nature
14/2
Nature - Birds, Flowers and Trees
14/3
New Jerusalem
14/4
New Year's
14/5
Odd Fellows
14/6
Optimism
15/1
Opportunity
15/2
Parables
15/3
Participation
15/4
Patience
15/5
Patriotism
15/6
Peace
15/7
Pentecost
15/8
Periods of Life
15/9
Peter, St.
15/10
Philosophy
15/11
Poets
15/12
Potter and Clay
15/13
Power of God
15/14
Prayer
15/15
Pressure, Living Under
15/16
Pretense
15/17
Prohibition
15/18
Psychology
16/1
Reason
16/2
Recreation
16/3
Religion
16/4
Repentance
16/5
Resurrection or the Cross
16/6
Riches
16/7
Righteousness that Exceeds
16/8
Rotary and Chamber (1)
16/9
Rotary and Chamber (2)
16/10
Scholarship
16/11
Schools
16/12
Science (1)
16/13
Science (2)
17/1
Second Coming
17/2
Seeking
17/3
Self-Denial
17/4
Self-Knowledge
17/5
Sin
17/6
Stewardship
17/7
Strength
17/8
Success
17/9
Suffering
17/10
Sunday or Sabbath
17/11
Supernatural
17/12
Temperance
17/13
Temples
17/14
Temptation
17/15
Thanksgiving
17/16
Tomorrow's Church
17/17
Transfiguration
17/18
Truth
17/19
Unattained
18/1
Understanding and Seeing
18/2
Washington
18/3
Whither Bound
18/4
Wisdom
18/5
The Wise Men
18/6
Women
18/7
Work
18/8
Worship
18/9
Youth
18/10
Miscellaneous Pages
18/11
Lists of Possible Sermon Topics
18/12
Typed Sermons
19/1
Notes and Clippings for Sermon Book 1
circa 1886-1900
19/2
Notes and Clippings for Sermon Book 2
circa 1900
19/3
Handwritten Sermon Book
circa 1901
19/4
Handwritten Sermon Book
circa 1903
20/1
Addresses
20/2-3
Evidences

Series 3:  Writings, Non-sermon, circa 1900-1945Return to Top

Autobiographies, books, pamphlets, news articles, manuscripts, religious reflections (non-sermon) and critical writings created and published by R. P. Smith. Most are of at least a religious bent but also deal with the outdoors and personal success. Materials are arranged by type.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
21/1
Autobiographer
21/2
The Spiritual Value of Work - Edited
21/3
The Spiritual Value of Work - Mint Condition
21/4
Newspaper review of The Spiritual Value of Work
21/5
Religious Optimism
21/6
Articles on Religious Optimism
21/7
Articles found in Smith's copy of Religious Optimism he used for research
21/8
"The Oldest of the Poets"
21/9
"The More Excellent Way"
21/10
"The Domine Visits the Fields"
21/11
"Ministry of Birds"
21/12
"The Domine Goes A-Fishing" - First Edition
21/13
"The Domine Goes A-Fishing" - Second Edition
21/14
Poetry Notes
21/15
News Articles
22/1
"An Artist at Work or Bozeman the Beautiful"
22/2
"Are You Looking Out?"
22/3
"Building a City"
22/4
"Changes in My Personal Faith"
22/5
"House on a Rock"
22/6
"Man's Prospect of Immortality"
22/7
"A Message to the Church at Home"
22/8
"Sin of Waste"
22/9
Rough Draft Manuscript Collection
22/10
Rough Draft Manuscript Collection - Typed/Edited, 1 of 3
22/11
Rough Draft Manuscript Collection - Typed/Edited, 2 of 3
22/12
Rough Draft Manuscript Collection - Typed/Edited, 3 of 3
22/13
Religious Reflections
22/14
Critical Writings
22/15
Educational Addresses
22/16
Miscellaneous Pages

Series 4:  Financial Papers, 1903-1947Return to Top

Insurance and real estate papers pertaining to R. P. Smith and his immediate family. Correspondence pertaining to insurance and real estate also included in this series. In addition to some misc. receipts, there is an account book from a Dillion Livery that Smith owned and a personal account book.

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1: Insurance Papers
Materials are arranged chronologically. Correspondence is chronological by date written. Insurance policies are chronological by the date of expiration. Receipts, endorsements and policy loan statements are separated by company then arranged chronologically.
Box/Folder
23/1
Notes
23/2
Insurance Correspondence
1903-1909
23/3
Insurance Correspondence
1911-1916
23/4
Insurance Correspondence
1921-1929
23/5
Insurance Correspondence
1930-1939
23/6
Insurance Correspondence
1942
23/7
Receipt...Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York
23/8
Receipt...Northwestern National Life Insurance Company
23/9
Receipt...The Union central Life Insurance Company
23/10
Endorsement, Home, Fire and Marine Insurance Company
23/11
Insurance Policies
1913-1929
23/12
Insurance Policies
1930-1935
23/13
Insurance Policies
1936-1939
23/14
Insurance Policies
1941-1944
23/15
Insurance Policies
1945-1947
Subseries 2: Real Estate Papers
Correspondence is arranged chronologically by year. Deeds are arranged chronologically by date of indenture
Box/Folder
23/16
Real Estate Correspondence
1907
23/17
Real Estate Correspondence
1908
23/18
Real Estate Correspondence
1909
23/19
Real Estate Correspondence
1910
23/20
Real Estate Correspondence
1911
23/21
Real Estate Correspondence
1912
23/22
Real Estate Correspondence
1914
23/23
Real Estate Correspondence
1915
23/24
Real Estate Correspondence
1917
23/25
Real Estate Correspondence
1919
23/26
Real Estate Correspondence
1920
23/27
Real Estate Correspondence
1921
23/28
Real Estate Correspondence
1927
23/29
Real Estate Correspondence
1932
23/30
Real Estate Correspondence
1933
23/31
Real Estate Correspondence
1935
23/32
Real Estate Correspondence
1936
23/33
Real Estate Correspondence
1937
23/34
Real Estate Correspondence
1939
23/35
Real Estate Correspondence
1940
23/36
Real Estate Correspondence
1941
23/37
Warranty Deeds
23/38
Lease Agreements
23/39
Quit Claim Deeds
23/40
Bond and Sale Contracts
23/41
Mortgages
23/42
Mover's Bill
23/43
Sworn Income Statement
23/44
Loan Drafts
23/45
Macey Co. Receipt
23/46
Dillion Livery Stables Account Book
23/47
Personal Account Book
1905-1934

Series 5:  Scrapbook and Memorabilia, circa 1886-1945Return to Top

Scrapbook materials and memorabilia collected by R. P. Smith. Some contributed later by Ruth Linfield who originally gathered the collection of her father's papers. The series is broken into seven subseries - General Biographical, Kansas, Montana, Europe, Clippings Books, and Printed Ephemera.

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1: General Biographical
Information and papers pertaining to the credentials, awards and life of R. P. Smith. credentials and certificates are arranged in chronological order by date of conference. Undated materials are placed at the end if the subseries. Oversized items have been removed from the series, as indicated by an asterisk, and stored separately in Box 30. Subseries also includes news articles written about him as well as three biographies written about him both during his lifetime and after his death.
Box/Folder
24/1
Calling Card
24/2
Ohio Teacher Certificate
24/3
Ohio Normal University Diploma*
24/4
Preacher License Renewal
24/5
Recommendation for ordination as Elder
24/6
Societas Amphictyonia*
24/7
Ohio Wesleyan University Diploma*
24/8
Deacon's Credentials
24/9
Elder's Credentials
24/10
National Geographic Society
24/11
Roosevelt Memorial Association
24/12
Phi Beta Kappa
24/13
Speech Poster*
24/14
Biography
1918
24/15
Biography
1945
24/16
Biography
1965
24/17
News Art
Subseries 2: Kansas Period
Programs, pamphlets, clippings etc. as pertain to R. P. Smith's tenure as President of Kansas Wesleyan University (KWU), Selena, Kansas. The papers are divided into two main groups - those pertaining directly to KWU, and those pertaining to Smith's other involvements in the Kansas community. Within each group the papers are arranged according to topic.
1908-1914
Box/Folder
24/18
Kansas - Kansas Wesleyan University - Smith Inauguration
24/19
Kansas - KWU - The Kansas Wesleyan Advance
24/20
Kansas - KWU - Register and Calendar
24/21
Kansas - KWU - Announcements
24/22
Kansas - KWU - College of Music and Fine Arts
24/23
Kansas - KWU - Commencement Exercises
24/24
Kansas - KWU - Summer School of Theology
24/25
Kansas - KWU - University Banquet
24/26
Kansas - KWU - Founders Day
24/27
Kansas - KWU - Aaron Schuyler
24/28
Kansas - KWU - Good-Will Banquet
24/29
Kansas - KWU - Donation Slips
24/30
Kansas - Recital Programs
24/31
Kansas - Speech Announcements
24/32
Kansas - News Clippings
24/33
Methodist Episcopal Church
24/34
Kansas - Funeral Book
24/35
Kansas - Society for the Friendless
24/36
Kansas - Chautauqua Association
24/37
Kansas - Teachers Association
24/38
Kansas - Epworth League
24/39
Kansas - Women's Foreign Missionary Society
24/40
Kansas - Ministerial Association, Concordia District
24/41
Association of College Presidents...Methodist Episcopal Church
24/42
Odd-Fellowship
24/43
Social Science Club
24/44
Enterprise Normal Academy
24/45
Baker University
24/46
Current Literary Club
Subseries 3: Montana Period
Programs. Pamphlets, clippings, etc. as pertain to R. P. Smith's tenure in Montana, mostly from his time as Pastor at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Bozeman. Items are arranged in roughly chronological order. Oversized items are filed in Box 30, and designated with *.
1915-1945; 1910
Box/Folder
25/1
Current Literary Club
25/2
Montana Wesleyan University Subscription List
25/3
Announcements and Bulletin, Non-Church
25/4
Saco Methodist Church Dedication
25/5
Methodist Church Programs, Non-Bozeman Churches
25/6
Church Programs, Bulletins, Lecture Announcements, Bozeman, Methodist Episcopal Church
25/7
Bozeman Methodist Episcopal Church Papers
1915-1941
25/8
Church Union Notes
1918
25/9
Bozeman Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian Church Consolidation
1918
25/10
Pastor's Conference
1920
25/11
General Conference Notes
1920-1924
25/12
"The Pastor's Council"
1923-1926
25/13
QK Discussion Club
1936-1937
25/14
Guest Book Cover
1943-1945
25/15
Guest Book
1943-1945
25/16
Polson, Montana Program*
Subseries 4: Europe
Trip notes and souvenirs from R. P. Smith 1921 attendance of the Rotary International Convention in Edinburgh, Scotland. Papers are arranged into sections on travel information and paper materials. The latter, containing pamphlets, laundry lists and hotel information, is arranged by country. Correspondence has been removed and is filed in Series 1.
1921
Box/Folder
25/17
Europe - Trip Note and Diary
1921
25/18
Europe - Customs Papers
1921
25/19
Europe - Ship Information "Empress of France"
1921
25/20
Europe - American Express/Insurance
1921
25/21
Europe - 12th Annual Convention International Association of Rotary Clubs, Edinburgh, Scotland
1921
25/22
Europe - Germany
1921
25/23
Europe - Switzerland
1921
25/24
Europe - France
1921
25/25
Europe - Netherlands
1921
25/26
Europe - England (London)
1921
25/27
Europe - Scotland (Edinburgh)
1921
25/28
Europe - Italy
1921
Subseries 5: Ruth Smith Linfield
Personal documents and contracts of Ruth Smith Linfield and her sister Lois. Large diplomas filed in oversize folder, Box 30, are denoted by *.
Box/Folder
26/1
Linfield Letter Press Tablet
26/2
Montana Teachers Certificate
26/3
South Dakota Teachers Contract
26/4
Ohio Wesleyan Student Handbook
1917-1918
26/5
Spelling Book
26/6
Ohio Wesleyan University Directory
Fall 1917
26/7-8
Ruth Smith Diploma*
26/9
Lois Smith Diploma*
26/10
Wedding Invitation for Ruth Smith
Subseries 6: Clippings Books
The clippings books were collected and maintained by R. P. Smith. He recycled old books to put the clippings and pamphlets in. Those that had the tracts attached were left in this manner. Those that were simply filed randomly among the books pages were removed and are filed in Series 5, Subseries 7. Large materials in Oversized Box 30, denoted by *.
Box/Folder
26/11
Clippings Book #1 - Educational Addresses
(Contents in front of book)
26/12
Clippings Book #2 - Sermons by Various Ministers
(Indexed, some subjects missing)
26/13
Clippings Book #3 - Sermons and News Clippings By and About Other Ministers
(index in front)
27/1
Clippings Book #4 - Miscellaneous
(Index in front)
27/2
Clippings Book #5 - Miscellaneous
(Index in front) (Clippings Books #6, 7 removed to Subseries 7)
27/3
Clippings Book #8 - Foreign Missions
(Contents in front)
27/4
Clippings Book #9 - Poetry
(Many selections from Thomas Curtis Clark)
27/5
Clippings Books #10 - Random Clippings
dating back to circa 1900
27/6
Large Clippings Book*
27/7
Collected Humor News Clippings
Subseries 7: Printed Ephemera
Books and Tracts on various topic collected by R. P. Smith. Most come from loose materials found in the Clippings Books, Subseries 6. Tracts are arranged in folders by main topic.
Box/Folder
28/1
Memorial Addresses on the Life and Character of Albert D. Shaw
(Originally Clippings Book #6)
28/2
Memorial Addresses on the Life and Character of Richard P. Bland
(Originally Clippings Book #7)
28/3
"Protestantism: True and False"
28/4
"The Lord's Day"
28/5
The Sabbath
28/6
Second Advent
28/7
Faith
28/8
Man
28/9
Young Men's Christian Association
28/10
Morality
28/11
Dancing
28/12
Children
28/13
Deaconess
28/14
Epworth League
28/15
Missionary Work
28/16
Methodist Pulpit
28/17
A Service Book

Series 6:  PhotographsReturn to Top

Photographs #1 - 8 are of R. P. Smith. Photographs #9 - 12 are of R.P. Smith ad classmates. Photographs #13 and 14 are of the Smith Family. Photographs #15 and 16 are of Bozeman, Montana social clubs that Smith was a member of. Photographs #17 - 22 are of buildings, mostly parsonages, that Smith built during his tenures as a pastor in various Montana towns. Oversized photographs are stored in Box 30 are denoted by a *.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
29
Photographs #1-22
#1: R. P. Smith
circa 1890's
#2: R. P. Smith
1900
#3: R. P. Smith
1908
#4: R. P. Smith
1908; (1915)
#5: R. P. Smith
1909
#6-7: R. P. Smith
circa 1930's
#8: R. P. Smith
circa 1940's
#9-11: R. P. Smith and Classmates
circa 1880's
#12: Ohio Normal University Graduating Class*
1886
#13: Smith Family
#14: R. P. Smith and Wife
#15: Bozeman Rotary Club
circa 1930's
#16: Odd-Fellows Club
#17: Sheridan, Montana Parsonage
1897
#18: Dillion, Montana Methodist Episcopal Church
1900
#19: Dillion, Montana Parsonage
1902
#20: Ruby, Montana Episcopal Church
#21: Room
#22: R. P. Smith
(negative only)
circa 1930's
30
Oversized Materials
Box/Folder
30/1
Large Clippings Book
(Series 5, Sub 6, 27:6)
30/2
Ohio Normal University Diploma
(Series 5, Sub 1, 24:3)
30/3
Societas Amphictyonia
(Series 5, Sub 1, 24:6)
30/4
Ohio Wesleyan University Diploma
(Series 5, Sub 1, 24:7)
30/5
Speech Poster
(Series 5, Sub 1, 24:13)
30/6
Polson, Montana Program
(Series 5, Sub 3, 25:16)
30/7
Ruth Smith Diploma
(Series 5, Sub 5, 26:7)
30/8
Ruth Smith Diploma
(Series 5, Sub 5, 26:8)
30/9
Lois Smith Diploma
(Series 5, Sub 5, 26:9)
30/10
Photograph, Ohio Normal University Class
(Series 6, 29:12)
1886

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Clergy-Montana-Bozeman
  • College presidents-Kansas
  • College presidents-Montana
  • Methodist Church-Clergy
  • Methodist universities and colleges-Kansas
  • Methodist universities and colleges-Montana

Personal Names

  • Mecklenburg, Gene, 1881--Correspondence
  • Smith, Attree-Correspondence

Corporate Names

  • Kansas Wesleyan University
  • Montana Wesleyan College

Form or Genre Terms

  • Sermons