Augustus William Smith was born in Newport, New York on May 12, 1802. He attended Hamilton College, from which he graduated in 1825, and went on to teach at Oneida Conference Seminary in Cazenovia (located southeast of Syracuse). In 1831, Smith was among the founding faculty of Wesleyan University. He taught astronomy and mathematics at Wesleyan for twenty years before his selection as Fifth President of the university in 1851. After eight years at the helm of Wesleyan, Smith accepted a position as Professor of Natural Philosophy at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. He remained in this post until his death on March 26, 1866.
Smith was an accomplished scholar. In 1860 he was selected by the U. S. government to be one of the corps of astronomers sent to Labrador to observe the annular eclipse of the sun. He was reputed to be an excellent mathematician, and authored of several text-books, including an "Elementary Treatise on Mechanics" (New York, 1846). He married Catherine Rachel Childs, by whom he had several children including a daughter, Katherine Louisa. A convert to the Methodist-Episcopal Church, Smith also held a life-long interest in denominational affairs and was active in that capacity.
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Augustus William Smith papers, Ms. Smith, Brown University Library.
The Augustus William Smith papers consist of approximately 335 items with inclusive dates 1816-1918. Included in the collection are correspondence, autograph manuscripts written by Smith while at Hamilton College and Wesleyan, a notebook (part of which records Smith's journey to Labrador in 1860) diplomas, civilian commissions, deeds, and photographs.
The bulk of the material dates from the mid-1820's to 1860. It consists of personal correspondence between Smith and members of his family, former classmates and pupils. There is scientific correspondence between Smith and contemporary astronomers, mathematicians and meteorologists. Finally, there are many letters between Smith and various members of the Methodist-Episcopal Church.
Some of the more important historical figures represented in the collection as recipients and authors are: Westel Willoughby, Jr. (U.S. Representative from New York), Joseph Henry (Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution), Wilbur Fisk (President of Wesleyan University), Daniel Denison Whedon (Methodist minister) and Landon Cabell Garland (educator).
Series 4 through 6 of the collection contain manuscripts (by others), documents, and printed materials primarily related to Smith's years at Hamilton College, Oneida Conference Seminary, Wesleyan University, and the United States Navy.
The papers are arranged in seven series:
The Augustus William Smith papers were donated to the Brown University Library in 1969 by Mrs. Katharine (Hill) Ostrander, daughter of Perry Hill, granddaughter of Katharine Louisa Smith and Walter Nickerson Hill, and great-granddaughter of Augustus William Smith.
Brown University Library catalog record for this collection:
RESOURCES AT BROWN UNIVERSITY
Smith, Augustus William, AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON MECHANICS:
The Brown University Library is the repository for the papers of Augustus William Smith's son-in-law:
RESOURCES BEYOND BROWN:
Filed with autograph letter signed, Joseph Smith to Augustus William Smith, 1826 December 7.
Filed with printed form with ms. instertions, Isaac Toucey to A.W. Smith, 1861 February 1
Filed with autograph letter signed, George F. Lacey to A.W. Smith, 1831, February 4
Filed with autograph letter signed, Joseph Henry to A.W. Smith, 1848 October 26
Filed with autograph letter signed, P. Richardson to A.W. Smith, 1825 December 27
Filed under joint author, Laban Clark.
Filed with preinted form with manuscript insertions, Albany Institute to A.W. Smith, 1836 May 19.
Filed with printed form with manuscript insertions, Albany Institute to A.W. Smith, 1836 May 19.
Filed with autograph letter signed, A. W. Smith to Editors, 1831 May 3.