Skip to main content

Warren Hunting Smith papers, 1737-1995

 Collection — Box: 1-70
Identifier: SC-55

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the papers of Warren Hunting Smith, Hobart & William Smith trustee, editor of the Horace Walpole letters, and grand-nephew of William Smith, founder. The materials include voluminous personal and professional correspondence, manuscripts, programs, and assorted materials related to genealogical research. There is a large amount of collected articles and pamphlets on various topics, most notably Geneva history.

Dates

  • 1737-1995

Creator

Biographical Note

Warren Hunting Smith was born on October 25, 1905 in Geneva, New York. He was the grandnephew of William Smith, founder. Warren attended Geneva High School and graduated from Yale in 1927. He received his PhD from Yale in 1931 and began editing the letters of Horace Walpole at that universityΓÇÖs Sterling Library. Warren worked on The Yale Edition of Horace Walpole's Letters until 1981, when they were published in 48 volumes. In his free time, he wrote several books including Hobart and William Smith: The History of Two Colleges, An Elegant but Salubrious Village, and The Misses Elliot of Geneva. He was a longtime supporter of Geneva, particularly the Geneva Free Library and the Geneva Historical Society. He was a member of the Hobart and William Smith Board of Trustees, and in 1958 was awarded an honorary degree. Warren was the main benefactor of the Colleges library, built in 1976, which bears his name. He passed away on November 22, 1998.

Extent

42.125 Linear Feet ([70 boxes])

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in a single series in order to maintain the Geneva Historical Society's original arrangement. The materials have been rehoused.

Provenance

The collection is on long-term loan from the Geneva Historical Society. The materials were left to the GHS by Warren in his will.

Title
Warren Hunting Smith papers, 1737-1995: A Finding Aid
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Hobart and William Smith Colleges Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Warren Hunting Smith Library
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Geneva New York 14456 U.S.A. US (United States)