• IdentificationICU.SPCL.SMITHTV
  • TitleGuide to the Thomas Vernor Smith Papers1934-1945
  • PublisherUniversity of Chicago Library
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Date1934-1945
  • Physical Description6.75 linear feet (14 boxes)
  • RepositorySpecial Collections Research Center University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.
  • AbstractThomas Vernor Smith (1890-1964) Professor of Philosophy at the University of Chicago, Illinois State Senator (1936-1938), Congressional Representative, (1938-1940). This collection includes letters from the years of Smith's political activity, 1934-1941. Among the other papers are reprints of some of his publications and speeches, and many mimeographed items relating to military government and problems of post-war education in the occupied countries.

© The contents of this finding aid are the copyright of the University of Chicago Library

Chicago and Illinois

Politics, Public Policy and Political Reform

This collection is open for research.

When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Smith, Thomas Vernor. Papers, [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

Thomas Vernor Smith (1890-1964) wrote under the name T.V. Smith and was active academically and politically in Chicago. A native of Texas, he received a B.A. from the University of Texas in 1915 and an M.A. in 1916. He taught at the University of Texas from 1919 to 1921. In 1922, he received a PhD from the University of Chicago, where he served as Professor of Philosophy, and later dean, until 1948. Smith was among the producers and moderators of the University's Round Table radio program.

During the 1930's, Smith interested himself in politics, and ran successfully for State Senator in 1935. His next campaign was in 1938, when he was elected Congressman-at-large for Illinois. He gained national recognition when he engaged Senator Robert A. Taft in a series of radio debates which were later published as Foundations of Democracy. In the 1940 congressional election, he was defeated. During the war, Smith was made Lieutenant Colonel (1943-1945), and conducted courses on military government for the Army. He also participated in experimental programs for re-educating German prisoners of war. In 1946, he was a member of the United States Educational Commission in Japan and Germany. Smith left Army service as a Colonel.

In 1948, Smith became the Maxwell Professor of Citizenship and Philosophy at the University of Syracuse, where he served until his retirement in 1959. He held visiting and lecture positions at numerous universities and published widely on philosophy, politics and public service.

Smith and his wife, Nannie Stewart, had two children, a son Gayle and a daughter Nancy. He died in 1964 in Hyattsville, Maryland.

Series I, Correspondence, contains letters from the years of Smith's political activity, 1934-1941. Arranged alphabetically, the letters contain a great deal of material on the history of the Democratic Party in the Chicago area during the period and reflect the concerns of constituents and political and community groups like the Hyde Park Protective Agency and the ACLU. Among Smith's correspondents are: Baker Brownell, Paul and Ruby Darrow, Thurman Arnold, James T. Farrell, Robert M. Hutchins, Harold Ickes, Ed. Kelly, Frank Knox, Robert A. Taft, Chicago Mayor Edward Kelly Illinois Governor Henry Horner, and Paul Douglass.

Series II, Miscellaneous, contains material collected through Smith’s academic and political career. This includes handwritten notes, calling cards, annotated articles, a copy of a letter from Thomas Jefferson to John Breckinridge, speech notes, invitations, programs and newspaper clippings.

Series III, Political Material, contains legislation, correspondence and ephemera from Smith’s time in the Illinois State Senate and as Congressmen-at-Large. This includes newsletters, organization resolutions, correspondence with politicians, information from various committees, pamphlets and campaign materials.

Series IV, Military, contains material on Military Government and Education in post-war Europe, including lectures by Smith in Army courses on military government for occupation army personnel; material prepared by him for re-educating Germans, some of which is translated into German; survey studies of the postwar situation with regard to German education; weekly bulletins of the Allied Control Commission, with reports on opinion in the occupied territory; and drafts of constitutions for different areas in Germany. The series is organized by area of interest: Germany, Japan and Italy.

The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections:

  • Names
    • Smith, Thomas Vernor, 1890-1964
    • Arnold, Thurman Wesley, 1891-1969
    • Brownell, Baker, 1887-1965
    • Douglas, Paul Howard, 1892-1976
    • Hutchins, Robert Maynard, 1899-1977
    • Ickes, Harold L. (Harold LeClair), 1874-1952
  • SubjectMilitary education
  • Geographic Coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.)-Politics and government
    • Illinois-Politics and government
    • Hyde Park (Chicago, Ill.)