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Samuel Francis Smith collection

 Collection — Folder: S1212
Identifier: S1212

Scope and Contents

This collection includes a facsimile of the hymn, "America," written by Samuel Francis Smith in 1832 [1831], published by the American Autograph Shop in 1936. The item includes a facsimile of the handwritten hymn lyrics and its first printing in the form of a broadside announcing an Independence Day celebration at Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts on July 4, 1831.

Dates

  • 1936

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Biographical Note

Samuel Francis Smith was born in Boston, Massachusetts on October 21, 1808 to Samuel and Sarah (Bryant) Smith. He attended Harvard University, graduating in 1829, and then attended the Andover Theological Seminary. Soon after, Reverend Smith married Mary White. In addition to his pastoral duties and scholarly pursuits, he was a well-known poet in his day. Smith penned a number of patriotic hymns, the most renowned of which is "America," which is most commonly known as "My Country, 'Tis of Thee." He died on November 16, 1895 in Boston.

Sources:

Items in the collection.

FindaGrave.com. "Samuel Francis Smith." Find a Grave Index. Accessed July 27, 2015. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=14799870.

Smith, Samuel Francis. 'My Country, 'Tis of Thee' and The Latest Poems. (Boston: American Baptist Publication Society, 1896), 9-13.

Extent

0.01 Cubic Feet (1folder)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically.

Custodial History

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from the American Autograph Shop on 1936/12.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing completed 2015/04/17 by Alexandria Jones. EAD finding aid created 2015/04/17 by Alexandria Jones. EAD finding aid revised 2015/07/27 by Brittany Kropf.
Title
Samuel Francis Smith collection
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671