Guide to the Nora Archibald Smith family Papers, 1867-1937, undated
Nora Archibald Smith Family Papers, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine
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Nora Archibald Smith (1859-1934), the younger sister of Kate Douglas Wiggin, was born in Philadelphia and subsequently lived in San Francisco, Santa Barbara, New York City, and Hollis, Maine. She was awarded an A.B. from Santa Barbara College in 1877 and received a certificate from the California Kindergarten Training School in 1881. Throughout her adult life Smith was active in the kindergarten movement, serving as superintendent of the Silver Street Kindergarten (San Francisco), the first free kindergarten west of the Rockies, and authoring numerous books and articles, some with Kate Douglas Wiggin, on the benefits and social importance of kindergarten education. Smith was also a children's author writing either individually or with Wiggin, and she authored a biography of her sister, "Kate Douglas Wiggin As Her Sister Knew Her" (1925). Smith died in Portland, Maine, on February 1, 1934.
Material documenting Smith family life in California, the sisters' (Kate Wiggin and Nora A. Smith) involvement in the kindergarten movement, their involvement in publishing, and family affairs in Maine. The correspondence, chiefly of Nora Smith and Kate Wiggin, dates primarily from the late 1800's. Writings consist mainly of holograph drafts, but include some typed manuscripts and proofs, notably those for the story and play adaptation of The Old Peabody Pew. There are also family photographs, including two tintypes and two Bachrach portraits. Miscellaneous printed matter includes news clippings, school programs, offprints, certificates, and a bound volume devoted to stitchery and needlework. A related collection is the Kate Douglas Wiggin Collection.
Smith's correspondence, 1867-1934, n.d., much of it with her mother, Helen Elizabeth Smith, and her sister, Kate Douglas Wiggin. Includes letters from Smith's literary agent and publishers regarding both her own writings and those of Kate Douglas Wiggin, and correspondence from readers about Smith's books. Also includes telegrams concerning Smith's death.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1867-1879
1889-1894
1897, n.d. "Scotch letters"
1899-1914
1922-1925
1926
1928-1934
1934 Telegrams concerning Smith's death
n.d.
Consists primarily of holographs of Smith's poems, stories, songs, and ideas for future works. Also includes two annotated and abridged copies of the Kate Douglas Wiggin play The Old Peabody Pew.
No restrictions.
Arranged chronologically.
1871-1933
Poems and ideas for stories and poems, 1905-1912
Kate Douglas Wiggin as Her Sister Knew Her, 1925-1926, n.d.
"Admirals All" backgound material, n.d.
"Admirals All" clippings
"A Kindergarten Picnic" background material, n.d.
Writings, n.d.
Writings, n.d.
Writings, n.d.
Clippings and printed material documenting Smith and Kate Douglas Wiggin's involvement in the kindergarten movement, including material published in Mexico. Also included are Smith's diploma and other items relating to the California Kindergarten Training School, as well as Wiggins' diploma from the Pacific Kindergarten Normal School.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1877-1912, n.d., Certificates and printed material
1877-1912, n.d., Certificates and printed material
n.d, Clippings
California Kindergarten Training School class lists, bylaws, blank diplomas, and clippings, n.d.
Material published in Mexico, n.d.
Commencement programs, a course catalog, clippings, and other miscellaneous material pertaining to Santa Barbara College.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1874-1877, n.d., Printed material, clippings, and songs
1874, n.d. Clippings
Includes correspondence from Ignacio Bonillas, articles and songs concerning Mexico, and an offprint about Sonora, "El Estado de Sonora, Mexico: Sus Industrias, Commerciales, and Mineras y Manufactureras." (1897)
Original order.
No restrictions.
Mexico materials, n.d.
Mexico materials, n.d.
Notable items include an obituary for Nora Archibald Smith, the menu to a "Jungle Dinner" hosted by Rudyard Kipling, and several articles about Smith.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1899-1937, n.d., Newsclippings, menu, and miscellaneous printed material
Knitting patterns
Photographs, including tintypes of Nora Archibald Smith and Kate Douglas Wiggin, photographs of the Smith and Wiggin families, and images of Quillcote, Kate Douglas Wiggin's house in Saco, Maine. Also includes cast photographs from a production of The Old Peabody Pew.
Arranged alphabetically.
No restrictions.
"Fair" photographs
Family photographs
Miscellaneous images
Miscellaneous images
"The Old Peabody Pew"
Quillcote
Quillcote
Smith, Nora Archibald
Smith, Nora Archibald
Smith, Nora Archibald
Wiggin, Kate Douglas
Wiggin, Kate Douglas tintypes
Wiggin, Kate Douglas