Guide to the Seba Smith Papers, 1817-1858

Seba Smith (Valedictorian of Class of 1818, Bowdoin) was born in a log cabin in Buckfield, Maine 14 Sep 1792. Smith was founder and publisher of the Portland Daliy Courier, the first daily newspaper north or east of Boston. He pioneered American political satire, writing "Letters to the Courier" under the pseudonym of Major Jack Downing, a political cartoon figure who took sharp digs at politicians. The Jack Downing letters eventually became famous nationally. Smith also wrote several books, of which the most successful was a collection of Yankee tales, called "Way Down East." Smith died 29 Jul 1868 in Patchogue, NY.

The Seba Smith collection contains correspondence, autobiography, manuscript material, newspaper clippings, and speeches.