Archives & Manuscript Collections National Sporting Library Middleburg, VA Harry Worcester Smith Archive Name: Smith, Harry Worcester MC0041 Materials: Correspondence, photographs, typescripts, publications, pamphlets, event programs, newspaper clippings, magazines Dates: 1875-1977 Usage: Unless otherwise stated by NSL staff, these records are open for research without restrictions. Biographical Note Harry Worcester Smith was born in 1865, a second-generation American of English descent. He lived most of his life in Grafton, MA on his estate Lordvale, which was destroyed by fire in 1940. He was a successful businessman in the textile industry. He was a patent expert, perfecting over 30 patents on automatic color weaving which revolutionized the manufacture of gingham. Smith started the Grafton Country Club with the desire to bring wholesome English outdoor life, riding, shooting and hunting to America. He was a champion four-in- hand driver. His horses “Sky-High” and “Sue Woodstock” won three National Horse Shows at Madison Square Garden. He took up steeplechasing in his thirties, winning the Genesee Valley Point-to- Point, the gentlemen’s Whitney race at Saratoga in 1897, the Meadow Brook Hunt Cup on Long Island in 1898 and 1899, and the Champion Steeplechase of America in 1900. He placed first at the Grand National Steeplechase at Sheepshead bay in 1901, as well as in the Hempstead and Calvert Cups in Baltimore the same year. A pivotal moment in his foxhunting career is known as The Great Hound Match of 1905 in which English foxhounds and American foxhounds were put to the test to see which breed was superior. Smith and his American foxhounds proved to be the victor by the final judgment at the end of the two week match. Smith spent most of his middle ages researching and writing about the life of Edward Troye, one of the greatest American equine portraitists of the nineteenth century. Through his continuous research, acquisitions, and documentation of Troye’s works, the first gallery exhibition of Troye’s works was held at the Newhouse Galleries in New York City in 1938. Throughout his career, Smith wrote numerous essays and articles, and he authored several books, including Life and Sport in Aiken and Those Who Made It, A Sporting Tour through Ireland, England, Wales and France, and A Sporting Family of the Old South. MC0041 – p. 2 Collection Description The Harry Worcester Smith Collection consists primarily of materials related to the research and writings of Smith. Also included are materials related to his personal life and materials collected by others after his death. These materials include photographs, correspondence, typescripts, newspaper clippings, articles, publications, and other types of information on various subjects which have been organized into 6 series. Oversize materials are included in this collection. Series and Subseries I. Correspondence, (1912-1945) 17 Folders This series consists of 17 folders of correspondence between Harry Worcester Smith and others. Included are personal, hand-written letters, as well as formal and business correspondence. Seven folders contain correspondence relating to social invitations and engagements, and four contain correspondence regarding specific people or subjects. Six folders contain general correspondence with many different people on a variety of subjects. It is noted that the general correspondence has not been arranged in any particular order, chronological or otherwise. II. Authored Works, (1914-1943) 66 Folders This series contains 66 folders, which have been further divided into four subseries. The materials in this series relate to the books written by Smith and include research materials, writing drafts, notes, photographs, correspondence, book reviews, and publication information for three published books. Also included are the research materials, outline, and drafts for one unpublished book, Sporting Reminiscences. Oversize materials are contained in this series. A. Life and Sport in Aiken, (1926-1942) 10 Folders This subseries includes 10 folders of materials relating to Life and Sport in Aiken, published in 1935. The subseries contains research materials, which include magazine articles, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and photographs. Also included are essays, writing drafts, and notes written by Smith and book reviews and correspondence regarding publication information. B. A Sporting Family of the Old South, (1930-1943) 3 Folders This subseries contains 3 folders of information relating to A Sporting Family of the Old South, published in 1936. Included are photographs, correspondence, and the prospectus for the book. Magazines with reviews of the book are located in an oversize storage container. MC0041 – p. 3 C. A Sporting Tour, (1914-1939) 27 Folders This subseries consists of 27 folders of materials relating to A Sporting Tour through Ireland, England, Wales and France, published in 1925. Primarily, the subseries contains research about horse racing in Europe and in Canada and includes research about specific horses and races. Information about people, such as Frederick Watson, Prince Charles Kinsky, and Harry Beasley is included, as well. The materials include correspondence, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, typescripts of published articles, photographs, and programs from events. Notes, essays, and writing drafts of Smith’s are included, as well as book reviews and articles about the book, written by others. Newspaper clippings and magazines containing book reviews are located in 2 oversize storage containers. D. Sporting Reminiscences, (1915-1938) 26 Folders This subseries contains 26 folders of articles, notes, correspondence, photographs, and writing drafts for Smith’s unpublished book, Sporting Reminiscences. The proposed outline, dedication, prologue, and several chapters are included in this subseries. Photographs, clippings, and reproductions of equestrian artwork are located in 2 oversize storage containers. III. Writings and Research Materials, (1875-1945) 232 Folders This series consists of 232 folders of Smith’s research and writings, which is divided into six subseries, based on subject. Contained in this series is information about sporting subjects and various people, including Smith himself. The materials include articles, clippings, correspondence, photographs, programs from events, and publications, as well as writing drafts, essays, and notes written by Smith. It also includes one oversize container of magazines and newspapers containing reviews written by Smith. A. Horse Shows, (1914-1938) 30 Folders This subseries contains 30 folders of information relating to a number of horse shows in the United States, Canada, and Ireland. Included are newspaper clippings, pamphlets, and correspondence. Programs and catalogs from specific shows are also included. The Irish Horse Show Annual from 1927 is located in oversize storage. B. Flat Racing, (1879-1943) 24 Folders This subseries includes 24 folders of materials regarding flat racing. Seven folders contain information about specific race horses and two folders contain information about jockey, Samuel Purdy. The subseries contains newspaper clippings, correspondence, photographs, publications, and event programs. Essays, notes, and writing drafts written by Smith are included, as well. C. Fox Hunting, (1905-1945) 48 Folders MC0041 – p. 4 This subseries includes 48 folders of materials about fox hunting, primarily in Virginia and Ireland. The materials include newspaper clippings, correspondence, photographs, programs, and schedules, as well as essays, notes, and drafts written by Smith. Information is included about several hunts, including Loudoun, Warrenton, Middleburg, Chatham, Ft. Belvoir, and Orange County Hunt. Five folders contain information regarding the Orange County Hunt dispute. Materials relating to Warrenton Hunt and Grafton Hounds is located in 2 oversize storage containers. D. Racing in America, (1918-1944) 25 Folders This subseries contains 25 folders of materials relating to Racing in America by John Hervey. Correspondence with Hervey indicates that Smith was closely involved in the writing and publication of the book, encouraging Hervey, providing research material, and contacting publishers. Four folders of correspondence and eight folders of photographed artwork are contained in this subseries. Also included are articles, newspaper clippings, notes, and essays. A Racing in America typescript, poster, order form, and news article about the book are also contained in this subseries. E. Steeplechasing, (1900-1942) 40 Folders This subseries contains 40 folders of materials relating to steeplechasing. The materials include photographs, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and event programs. Smith’s research notes, writing drafts, and essays on the subject and about specific steeplechasing and hunt clubs are included, as well. F. People, Places, and General Interests, (1875-1945) 65 Folders This subseries contains 65 folders of research and writing materials covering an array of subjects. This subseries contains biographical information and research on people and families. It also includes information on a variety of topics, including horses, cattle, property, events, and activities. The materials include drafts, essays, and articles written by Smith and by others, as well as correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, programs, and publications. Large photographs, maps, magazines, and envelopes of sporting data are located in 4 oversize storage