Erastus Washington Smith Papers, 1758-1917 (bulk 1850-1881): Finding Aid

Biography of Erastus Washington Smith

Erastus Washington Smith was a native of the State of Connecticut and an eminent engineer. Raised in Ohio, he began his career in Cleveland employed in a steam-engine manufactory. Subsequently, he went to New York as an apprentice to the Allaire Works, for some years the most noted in the country. To further his education in the physical sciences, he left the firm long enough to graduate from New York University in 1844. Returning to the Allaire Works, where he remained for six more years, he became the principal in the construction of some of the best vessels of that time.

After this long and diversified experience in construction and design, Erastus Smith became a consulting engineer. At different times, many steamship companies were under his direction, either in the capacity of Engineer-in-Chief, Constructing Engineer, or Superintendent of Machinery. Many of the largest and finest engines built in the United States are from his designs and drawings.

He was a designer for the Harlem River Bridge and Consulting Engineer for the Brooklyn Bridge. In 1866, New York University conferred on Erastus W. Smith the honor degree of Doctor Physici Artibus (Doctor of Physical Arts). This was the first such degree ever conferred in the United States.

Description of Contents

The Erastus Washington Smith Papers, comprising 3.88 linear feet of documentation, span from 1758 through 1917, with a majority of the documents falling between the years 1850 and 1881. The Papers focus on Smith's life and work as an engineer, including his work on marine and hydraulic steam engines, as well as plans for Army transports and U.S.S. Dunderberg.

The papers consist of incoming and outgoing letters (mostly in the form of letterbooks), newspaper clippings, periodicals, invoices, design drawings, and engineering/mathematical implements.

The Erastus Smith Papers are organized into two series by document type. Many of the materials in Series 1: General Files focus on Smith's honorary degree from New York University, as well as several calculating tools likely used by Smith in his engineering work. The series also includes some Civil War era documentation, including materials on the ironclad U.S.S. Dunderberg, which Smith likely worked on, and plans for Army transport boats designed by Norman W. Wheeler. Series 2: Letterbooks consists entirely of bound copies of outgoing correspondence written by Smith. The letterbooks, which include some personal correspondence, are composed primarily of business correspondence pertaining to Smith's work on marine steam engines, steam engines for water pumping utilities, and the Leonard & Smith Company.

Arrangement

The Erastus Washington Smith Papers are organized into the following two series:

• Series 1: General Files, 1758-1917
• Series 2: Letterbooks, 1850-1874

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Erastus Washington Smith Papers are the physical property of Nimitz Library. Copyright belongs to the authors or creators of the works, or their legal representatives. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure written permission to publish, reprint, or reproduce material from Special Collections & Archives. The researcher assumes responsibility for infringement of copyright or literary or publication rights. Please contact the Head, Special Collections & Archives for permission to publish and for further information.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Gift of Florence M. and Philip C. Morgan in September 1959.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional material pertaining to the career of Erastus Washington Smith may be found in the Erastus Smith Steamship Papers Collection, 1841-1883, at The Mariners' Museum Library in Newport News, Virginia.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Erastus Washington Smith Papers, MS 213

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

This collection was processed by in June 1986. Finding aid written in June 1986 and revised by David D'Onofrio in May 2014.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Dunderberg (Ironclad screw frigate)
• Marine engineering
• Oregonian (Cargo ship)
• Smith, Erastus Washington
• Steam engineering
• United States. Army -- Transportation
• Wheeler, Norman W.

Genre Terms

• Articles
• Clippings (information artifacts)
• Correspondence
• Design drawings
• Invoices
• Letter books
• Manuscripts
• Slide rules