1.
- Published / Created:
- 1868-1870
- Call Number:
- WA MSS S-2185
- Collection Title:
- Lucas F. Smith diaries and notebooks
- Container / Volume:
- Box 1 | Folder 2
- Image Count:
- 70
- Abstract:
- Nine pocket diaries from the years 1867, 1868, 1871-1872, 1874-1875, 1877-1878, and 1880, containing brief holograph entries documenting Smith's activities as a law student at the University of Michigan; his early involvement in organizing clubs for young Democratics; his travels in the West, to the Northeast, and to his family home in Indiana, by steamer, stagecoach, and train; his work as a district and a criminal attorney in Texas; and his social and religious activities. Individuals mentioned in Smith's diaries include friends J. A. Cheneworth, John R. Higdon and Joseph W. Waddell, and his brothers Joseph and Zachary of Bonham, Texas; Thomas J. Brown and J. W. Throckmorton, Smith's friends and law partners in Sherman, Texas; and James Preston, whom Smith defended in his Dallas, Texas murder trial. and The daily entries in the diaries are followed by names and addresses of acquaintances, personal financial accounts, and miscellaneous notes. A pocket notebook dated 1870 Dec 26 contains copies in Smith's hand of forms of indictment for various crimes.
- Description:
- Lucas F. Smith was born ca. 1840 in Wells County, Indiana. He apprenticed as a printer in 1859, and was a member of Company G of the 101st Indiana Volunteer Infantry between 1863 and 1865. After graduating from the University of Michigan Law Department in 1868, he travelled West to Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. In 1870 he was appointed district attorney for the 11th Judicial District at Bonham, Texas. Between 1873 and 1880, the date of the last diary, Smith practiced law with Thomas J. Brown and I. W. Throckmorton in Sherman, Texas, lived in St. Louis, Missouri, where he received his license to practice law; travelled to Indiana, Nebraska, Kansas, St. Louis, Colorado, New Mexico, New York State, Boston, and Rhode Island; and practiced law in Dallas, Texas. and Purchased from William P. Wreden on the William Robertson Coe Fund.
- Subject (Geographic):
- Ann Arbor (Mich.)--Social life and customs, Bonham (Tex.)--Social life and customs, Buffton (Ind.)--Social life and customs, Colorado--Description and travel, Dallas (Tex.)--Social life and customs, Nebraska--Description and travel, New Mexico--Description and travel, New York (State)--Description and travel, Saint Louis (Mo.)--Description and travel, Saint Louis (Mo.)--Social life and customs, Sherman (Tex.)--Social life and customs, and Texas--Description and travel
- Subject (Name):
- Brown, Thomas J, Cheneworth, J. A, Democratic Party (U.S.) Michigan, Denton & Wood. Pocket diary, Preston, Ja. (James), Smith, Joseph, 1870-1940, Smith, Lucas F, Smith, Zachary, fl. 1870, Texas. District Court (11th Judicial District), Throckmorton, J. W. (James Webb), 1825-1894, University of Michigan. Department of Law. Students, and Waddell, Joseph W
- Subject (Topic):
- Lawyers--Texas and Public prosecutors--Texas
- Found in:
- Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library > [1868-1870]