Smith (Elden) Papers
Scope and Contents
The materials contained in this collection are the speeches, papers, correspondence, and notes of Los Angeles banker Elden Smith. Many of these materials contain and reflect Smith's banking and management philosophy. Also contains materials relating to Smith's time at Whittier College and Stanford University.
Dates
- Creation: 1927-1967 and undated
Creator
- Smith, Elden (Creator, Person)
Language of Materials
Languages represented in the collection: English.
Access
Collection open for research.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to reproduce or to publish must be submitted in writing to Special Collections.
Biography / Administrative History
Lewis Elden Smith (1906 – 1964) was a prominent Los Angeles banker who became known for his leadership and emphasis on mentoring new professionals. His concern for matters of public interest, such as the creation of a new library and mall in Riverside, as well as long range water and industrial development projects, earned him the respect and admiration of his community.
Born in Selma, Ohio, Smith and his family moved to California in 1918. He graduated from Whittier College in 1928, and earned an MA from Stanford. In 1961, Whittier College awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Smith began his banking career in 1931 with Security First National Bank in Los Angeles, where he quickly rose to become Vice President. His career was interrupted by World War II, when he served in the Maritime Commission. He was subsequently associated with the construction firm of William A. Johnson, serving as President of Sun Gold, Inc. Smith returned to banking in 1950 as the Executive Vice President of the Citizens National Trust and Savings Bank of Riverside, and in 1951 he was elected its President and Chairman of the Board. The bank expanded rapidly under his leadership, opening many new branches and merging with the Security First National Bank in 1957. Rejoining Security First National Bank as Chairman of the Executive Committee and later as Vice Chairman of the Board, Smith remained with them until his retirement in 1963. Despite his retirement, Smith continued as an active participant in the bank as a member of the board of directors and executive committee, as well as remaining a member of the Inland Division Board and Executive Committee.
Elden Smith's wife Harriet donated her husband's papers to The Claremont Colleges Library in order to make her husband's philosophy of banking to students of business and banking. Smith believed in recruiting both those with proven banking abilities as well as the promising college graduate. His leadership, mentorship, and work for his community led the City of Riverside to dedicate a fountain in his honor in the Downtown Pedestrian Mall on September 9, 1967.
Sources
Drake, Frances B. The Elden Smith Papers, 1927 – 1966. May 27, 1987. Special Collections, The Claremont Colleges Library, Claremont, California.
Elden Smith Memorial Fountain pamphlet, Elden Smith Papers (H.Mss.0854). Special Collections, The Claremont Colleges Library, Claremont, California.
Extent
2 boxes (2 document boxes)
Abstract
This collection contains the papers of Elden Smith, a prominent Los Angeles banker and community leader in the City of Riverside. Smith emphasized leadership, mentorship, and good citizenship, and gained great respect from his colleagues and community. Elden's wife Harriet donated his papers, which include his speeches, administrative papers, notes, and correspondence, to provide students of business and banking access to his business philosophy.
Organization and Arrangement
Items are arranged on a file level.
Physical Location
Please consult repository.
Provenance / Source of Acquisition
Gift of Harriet Smith, 1987.
Accruals
No additions to the collection are anticipated.
Processing Information
Original order of the materials was maintained, and kept in the files as Smith had arranged them. Files were then reversed to put them in chronological order. Occasionally, this order is broken when several letters are clipped together in which case the top letter determines the order in the listing of the group, but the earliest letter in the group is listed first in the group.
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Elden Smith Papers
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Sara Chetney, MA
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the 01 - Special Collections & Archives, The Claremont Colleges Library Repository
800 North Dartmouth Ave
Claremont CA 91711 United States
Email: specialcollections@claremont.edu