Mary Smith papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: Mss 0063

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This is a collection of Mary T. Smith's personal records, as they relate to her work within several different Catholic and volunteer organizations, and spans the years between 1933 and 1970. The provenance of the collection has not yet been determined. Mrs. Smith's papers primarily document the management of two organizations of which she was intrinsically involved. An overview of the materials produced three series within the collection: Mount Carmel Guild, National Council of Catholic Women, and Other Materials.

For both the Mount Carmel Guild and the National Council of Catholic Women, there is significant illustration of the mission and goals of the organizations, and what they were able to accomplish. Included are such documents as by-laws, constitutions, financial records, meeting minutes, correspondence, lists of officers, and speeches. Among the files pertaining to the National Council of Catholic Women is a transcript from a speech presented in 1947 which addresses the "Status of Women."

Present in this collection are other materials such as the management records of the United Services Organization Council of Newark of which Mary Smith served in the 1940's, as well as files from her time as President of the Holy Angels Day Nursery in Newark. These files include the names of students in their First Communion classes and teacher salaries.

Lastly, this collection also contains information regarding two awards Mary Smith received for her volunteer work. The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice file contains primarily the names of other award recipients, while the information regarding the St. Louise de Marillac Medal which Smith received in 1963, includes the program from the ceremony and a newspaper article providing biographical information on Mrs. Smith.

This collection has a two-fold value in information. First, it provides the organizational records of several prominent welfare-minded groups in Newark during the 1940's through 1970's. The sense of their goals and the actions taken to accomplish these goals are apparent from the documents. Also illustrated within this collection is the life work of Mary T. Smith, as she spear-headed the success of these organizations. Researchers can gain a sense of Mrs. Smith's leadership, as well as the role these organizations played in facing the struggles and issues of our society during that time.

Dates

1933-1972

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is currently being processed at the Msgr. William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center; some portions of the collection may be unavailable for research. Advance appointments are required for the use of archival materials.

Conditions Governing Use

All materials available in this collection (unless otherwise noted) are the property of the Monsignor William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center and Seton Hall University, which reserves the right to limit access to or reproduction of these materials. Reproduction of materials or content is subject to United States copyright restrictions and may be subject to federal or state privacy regulations. Permission to publish exact reproductions must be obtained from the Director of the Archives and Special Collections Center.

Biographical / Historical

Mary Theresa (King) Smith was a prominent figure in Catholic and volunteer works in New Jersey throughout the mid 1900's. Born in Newark, NJ on February 20, 1896, Mrs. Smith remained a lifelong Newark resident. She graduated from the Elliot Street Public School and the Newark Business College. For eight years, Mrs. Smith was a department head for the Public Service Transport Company, presiding over the Department of Tickets and Transfers. She married Thomas J. Smith in 1925, and following his death in 1945, committed her life to charitable works. During the Depression, she helped organize and manage the Mount Carmel Guild, which supplied food and clothing to the unemployed. This organization was especially important to Mrs. Smith, and she received the Papal Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice in recognition of her service to the Guild.

Her dedicated and fervent volunteer work did not, however, end with the Guild. Mrs. Smith also served as President of the Holy Angels Day Nursery, Chairman of the United Services Organizations Council of Newark,trustee of the Welfare Federation of Newark, and national director of the National Council of Catholic Women. Her success as an organizational leader for welfare works led to an opportunity to travel to Europe with other members of the National Council of Catholic Women, where Mrs. Smith advised and inspired similar groups in several European countries to accomplish their missions of good works and outreach for their own citizens. In 1963, Mary T. Smith was awarded the highly respected Saint Louise de Marillac Medal for her distinguished personal service to work in the welfare field.

Mrs. Smith remained active with the Mt. Carmel Guild until her death on November 13, 1977, at the age of 81. She is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetary in East Orange, New Jersey.

Extent

1 Linear Feet (, Approximately 300 items.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Mary Theresa (King) Smith was a prominent figure in Catholic and volunteer works in New Jersey throughout the mid 1900's. The Mary Smith papers relate to her work within several different Catholic and volunteer organizations, including the Mount Carmel Guild and the National Council of Catholic Women, and spans the years between 1933 and 1970.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Materials were transferred to the Archives and Special Collections Center from the Archdiocese of Newark. Terms of accession unknown.

Related Materials

National Council of Catholic Women of the Diocese of Newark records, 1923-1929, ADN 0026, in the Monsignor William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center, Walsh Library, Seton Hall University.

Bayley Seton League records, 1939-1998, SHU 0047, in the Monsignor William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center, Walsh Library, Seton Hall University.

Women’s Guild of Seton Hall University records, 1956-2000, SHU 0049, in the Monsignor William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center, Walsh Library, Seton Hall University.

Processing Information

Collection was re-housed and partially processed by the Archives and Special Collections Center, circa 1980s. Collection processed and finding aid created by Lori Lauterbach and Tracy M. Jackson, October 2012. Additional materials not included in original finding aid processed and added to finding aid (Box 3 and Box 4) by Luciana Cardona and Tracy M. Jackson, February 2014.