Page Smith
Encyclopedia
Charles Page Smith who was known by his middle name, was a U.S.
historian
, professor
, author, and newspaper columnist.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Smith graduated with a B.A.
degree from Dartmouth College
in 1940. He then worked at Camp William James
, a center for youth leadership training opened in 1940 by Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy
, a Dartmouth College professor, as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps
. Smith was awarded a Purple Heart
for his service as a company commander of the 10th Mountain Division
of the United States Army
during World War II
.
After the war, he studied American history under Samuel Eliot Morison
at Harvard College
, receiving his M.A.
degree in 1948, and Ph.D.
degree in 1951.
After receiving his doctorate, Smith began work as a research associate at the Institute of Early American History and Culture in Williamsburg, Virginia
in 1951. He then taught history at the College of William and Mary
in Williamsburg. From 1953 to 1964, he was a professor of history at UCLA
. In 1964, he became the founding provost of Cowell College
, the first college of the University of California, Santa Cruz
(UCSC). He taught history at UCSC until 1973 when he retired as a Professor Emeritus
of History.
Both before and after retirement, Smith was intellectually active as a scholar, author, and columnist. He wrote more than 20 books, including a biography of John Adams
that won the 1963 Bancroft Prize
, and an eight-volume A People's History of the United States.
Smith also worked as a community activist for the homeless in Santa Cruz
. He co-founded (with longtime colleague Paul Lee) the William James Association in Santa Cruz, which helped establish a homeless shelter as well as the Homeless Garden Project. He also co-founded the Penny University, which organizes free weekly lectures and discussions for the community, and the Prison Arts Project.
Page Smith's archives are housed at the University of California Los Angele's (UCLA) Special Collections but have yet to be cataloged.
In 1942, Smith married Eloise Pickard (1921-1995). They were married for fifty-three years. Eloise Pickard died of kidney cancer
two days before Smith's own death from leukemia
at their home in Santa Cruz. They had four children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
, author, and newspaper columnist.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Smith graduated with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1940. He then worked at Camp William James
Camp William James
Camp William James was opened in 1940 by Dartmouth College professor, Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy, as a center for training youth for leadership in the Civilian Conservation Corps, which had been inaugurated in 1933 by Franklin Delano Roosevelt...
, a center for youth leadership training opened in 1940 by Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy
Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy
Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy was a historian and social philosopher, whose work spanned the disciplines of history, theology, sociology, linguistics and beyond...
, a Dartmouth College professor, as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
. Smith was awarded a Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
for his service as a company commander of the 10th Mountain Division
10th Mountain Division
The 10th Mountain Division is a light infantry division of the United States Army based at Fort Drum, New York. It is a subordinate unit of the XVIII Airborne Corps and the only division-sized element of the U.S. Army to specialize in fighting under harsh terrain and weather conditions...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
After the war, he studied American history under Samuel Eliot Morison
Samuel Eliot Morison
Samuel Eliot Morison, Rear Admiral, United States Naval Reserve was an American historian noted for his works of maritime history that were both authoritative and highly readable. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1912, and taught history at the university for 40 years...
at Harvard College
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, receiving his M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in 1948, and Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degree in 1951.
After receiving his doctorate, Smith began work as a research associate at the Institute of Early American History and Culture in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
in 1951. He then taught history at the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
in Williamsburg. From 1953 to 1964, he was a professor of history at UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
. In 1964, he became the founding provost of Cowell College
Cowell College
The first of the ten residential colleges of the University of California, Santa Cruz, established in 1965, Cowell College sits on the edge of a redwood forest with a remarkable view of Monterey Bay...
, the first college of the University of California, Santa Cruz
University of California, Santa Cruz
The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California...
(UCSC). He taught history at UCSC until 1973 when he retired as a Professor Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of History.
Both before and after retirement, Smith was intellectually active as a scholar, author, and columnist. He wrote more than 20 books, including a biography of John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
that won the 1963 Bancroft Prize
Bancroft Prize
The Bancroft Prize is awarded each year by the trustees of Columbia University for books about diplomacy or the history of the Americas. It was established in 1948 by a bequest from Frederic Bancroft...
, and an eight-volume A People's History of the United States.
Smith also worked as a community activist for the homeless in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
. He co-founded (with longtime colleague Paul Lee) the William James Association in Santa Cruz, which helped establish a homeless shelter as well as the Homeless Garden Project. He also co-founded the Penny University, which organizes free weekly lectures and discussions for the community, and the Prison Arts Project.
Page Smith's archives are housed at the University of California Los Angele's (UCLA) Special Collections but have yet to be cataloged.
In 1942, Smith married Eloise Pickard (1921-1995). They were married for fifty-three years. Eloise Pickard died of kidney cancer
Kidney cancer
Kidney cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cells in the kidney.The two most common types of kidney cancer are renal cell carcinoma and urothelial cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis...
two days before Smith's own death from leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
at their home in Santa Cruz. They had four children.
Writings
- James Wilson (1956)
- John Adams [2 v.] (New York: Doubleday, 1962)
- The Historian and History (1964)
- A City Upon a Hill (1966)
- Daughters of the Promised Land (1970)
- The Chicken Book: Being an Inquiry into the Rise and Fall, Use and Abuse, Triumph and Tragedy of Gallus Domesticus (Boston: Little, Brown, 1975) [with Charles Daniel]
- A People's History of the United States [8 v.] (McGraw-Hill, 1976-1987)
- The Constitution: A Documentary and Narrative History (1978)
- Dissenting Opinions (1984)
- Killing the Spirit: Higher Education in America (New York: Viking, 1990)
- Rediscovering Christianity: A History of Modern Democracy and the Christian Ethic (New York: St. Martin's, 1994)
- Democracy on Trial: The Japanese-American Evacuation and Relocation in World War II (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995)