Guide to the Lynn Smith papers
1926-1933
Collection number: HMC-0226.
Creator: Smith, Lynn, 1871-1933.
Title: Lynn Smith papers.
Dates: 1926-1933.
Volume of collection: 0.02 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials are in English.
Collection summary: Memoirs and letters of a gold prospector who worked in Fairbanks and other locales.
Biographical note:
Lynn Smith was born in New Castle, Indiana, in 1871. He came to Dawson via White Pass in 1898 to prospect for gold and later prospected in Rampart, Fairbanks, Hot Springs, Tanana, Ruby, and Iditarod, operating a jewelry business in each camp to finance his prospecting. He also served as an agent for the North American Trading and Transportation Company in Ruby and as a deputy United States Marshal in Flat, Iditarod and Ruby. From 1926 to 1933, Smith served as U.S. Marshal for the Fourth Judicial District, Fairbanks. He died in Seattle in 1933.
Collection description:
The collection consists of reminiscences of Lynn Smith from his days as a prospector, letters written by him to family members and friends outside Alaska, a newspaper clipping concerning him, and various obituaries and testimonials. The letters concern his daily activities as a U.S. marshal and his travels around Alaska and to Washington and Oregon.
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives may not own copyright to this collection.
Preferred citation: Lynn Smith papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Related materials: For other archival collections at Archives and Special Collections relating to the gold rush era in Alaska, refer to the Research Guide to Gold Rush Collections. For other archival collections relating to mining in Alaska, refer to the Research Guide to Miners and Mining Collections.
Acquisition note: This collection was given to the Archives by William R. Hunt in 1986.
Processing information: This guide to this collection was revised by Megan K. Friedel in 2011.