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Asa Jessup Smith

Asa J. Smith Oral History
OH
20 March 1969
1 transcript, 1 tape
Manuscript Section, Indiana Division
Indiana State Library

Processed by: Christina Baich, May 2006

Biographical Note:

Asa Jessup Smith was born on January 20, 1894, in Wabash, Indiana. His parents were Andrew Jackson Smith, a Methodist and doctor, and Louisa Frances (Jessup) Smith, a Quaker. He graduated from DePauw University in 1915 and the Indiana University Law School in 1917. Though he came from a Quaker background, he enlisted in the Marines during World War I. He served as a Private from 1917 to 1919 and was wounded at the Battle of Belleau Wood (1918). On June 10, 1920, he married Lena Tweedy.

Smith was private secretary to U.S. Senator Harry S. New and Clerk of the Committee on Territories in the United States Senate (1919-1921). He also served as a State Representative (1923); U.S. Commissioner and Special Master of the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana (1947-1950 and 1949-1954, respectively); and Chief Deputy Prosecutor for Marion County (1954-1958). During World War II, he reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (1940-1945). He died on February 12, 1973.

Source:

Hawkins, Hubert H. and Robert R. McClarren. Indiana Lives. Hopkinsville, KY: Historical Record Association, 1967.

Scope and Content Note:

The collection contains a transcript and tapes of an interview with Asa J. Smith conducted by Thomas Krasean on March 20, 1969. During the interview, Smith discusses his experiences as a Marine during World War I, Indiana political campaigns, the League of Nations, Harry S. New, Tom Taggart, George Coffin, James E. Watson, and Sherman Minton. He also discusses his association with the Oberholtzer family, including his representation of the family during the D. C. Stephenson trial.

Item Listing:

1969 Mar. 20 Reel-to-reel tape
1969 Mar. 20 Transcript 

Collection Information:

Size of Collection:
1 typed transcript, 1 reel-to-reel tape
 
Collection Dates:
 20 March 1969
 
Provenance:
Indiana State Library Oral history project
 
Access: This collection is open for research.
Restrictions:
None
 
Reproduction Rights:
Permission to reproduce, exhibit, or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Manuscript Section, Indiana State Library.  Possession of a reproduction from an Indiana State Library collection does not constitute permission for use.
 
Language Materials are entirely in English
Alternate Formats:
 
Related Holdings:
S2417, L368 

Notes:

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