Bess Foster Smith [RG1409.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG1409.AM:  Bess Foster Smith, 1887-1988

Papers:  1969, 1973
Johnson County, Nebraska, and Weiser, Idaho:  Author, poet, artist
Size:  Five items

BACKGROUND NOTE

Bess Foster, daughter of Frank and Mary (Nimmons) Foster, was born near Sterling, Johnson County, Nebraska, on June 26, 1887.  She attended the University of Nebraska, receiving her BA in 1914 and her MA in 1917, after which she moved to Weiser, Idaho, to teach high school English.  In 1918 she married Oliver J. Smith, with whom she had two sons.

Bess Foster Smith had a lengthy literary career.  She helped to develop Women’s Vocation Camps through the University of Idaho Extension Service from 1925 to 1943 by giving original pageants, chalk talks and reading original poems.  Her publications included “Sunlit Peaks,” an anthology of Idaho poets; “The Checkered Tablecloth,” her own original poems; “Family Album,” a memoir of her youth; and “My Immortal Friends,” an essay on the classics.  Her writings, both poetry and prose, in numerous magazines and newspapers.  Additionally, she painted over 500 water colors of Idaho scenes.  For more than fifty years Smith was a mentor to young artists and writers.

Bess Foster Smith died at the age of one hundred in Weiser, Idaho, on January 27, 1988.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection consists of five items relating to Bess Foster Smith’s life. Included is “Bess’s Picture Book,” a photocopied volume Smith put together in 1973 of her diary entries and drawings from her childhood in rural Johnson County, Nebraska.  Dating from 1900 to 1915, these entries and illustrations describe and picture her family members, her own and nearby houses, schools, and lifestyle and activities.  Other writings from Smith in the collection are a biographical sketch of her father, Frank B. Foster, published in “Bits and Pieces,” 1969; a reminiscence, “Saga of Silver Creek,” 1973.   A 1973 newspaper article about Smith’s nomination for an Idaho Governor’s Award in the Arts.  A cover letter, 1973, accompanies the items comprising this collection.

INVENTORY

Envelope containing:

  1. “Bess’s Picture Book,” 1973 – compilation of diary entries and illustrations, 1900-1915 (photocopy)
  2. Frank B. Foster biographical sketch in “Bits and Pieces,” 1969
  3. “Saga of Silver Creek,” 1973
  4. Newspaper article about Smith’s nomination for Idaho Governor’s Award in the Arts, 1973
  5. Cover letter, 1973

Subject headings:

Artists — Idaho
Artists — Nebraska
Authors — Idaho
Authors — Nebraska
Poets — Idaho
Poets — Nebraska
Smith, Bess Foster, 1887-1988


AIF         09-18-2018

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

The 1918 Flu Pandemic in Nebraska

The 1918 Flu Pandemic in Nebraska

On This Day: Armistice Celebrated Early

On This Day: Armistice Celebrated Early

Siouan Archeology

Siouan Archeology

About NSHS

The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded in 1878 by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed NSHS from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director Cindy Drake. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for NSHS.

Explore Nebraska

Discover the real places and people of our past at these NSHS sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of NSHS members.

NSHS Education

Learn more about the educational programs provided at our museums, sites, and online.

Education Digital Learning Resources

Find games, lists, and more to enhance your history education curriculum.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast!

Nebraska Collections

NSHS's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

NSHS's Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

NSHS Services

Digital Resources

Find all of our digital resources, files, videos, and more, all in one easy-to-search page!

Support The Historical Society

Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to the Nebraska State Historical Society help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of NSHS.

Volunteers are the heroes of NSHS. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.