White Cloud Smith [RG4248.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID



RG4248.AM:  White Cloud Smith, 1879-1975



Papers:  1918-1960

Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska:  Actor, musician, teacher, lecturer

Size:  0.25 cu.ft.; 1 box



BACKGROUND NOTE



According to his obituary, White Cloud Smith was born in a covered wagon between North Platte and McCook, Nebraska, in November 1879.  Other sources give his year of birth as 1877, and his place of birth as a sod house near North Platte.  He was named by his mother, who was part Pawnee Indian, either for the first thing she noticed after his birth or for the lightness of his skin.



White Cloud Smith’s musical talent was probably a skill he inherited from his father, Capt. John T. Smith, leader of Nebraska’s First Regimental Band.  White Cloud began his performing career at age fourteen as a trumpet player with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West concern and circus band.  As a member of the band, Smith appeared at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.



After attending Nebraska Wesleyan and the University of Nebraska, where he majored in law, Smith studied drama and traveled with the Chautauquas then appearing in Nebraska.  Eventually he became a “one-man show” spending thirty-five years as a performer/lecturer.  Smith was known nationally for performing a three-act, six character play about Davy Crockett in which he played all six parts.  In the 1930’s, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Tennessee for his role in promoting the legend of Davy Crockett.



Forced to cancel his traveling shows as gas rationing took effect during World War II, Smith, in 1949, at age seventy, accepted the job of superintending schools at the Nebraska Penitentiary.  Five years later he became a guide at the State Capitol.  He held this position until he retired at age eighty-three.  White Cloud Smith died in Lincoln, Nebraska on September 1, 1975.  He was survived by his wife, Hazel, and one daughter.



SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE



This collection consists of manuscript material arranged in three series:  1) Performance Materials, 1918, 1934, and n.d.; 2) Newspaper Clippings, 1934-1939, and 1958-1960; and 3) Miscellany, 1933-1960.  This collection relates to the career of White Cloud Smith as actor, lecturer, and monologist.



The performance Materials of Series 1 includes scripts, monologues, lecture notes, and poems by Smith in his presentations.  Of particular interest is the Davy Crockett Script (Folder 1), which Smith probably used in performing his one-man play.  Although most of the items in this series are undated, two of the scripts have dates of 1918 and 1934.



Series 2 is comprised of Newspaper Clippings, 1934-1939 and 1958-1960.  The clippings from the 1930’s document Smith’s appearances around the country.  Later clippings describe his varied career.  The Miscellany of Series 3 includes a program featuring Smith, 1960, and letters of recommendation about him, 1933-1944 and 1950.



Note:  See the portrait collection [RG2411.PH] for images of White Cloud Smith and Hazel L. Smith.  See also the audio collections [RG4161.AU and RG4849.AU] for recorded interviews of White Cloud Smith.



INVENTORY



Series 1 – Performance materials, 1918, 1934, n.d.

Box 1

Folder




    1. Scripts, 1918, 1934, and n.d.

    1. Scripts, 1918, 1934, and n.d.

    1. Monologues

    1. Lectures

    1. Poems

    1. Notes of Presentations



Series 2 – Newspaper clippings, 1934-1939; 1958-1960




    1. Newspaper clippings about White Cloud Smith’s appearances, 1934-1939 and 1958-1960.

    1. Newspaper clippings about White Cloud Smith’s appearances, 1934-1939 and 1958-1960.



Series 3 – Miscellany, 1933, 1944, 1950, 1960




    1. Program, 1960, and letters of recommendation, 1933, 1944, 1950

    1. The Older Nebraskans’ Voice, vol. 6, no. 6, 1975, “White Cloud Smith,”  pp. 4-8



 



AIP/pmc                06-02-1988

KFK/do                  01-17-2003

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

Siouan Archeology

Siouan Archeology

Nebraska Election Trivia

Nebraska Election Trivia

Marker Monday: Pawnee City

Marker Monday: Pawnee City

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.