This subseries consists of correspondence between J. Foster Smith and his wife, Josephine T. C. Smith, as well as correspondence with family, friends, and acquaintances in the United States and overseas. Topics include social clubs and gatherings, the Salem fire of 1914, current events, family issues, sailing and boating, and religion.

This subseries primarily contains the legal and financial papers of J. Foster Smith, including life insurance policies, powers of attorney, notary public certifications, a receipt for Josephine's engagement ring, account books, Foster's 1933 will, and estate settlement papers that include property appraisals, financial statements, and Foster's death certificate. Also in this series are travel-related documents including 1919 and 1926 passports, travel itineraries, and numerous receipts from foreign travel.

The bulk of J. Foster Smith’s writings revolve around his work and his social clubs. His speeches and papers, presented at the Naumkeag Mills and other organizations, related to workman’s compensation, the evolution of New England textile mills, and successful management techniques. In addition, he traveled to Europe and Asia to tour other textile mills, and wrote papers and speeches about his experiences. He also wrote fictional stories and humorous anecdotes which he presented to Salem Club members between 1919 and 1935. His writings include a history of the town of Salem, personal reflections on his trip to China, and musings on colorful characters he met through his work at the cotton mill.

See also Printed material - Writings of J. Foster Smith.

This series consists of J. Foster Smith's diaries, scrapbooks, and desk calendars. Diaries discuss daily activities and those of his family and friends, as well as places visited. Scrapbooks were compiled by Foster and his family, and illustrate local and state-wide recognition for his achievement. A newspaper clippings scrapbook was compiled by his family after his death in 1936. Desk calendars list meetings with business associates and friends, as well as other appointments between 1930 and 1935.

Primary correspondents are Josephine's sister, Marian Chadwick Hotchkiss; her nephew, Burton Hotchkiss; her cousin Fidelia Bridges; and her mother, Mary Tillinghast Snell Chadwick. Also in this subseries are letters from her daughter Helen when she attended Smith College from 1913 to 1915. Correspondence describes daily activities, social outings, travel, house servants, and professional prospects of the family, as well as Helen's illness and death in 1916 from Hodgkin's Disease. A large amount of correspondence relates to the January 1936 death of Josephine's husband, J. Foster Smith, including retained copies of her replies. Some of Josephine's later correspondence pertains to charitable and historical organizations with which she is affiliated.

See also correspondence with J. Foster Smith, Series I.A.

Papers include certificates of completion from Massachusetts Normal Arts School, genealogical papers, invitations, anniversary remembrances, passports (1923, 1926), a letter of credit, receipts, lists of cards and telegrams, lists of flowers sent for the funeral of J. Foster Smith, and Josephine's 1936 will. Financial papers include receipts, lists of securities, and financial agreements between Josephine and her son, Philip. Of interest is a copy of an account of the 1940 London Blitz from the diary of Josephine's friend Alice S. Webb.

Josephine's writings include the speech “Old Federal Street Gardens” which she delivered at the 10th anniversary of the Salem Garden Club in 1938. Other undated writings include a handwritten rough draft of her speech and research and descriptions of various flowers and plants.

This series contains four diaries and three datebooks. The diaries recount daily activities, family news and events, and trips throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.

The Naumkeag Steam Cotton Company of Salem was incorporated in 1839 and began operations in 1845, mainly producing Pequot brand sheets and pillowcases. Beginning as a "cotton boy" in 1879, Foster worked at Naumkeag for 57 years. He became the corporation clerk in 1896 and in 1918 he was promoted to mill agent, directing the mill's day to day operations. Included in this series is business correspondence as well as administrative, legal, and financial records of the mill.

Business correspondence includes that of William Perkins McMullen, the Naumkeag mill agent that preceded Foster, the National Association of Cotton Manufacturers, the American Wool and Cotton Reporter, and the Salem mayor's office. Of interest are letters debating the pros and cons of a shuttle loom versus a shuttleless loom in the cotton industry, and correspondence in the aftermath of the Salem fire of 1914, which destroyed the Naumkeag Mills. (The mills were quickly rebuilt.) Also in this series are letters of invitation to speak before various business associations. There are also many congratulatory letters in 1918 when J. Foster was promoted to mill agent, and in 1929, upon his 50th anniversary at the cotton mill.

Legal records consist of deeds, leases, inspection notices, contracts with electric lighting companies, and purchase agreements. A large number of documents relate to a petition of the American Glue Co. to the Massachusetts Land Court confirming their right to lay and maintain pipes over land belonging to the Naumkeag Steam Cotton Co. Court documents, deeds, and supporting notes from a series of lawsuits date from 1915 to 1920. Financial records consist of bills, investment securities records, stockholder records and letters, and annual reports. Two account books contain records related to heating, lighting, fuel, starch, oil, supplies, repairs, weaving, and pressing for the cotton mill.

A notebook dating from 1891 to 1920 includes a list of cotton mill personnel along with their wages and dates of employment. Also in this series is a collection of envelopes containing various misspellings of "Naumkeag" that Foster kept from 1900 to 1908.

See also Printed material - Naumkeag Steam Cotton Co. records and J. Foster Smith's 1935 and 1936 work journals.

J. Foster Smith was a charter member and treasurer of the Hawthorne Memorial Association, incorporated in 1910 to erect a memorial statue of Nathaniel Hawthorne in Salem. Records include a copy of the organization's charter and by-laws (1910), a list of members and account of dues, bonds, financial correspondence, and treasurer's reports from 1913 to 1916, and 1925.

A member of the Essex Institute of Salem for over 44 years, Foster became a member of the council in 1926. As part of the Finance Committee and later Finance Committee chair, he was in charge of all bills payable. Records include budgets, records of expenditures, budget committee reports, trustee meeting minutes, treasurer's reports, and financial audits for 1932, 1933, and 1935. Also included is financial correspondence with other board members, particularly James Duncan Phillips, who preceded Foster as chair of the Finance Committee. The records largely relate to payroll issues, and include discussions about staff reductions in addition to payroll receipts and time cards.

This subseries contains the by-laws of the Young Men's Republican Club of Salem (1895); a print of a 1901 painting by the artist Isaac Caliga of Salem; a message from the Civic League of Salem (1905); views of Salem after the Great Fire of 1914; programs and clippings related to Salem events, the Essex Institute, the Ropes Memorial, the Hawthorne Memorial, and the Putnam Club; and various publications of the Salem Garden Club.

Included is an 1897 report of the Executive Committee; annual reports from 1899, 1901, and 1903; a 1920 president's address; and newspaper clippings related to the club.

Included is material from the Smiths' voyages on the Cunard Line's Umbria in 1907; the Nieuw Amsterdam in 1919; and their 1933-1934 world cruise through Japan, China, Egypt, France, Spain, and England, consisting of passenger lists, menus, and programs from Presidents Line ships S. S. President Hoover, S. S. President Cleveland, S. S. President Adams, and S.S. President Roosevelt. Also included are restaurant menus, visitors' maps, postcards, and hotel brochures.

Included are programs of the National Association of Cotton Manufacturers; stockholders' reports from 1928 through 1936; newspaper clippings from J. Foster Smith’s 50-year anniversary celebration in 1929; two editions of The Story of Pequot by Clive Jarvis (1929, 1934); annual reports from 1948 and 1949, and many undated advertisements and labels. This series also includes the “Pequot Shield” monthly newsletter from September 1938 through April 1942.

Included in this subseries are a 1920 speech given by J. Foster Smith as president of the Salem Club; an article related to the history of Stage Point, an area of Salem near the Naumkeag Mills; and an article printed in the American Federalist that discussed Foster's progressive vision of labor relations.

This subseries contains newspaper clippings, birthday and Christmas cards, scenic prints, and certificates of honorary membership.