1860-1921
Guide to the Collection
Abstract
This collection consists of photographs of the family of Massachusetts abolitionist and suffragist Judith Winsor Smith. Most of the photographs are portraits of various members of the Smith family, as well as a photograph of the Smith family home in East Boston, Mass.
Biographical Sketch
Judith Winsor McLauthlin Smith was born in Marshfield, Mass., 26 November 1821. Her parents, Lewis McLauthlin and Polly Hathaway, were descendents of Mayflower passengers. In 1842, Judith married Silvanus Smith, a shipbuilder in East Boston. During the early years of their marriage, they lived in Duxbury, and later they moved to Jamaica Plain. Together they had six children: Sidney (b. 1846), Frances (1849-1916), Zilpha (1852-1926), Mary (1855-1908), Erasmus (b. 1858), and Jennie (b. 1865).
During her lifetime, Smith was involved in numerous social and political organizations and causes. She was an abolitionist, a member of the Standing Committee of Theodore Parker's 28th Congregational Society, a founder and the first president of the Home Club of East Boston (the second women's club in Massachusetts), and an officer in state and national women's suffrage associations. Smith remained active in the suffrage movement until her death in 1921.
At least two of the Smith's children, Zilpha and Frances, were also involved with social causes. Zilpha Drew Smith, social worker and educator, was involved in many aspects of social welfare in Boston from 1872-1918. She served as the Head Registrar and General Secretary of the Associated Charities, a city-wide network of charity organizations, from its founding in 1879 to 1903. She was also active in the National Conference of Charities and Correction. In 1888, Smith along with Charles W. Birtwell formed the Monday Evening Club, a discussion group for social workers. In 1904, Smith became the Assistant Director of the Boston School for Social Workers (later the Simmons College School of Social Work).
Frances Smith was also a social worker and she devoted much of her life to charitable organizations. She was the district secretary of the North Station District of the Associated Charities of Boston, a member of the Co-operative Society of Visitors, and editor of the first Directory of Boston Charitable and Beneficent Organizations.
Jennie Smith married a man with the last name of Merrick, and it is likely that the photographs were handed down through this part of the family. Very little is known about the Smiths' other children.
Collection Description
The Judith Winsor Smith family photographs consist of one box of loose photographs and three oversized photographs in one oversize box. The collection spans the years ca. 1860 to 1921.
The collection consists primarily of portraits of the Smith family. Most of these are photographs of Judith Winsor Smith, her husband Silvanus Smith, and their daughters Zilpha, Frances, and Jennie. Additional portraits include Judith's parents, Polly and Lewis McLauthlin, and the Smith's three other children, Mary, Erasmus, and Sidney, as well as their grandchildren. Several portraits were removed from a photo collage created for Judith and Silvanus's 50th wedding anniversary. This collage was disassembled; the original collage can be seen hanging in the background of Photo. #161.70. Oversize portraits include a photograph of Judith and Silvanus with their six children. There is also one photograph of the Smith family home in East Boston, Mass. This collection includes one tintype and one carte de visite.
Photographers represented in the collection include Eliphalet J. Foss, Charles F. Conly, and Robert J. Chute (all of Boston, Mass.), and Bushby & Hart (Lynn, Mass.).
Acquisition Information
The Judith Winsor Smith family photographs were removed from the Judith Winsor Smith papers, which were donated to the Massachusetts Historical Society by Jane Bartels in March 1987.
Detailed Description of the Collection
I. Individual portraits
Hall, Mary (Smith) (1855-1908), 1879.
Taken by Edward S. Dunshee (Boston, Mass.).Hall, Mary (Smith) (1855-1908), ca. 1882.
Taken by Edward S. Dunshee (Boston, Mass.).McLauthlin, Lewis (1796-1875), ca. 1860-1867.
Taken by Robert J. Chute (Boston, Mass.).McLauthlin, Polly (Hathaway) (1796-1879), ca. 1860-1867.
Taken by Robert J. Chute (Boston, Mass.).Merrick, Jennie (Smith) (b. 1865), ca. 1867-1868.
Taken by Eliphalet J. Foss (Boston, Mass.).Smith, Frances Ann (1849-1916), 1867.
Taken by Eliphalet J. Foss (Boston, Mass.).One duplicate photo.Smith, Frances Ann (1849-1916), 1867.
Taken by Eliphalet J. Foss (Boston, Mass.).Smith, Frances Ann (1849-1916), ca. 1871-1876.
Taken by Bushby & Hart (Lynn, Mass.).Smith, Frances Ann (1849-1916), ca. 1877-1882.
Taken by Charles F. Conly (Boston, Mass.).Smith, Frances Ann (1849-1916), ca. 1877-1882.
Taken by Charles F. Conly (Boston, Mass.).Removed from 50th anniversary photo collage.
Smith, Frances Ann (1849-1916), ca. 1870.
Taken by Allen & Rowell (Boston, Mass.).Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), ca. 1861-1865.
Taken by Frederic L. Lay (Boston, Mass.).Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), ca. 1863-1867.
Taken by Chandler Seaver, Jr. (Boston, Mass.).Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), ca. 1865.
Photographer unknown.Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), ca. 1866.
Taken by Eliphalet J. Foss (Boston, Mass.).Two duplicate photographs.Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), ca. 1871-1876.
Taken by Bushby & Hart (Lynn, Mass.).Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), ca. 1872.
Taken by Eliphalet J. Foss (Boston, Mass.).Two duplicate photographs.Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), ca. 1872-1874.
Taken by Eliphalet J. Foss (Boston, Mass.).Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), ca. 1890s.
Photographer unknown.Removed from 50th anniversary photo collage.
Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), ca. 1890s.
Taken by Notman Photographic Co. (Boston, Mass.).Two duplicate photographs.Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), in a garden, 12 July 1920.
Photographer unknown.Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), ca. 1921.
Taken by Jordan Studio (Boston, Mass.).Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), on a swing, ca. 1921.
Photographer unknown.Two photographs mounted on a card.Inscription on verso: "Push! Swing! Cooling off after a walk."
Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), ca. 1921.
Taken by Clementine Mohn, after a daguerreotype (photographer unknown).Four duplicate photographs.Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), in Scituate or Duxbury, Mass., 1921.
Photographer unknown.Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), 9 Mar. 1921.
Taken by Colcord Studio (Dorchester, Mass.).Three duplicate photographs.Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), reading the newspaper in a rocking chair, 27 Oct. 1921.
Photographer unknown.Three duplicate copies.Includes manuscript note.
Smith, Silvanus (1817-1901), ca. 1860-1867.
Taken by Robert J. Chute (Boston, Mass.).Smith, Silvanus (1817-1901), ca. 1867-1872.
Taken by Eliphalet J. Foss, Boston, Mass.Smith, Silvanus (1817-1901), ca. 1871-1876.
Taken by Bushby & Hart (Lynn, Mass.).Three duplicate photographs.Smith, Silvanus (1817-1901), ca. 1888-1890.
Photographer unknown.Two duplicate photographs.Smith, Silvanus (1817-1901), ca. 1888-1890.
Taken by Notman Photographic Co.Smith, Silvanus (1817-1901), ca. 1888-1890.
Photographer unknown.Removed from 50th anniversary collage.
Smith, Silvanus (1817-1901), ca. 1921.
Taken by Clementine Mohn, after a daguerreotype, ca. 1850s (photographer unknown).Three duplicate copies.Smith, Zilpha Drew (1852-1926), 1868.
Taken by Eliphalet J. Foss (Boston, Mass.).Smith, Zilpha Drew (1852-1926), ca. 1869.
Taken by Howard Richardson (Boston, Mass.).Smith, Zilpha Drew (1852-1926), ca. 1870-1876.
Photographer unknown.Tintype.Smith, Zilpha Drew (1852-1926), ca. 1870-1876.
Photographer unknown.Smith, Zilpha Drew (1852-1926), ca. 1871-1877.
Taken by Bushby & Hart, Lynn, Mass.Smith, Zilpha Drew (1852-1926), ca. 1890s.
Photographer(s) unknown.Two photographs mounted on card.Smith, Zilpha Drew (1852-1926), ca. 1891.
Taken by Charles F. Conly, Boston, Mass.Two duplicate photographs.One photo was removed from 50th anniversary photo collage.
Smith, Zilpha Drew (1852-1926), 1891.
Taken by Notman Photographic Co., Boston, Mass.Carte de visite.Smith, Zilpha Drew (1852-1926), ca. 1898-1907.
Taken by Notman Photographic Co., Boston, Mass.Two duplicate photographs.Smith, Zilpha Drew (1852-1926), at Topeka NC, 1901.
Photographer unknown.Smith, Zilpha Drew (1852-1926), in cap and gown, 16 June 1906.
Photographer unknown.Smith, Zilpha Drew (1852-1926), ca. 1910s.
Smith, Zilpha Drew (1852-1926), at Mt. Surprise, 1916.
Photographer unknown.Two duplicate photographs.Inscription on verso: "ZDS - her map on Mount Surprise. Intervale 1916."
Taylor, James Bayard (1825-1878), n.d.
Taken by Brady's National Photographic Portrait Galleries.Unidentified woman, ca. 1892-1893.
Taken by Ritz Art Studio (Boston, Mass.).Unidentified woman, 1887.
Taken by Notman Photographic Co. (Boston, Mass.).II. Groups
Merrick, Jennie (Smith) (b. 1865) and five unidentified men and women on a porch, n.d.
Photographer unknown.Smith family group (man and seated woman and child), ca. 1877-1882.
Taken by Charles F. Conly (Boston, Mass.).Removed from 50th anniversary photo collage.
Smith family group (standing woman and seated man with infant), n.d.
Photographer unknown.Removed from 50th anniversary photo collage.
Smith family grandchildren, ca. 1888.
Photographer unknown.Inscriptions on verso: "Christmas at 76 White Street. The Grandchildren: Race Hall, [illegible] Hall, Luke Hall, Roy Hall, Walter Smith, Lawrence W. Smith, Sylvanus Smith." "Probably 1888 as the caryall picture which appears twice here is 1888."
Smith, Frances (1849-1916) (second from the left in the back row), and six unidentified men and women, n.d.
Taken by J. W. Chase (Mt. Olive, Ill.).Smith, Frances (1849-1916), Zilpha Drew Smith (1852-1926), and Mary Smith (1855-1908), ca. 1860-1867.
Taken by Robert J. Chute (Boston, Mass.).Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921) (seated, second from right), Frances Smith (1849-1916), (seated, far left) and seven men and women in Scituate, Mass., 1901.
Inscription on verso: "Mr. + Mrs Torry, and an aunt, and adopted daughter, Mrs. Miss, and Robert Bourne, Judith Smith and Frances Ann Smith, Scituate, 1901 From Mrs. Spurr."
Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921) and Jennie (Smith) Merrick (b. 1865), standing in front of the Smith family 50th anniversary photo collage, ca. 1895.
Photographer unknown.Inscription on verso: "Miriam's grandmother Judith Winsor Smith and her mother Jennie S. Merrick. In front of the golden wedding picture of her grandmother's family."
Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921) and unidentified woman, swimming, Sep. 1915.
Photographer unknown.Inscription on verso: "Grandma and Judith Sept. 1915. Swimming in her [illegible]."
Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921) and Mary (Smith) Hall (1855-1908), ca. 1920.
Photographer unknown.Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921) (left), Jennie (Smith) Merrick (b.1865) and Zilpha Drew Smith (1852-1926), in Scituate, Mass., ca. 1920.
Photographer unknown.Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921) and two unidentified children, ca. 1920.
Photographer unknown.Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921) (second from the left) and unidentified man and two unidentified women, ca. 1920.
Photographer unknown.Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921) (left) and unidentified woman, ca. 1920.
Photographer unknown.Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921) (left), unidentified man and woman, ca. 1920.
Photographer unknown.Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921) and Zilpha Drew Smith (1852-1926), 12 July 1920.
Photographer unknown.Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), and Smith, Zilpha Drew (1852-1926) and Jennie (Smith) Merrick (b. 1865), n.d.
Photographer unknown.Smith, Judith Winsor (1821-1921), and unidentified woman, n.d.
Photographer unknown.Seven unidentified men and women in front of a stone building, n.d.
Photographer unknown.Four identified women, n.d.
Photographer unknown.III. Views
76 White Street, East Boston, Mass., Oct. 1906.
Taken by Erasmus F. Smith.Inscriptions: "Zilpha D. Smith." "#76 White Street. E. Boston. Built by my Father Silvanus Smith in 1871 occupied January 1872. Photo taken in Oct. 1906. E. F. Smith." "Where Miriam was born and live until she married. J. W. Smith at foot of steps (Miriam's grandmother)."
IV. Oversize photographs
Smith family group (man, woman, four children), n.d.
Photographer unknown.Removed from 50th anniversary photo collage.
Smith family group (man woman, four children), n.d.
Taken by Charles F. Conly (Boston, Mass.).Removed from 50th anniversary photo collage.
Judith Winsor Smith family, n.d.
Photographer unknown.Left to right: Frances (1849-1916), Zilpha Drew (1852-1926), Sidney (b. 1846), Silvanus (seated) (1817-1901), Mary (1855-1908), Jennie (b. 1865) , Judith (seated) (1821-1921), and Erasmus (b. 1858).
Preferred Citation
Judith Winsor Smith family photographs, Photo. Coll. 161, Massachusetts Historical Society Photo Archives.
Access Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.