Scope and Content Note
The papers of Hedrick Laurence Smith span the years 1923-2010, with the bulk of the material concentrated in the period 1965-2010. The papers document Smith's career as a jounalist, author, and documentarian, and his coverage on a wide variety of topics including United States-Soviet relations, poltics, the economy, and the American working class. The collections is divided into two parts. The majority of Part I spans from 1965 to 1990 and focuses on Smith's career as journalist and author, and consists of research material for Smith's books and television productions about the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and United States politics. Part I consists of six series: Part I: Correspondence, Part I: Speeches and Writings File, Part I: Television Productions, Part I: Subject File, Part I: Notebooks, and Part I: Miscellany, plus oversize and security classified material. The bulk of Part II of the Hedrick Smith papers spans from 1988 to 2010, and focuses on Smith's later career as a documentarian and the numerous television productions he wote, hosted and produced. Part II consists of four series: Part II: Correspondence, Part II: Television Productions, Part II: Speeches and Writings, and Part:II: Subject File.
Part I: Correspondence , 1959-1990, contains a wide variety of professional and personal correspondence, including attachments and enclosures, between Smith and friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and the public.
Part I: Speeches and Writings File, 1923-1992, reflects Smith's productivity in various formats, and includes correspondence, speeches, articles, books, forewords and introductions, radio broadcasts, interviews, research material, notes, outlines, bibliographies, and printed matter.
Part I: Television Productions, 1956-1990, contains correspondence, memoranda, interviews, scripts, outlines, notes, logbooks, research material, lists, calendars and scheduling material, and printed matter documenting Smith's roles as commentator, host, and writer for documentary productions.
Part I: Subject File, 1957-1990, contains correspondence, memoranda, interviews, articles, legal material, background material, notes, press releases and briefing material, invitations, and printed matter primarily from Smith's work as a reporter for the New York Times.
Part I: Notebooks, 1966-1990, primarily document Smith's activities as a reporter for the New York Times.
Part I: Miscellany , 1957-1988, consists chiefly of correspondence, interviews, biographical material, financial records, and family papers. The bulk of the series consists of papers relating to Smith's Pulitzer Prize for international reporting and his New York Times expense statements recording details of Smith's daily professional activities and contacts with government agencies. The family papers include a compilation of Smith's letters from 1971 to 1972, which were read by his mother at her book club, describing some of his experiences while in Moscow.
Part II: Correspondence, 1959-2010, contains a variety of professional and personal correspondence between Smith and friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and the public.
Part II: Speeches and Writings File, 1960-2010, consists of Smith's speaking engagements and authorship of several books, and includes correspondence, notes, speeches, drafts, research, reviews, schedules, contracts, and memoranda.
Part II: Television Productions, 1986-2009, contains production bibles, interview transcripts, segment planning documents, research, notes, correspondence, and other various material documenting Smith's roles as producer, host, and writer for documentary productions.
Part II: Subject File, 1952-2009, contains material chiefly related to Hedrick Smith Productions and includes correspondence, research, production proposals, photographs, memorabilia, and printed matter.