Smith, N. Clark (Nathaniel Clark), 1877-1933

Nathaniel Clark Smith was born in July 31, 1877 in Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1905, Smith received his Bachelor of Music from Chicago Musical College. During the Spanish American War Smith served as bandmaster of the 8th Illinois Regiment Band. Smith, along with his brother-in-law L. W. Lawson, joined the M.B. Curtis All-Star African American Minstrels in 1899; the group traveled worldwide to destinations such as Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii. Circa 1902, Smith became Tuskegee University's band director; he then worked as bandmaster at Western University (Kansas City, Kansas) from 1913-1915. Then, until 1922, Smith taught at Kansas City's Lincoln High School.

Besides touring and teaching, Smith wrote and copyrighted a number of songs. One of these, "Negro Folk Suite," won the 1930 Wanamaker Prize and was performed by the St. Louis Symphony in January 1933. Smith was also a businessman; with J. Berni Barbour, in 1903 in Chicago he began the first black music publishing company.

Smith married Laura A. Lawson. Nathaniel Clark Smith died October 8, 1935.

From the guide to the N. Clark Smith papers, 1897-1926, (University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kansas Collection)