Smiley, David L., 1921-2004

David L. Smiley was born on St. Patrick's Day in 1921 in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He served in World War II after attending Mississippi College; upon his return, he obtained his A.B. and M.A. at Baylor University and his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin in 1953. Frequently remembered by his tendency to sport a beret while cruising around campus on his bicycle, Dr. Smiley accumulated a large following on the Wake Forest campus. His lectures were characterized by humorous, anecdotal lectures, provoking the reactions and opinions of his students through the use of outrageous claims. Although Dr. Smiley focused the majority of his research and knowledge on the history of the South, he also taught classes in ancient history as well the American West and the role of women in American history. Dr. Smiley was vehemently opposed to segregation, and gave himself with passion and dedication to the improvement of his society; alongside several colleagues, he helped bring the first black student to Wake Forest campus. This student, Edward Reynolds, graduated in 1964 and went on to obtain his Ph.D. at the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies; he is now a respected professor emeritus of African history at the University of California, San Diego. Among Dr. Smiley's publications, he is most noted for his article and various lectures concerning "The Quest for the Central Theme in Southern History," published in 1972 in the South Atlantic Quarterly. He also published The Lion of Whitehall: The Life of Cassius Marcellus Clay in 1962; his extensive notes on the subject are featured in this collection. He is best known for The South in American History, the second edition, published in 1960 in collaboration with William B. Hesseltine; manuscripts of this are also included in the collection. Dr. Smiley spent 1968-69 at the University of Strasbourg as a Fulbright Lecturer. He was cited as one of the most outstanding educators in America in 1970 and received the Jon Reinhardt Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1988. The colorful and eccentric professor retired in 1991 and continued to lead the Reid Station Bible Class until 2003. Dr. Smiley passed away on December 27, 2004.