Smith, Arthur Whitmore, 1874-1954

Professor of Physics at the University of Michigan.

From the description of Arthur Whitmore Smith papers, 1893-1954 (bulk 1930-1954) (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34423579

Smith: Spanish American War veteran & history buff. Monaghan: Illinois State Historian.

Smith's family moved from Tymochtee, Ohio, to Illinois ca. 1850 after his grandfather William died. His father, Daniel M., served in the Civil War with the 106th Illinois Infantry. Smith served with the 2nd Battalion, Nebraska Regiment in the Philippines. In 1947, he discovered Joshua E. Jackson's Mexican War diary, notified Monaghan, and arranged to have it copied by the Illinois State Historical Library.

From the description of Letters to Jay Monaghan, 1947-1948. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 43575327

Dr. Arthur Whitmore Smith was born in Hartford, Vermont on May 11, 1874. After receiving his B.S. degree in 1893 from the University of New Hampshire, he continued his education at Wesleyan University, receiving a Masters of Science in 1895. Dr. Smith completed his Ph.D. in physics at Johns Hopkins University in 1903.

Throughout his career, Dr. Smith held numerous teaching assignments including positions at Wesleyan University and the University of Mississippi. In 1903, he came to the University of Michigan where he taught in the physics department until his retirement in 1944. During his forty-one years at the University of Michigan, Dr. Smith wrote numerous articles. His special area of study concerned the calorimetric determination of the energy of food.

Dr. Smith's hobby was genealogy which he pursued throughout his life. He was involved with many organizations dealing with genealogical research. For example, he served as both vice-president and president of the Michigan Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Furthermore, Dr. Smith helped found an Ann Arbor chapter of the Institute of American Genealogy.

Dr. Smith remained active as a professor until his death on December 1, 1954.

From the guide to the Arthur Whitmore Smith papers, 1893-1954, 1930-1954, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)