African-American resident of South Carolina renowned as a singer of African-American plantation songs, spirituals and work songs; during 1930s, Smith served in Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Berkeley County, S.C.; during the the early years of the program, some CCC camps were integrated. By 1935, segregation by race was the rule at all camps. At its peak, more than 250,000 African Americans were enrolled in nearly 150 all-black CCC companies around the U.S.
In 1994, the S.C. General Assembly awarded Smith the South Carolina Folk Heritage Award for excellence in the traditional art of African American sacred and work songs; Smith died, 2002 in Georgetown, S.C.
From the description of Henry Smith oral history interview transcript, 1997 July 29; [typescript] (University of South Carolina). WorldCat record id: 71272058
