H. Adrian Smith papers (Ms.2011.001)

The H. Adrian Smith papers (1752-1992) contain materials amassed over a lifetime of collecting magic-related materials and being involved in magic societies and magic performance. These materials include magic trick descriptions, playbills, posters, photographs of magicians and magic performances, publications, correspondence, and magic society materials. The collection also contains personal correspondence and photographs of Smith’s life in Providence, Rhode Island, and North Attleboro, Massachusetts with his wife Anna Fuller Smith.

Series 1. Subject Files: Contains personal and professional correspondence from 1916-1992 and magic-related print materials from circa 1840-1992. Magic-related print materials include posters, fliers and pamphlets for shows and conferences, and newspaper clippings for magic show reviews, obituaries, and conference announcements. There are also contact information/membership lists for magic societies (especially the Society of American Magicians and the International Brotherhood of Magicians), receipts for collection purchases, publications of tricks and historical information about magicians, conferences, and inquiries into specific tricks or magicians.

Series 2. Correspondence-Personal: Contains personal cards and correspondence received by Smith from 1916-1992. Most of the materials are holiday cards and get-well cards written to Smith later in life. Some handwritten longer correspondence from circa 1910-1990 is present also.

Series 3. Correspondence-Professional: Consists of cards and letters from magicians from circa 1910 to 1992, and correspondence relating to Smith’s library collection from circa 1920-1992.

Series 4. Magic catalogs: Contains catalogs of magic books and of dealers of magic books, the Smith Library collection catalog, and the Dr. Milton A. Bridges Library catalog dating from 1939-1951.

Series 5. Magic Organizations: Consists of materials related to magic organizations from 1908-1990. Includes the International Brotherhood of Magicians (I.B.M.) receipts and payments, correspondence, publications, membership lists from 1927-1985; Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.) yearbooks, reports, national and local convention programs from 1908-1990. Also includes materials for local branches and correspondence between national and local branches, correspondence to Smith regarding his role within the societies and also relating to the Hall of Fame and magic show benefits. Also includes materials related to the New England Magicians Convention and I.B.M. S.A.M. combined conventions.

Series 6. Magic Trick Instructions. Consist of un-dated descriptions of magic tricks sorted by card tricks, close-up magic, coin tricks, handkerchief tricks, liquids tricks, linking rings tricks, magic for kids, mentalism, paper tricks, rope tricks, silks tricks, stage magic, and wand tricks. All categories contain tricks that may or may not require apparatus, which in many cases has been separated from the trick instruction. There are also advertisements for tricks that can be purchased but are not explained.

Series 7. Magic Trick Apparatus: Contains undated materials utilized in magic tricks including assorted play money, “vanisher” handkerchief, and assorted magic cards.

Series 8. Miscellaneous Personal: Consists of catalogs and notebooks not related to magic dating from 1930-1985. These include silver catalogs, picture frame catalogs, theatre playbills, Smith’s journals, calendars, and expense books, opera and ballet playbills, and materials related to Smith’s South America vacation.

Series 9. Miscellaneous Professional: Consists of miscellaneous materials related to magic performance and conventions from 1970 (or possibly earlier) to 1982. This includes convention badges, business cards, magic playbills.

Series 10. John H. Percival. John H. Percival was a magician who performed all over New England and was a personal friend of H. Adrian Smith. This series contains Percival’s personal materials from 1972-1974 including tax return documents, convention badges, business cards, letters and postcards.

Series 11. Anna Fuller Smith: Consists of undated personal materials belonging to Smith’s wife Anna Fuller Smith. These include tintype photographs, photographs and negatives of the Fuller family, newspaper clippings, letters, business cards, souvenirs, and notebooks.

Series 12. Photographs-Personal: Consists of personal photographs including un-dated historic family photographs and dated photographs from 1908-1990. These include formal portraits of Smith and the Smith family, vacation photographs, social events photographs, and photographs from Smith’s tour of Okinawa. Also contains photographs of social gatherings among magicians including informal performances, and magic societies including the Society of American Magicians and the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Series 13. Photographs-Professional: Includes formal photographs of magicians dated from 1930-1948, but the majority of photographs are not dated. Includes individual and group portraits. Includes photographs of Professor Anderson, Davenport Brothers and Fay, T. Nelson Downs, Hardeen, Leon Hermann, Robert-Houdin, Harry Houdini, Harry Keller, Rosskam, Sorcar, and Howard Thurston.

Series 14. Posters and Broadsides: Contains material from circa 1850-1980. It covers a wide range of magicians, including a noteworthy number of Kellar, Thurston, Houdini, Hermann, Alexander, George, and Dante. There are also non-magic posters including artistic representations, restaurant posters, and Brown University event posters. There are broadsides and mounted newspaper clippings of advertisements for magic performances in the U.S. and worldwide.

Series 15. Harry Houdini: Contains photographs, handbills, programs for performances, articles and pamphlets relating to the life and career of Harry Houdini.