Collection Details:

Collection Name and Number: Franklin Smith Diary (Z/0618).
Creator/Collector: Franklin Smith.
Date(s): 1846-1847; October 6, 1855.
Size: 0.30 cubic feet.
Language(s): English.
Processed by: MDAH staff, 1985.
Provenance: Loaned by Elizabeth "Bessie" Smith Ricks of Canton, MS, on February 1942; Gift of her daughters Hallie Ricks Delancey and Carroll Ricks Lee of Canton, MS, on June 19, 1985.
Repository: Archives & Records Services Division, Mississippi Department of Archives & History.

 

Rights and Access:

Access restrictions: Collection is open for research.

Publication rights: Copyright assigned to the MDAH. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to Reference Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the MDAH as the owner of the physical items and as the owner of the copyright in items created by the donor. Although the copyright was transferred by the donor, the respective creator may still hold copyright in some items in the collection. For further information, contact Reference Services.

Copyright notice: This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).

Preferred citation: Franklin Smith Diary (Z/0618), Mississippi Department of Archives & History.

 

Biography:

Franklin Smith

Franklin Smith was born on September 25, 1807, in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Narcissus Richards and Franklin James Smith (1786-1857). By 1840, at the age of 33, he was living in Madison County, Mississippi. In 1839, Franklin married Anna Josepha Spence (April 29, 1813 - September 9, 1855) of Annapolis, Maryland, and the couple had four children: Mary Clare Smith, Carroll Spence Smith (1842-1903), Benjamin Franklin Smith, and Anna "Annie" Smith (1855-1875).  After Anna died in 1855, he married his second wife, Lucinda Stiles, on August 6, 1856, in Madison County.

According to his diary recording his service in the United States Volunteers during the Mexican American War, Captain Franklin Smith left Canton on August 2, 1846, and proceeded to Jackson, Vicksburg, Natchez, New Orleans, Pass Christian, New Orleans, Brazos Islands, Matamoros, and Camargo. He arrived at Camargo on September 4, 1846, and spent most of his time there until he closed his diary on February 6, 1847. 

By 1870, Franklin worked as a lawyer in Canton. He died on February 9, 1877, and is buried in the Old Canton Cemetery, Canton, Madison County, Mississippi.

 

Scope and Content Note:

Diary of Captain Franklin Smith of Canton, Madison County, who served as assistant quartermaster in the United States Volunteers in the Mexican War. The diary contains detailed information on Mexico, the war, and the participation of Mississippians.  Smith wrote an introduction manuscript on October 6, 1855.

 

Series Identification:

Series 1: Diary. 1846-1847. 
Diary of Captain Franklin Smith of Canton, Madison County, who served in the Mexican War. The diary contains 230 pages of detailed information on Mexico, the war, and the participation of Mississippians.

Series 2: Introduction. October 6, 1855.
Introduction to his diary written by Franklin Smith on October 6, 1855; This manuscript consists of ten pages.