Restrictions to Access

No restrictions. Open for research.

Copyright Notice

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], in the J. Henry Smith Diary, #1938, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Additional Descriptive Resources

A more complete finding aid for this collection is available at the Southern Historical Collection.

Sensitive Materials Statement

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

• Confederate States of America--Religious life.
• Confederate States of America--Social conditions.
• Family--North Carolina--Social life and customs.
• Greensboro (N.C.)--Social life and customs.
• Presbyterian Church--Clergy--History--19th century.
• Presbyterian Church--North Carolina--History--19th century.
• Smith, J. Henry (Jacob Henry), 1820-1897.
• Watson, Mary Kelly, 1834-1924.

• See also O. Norris Smith Papers (#517.59) in the Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Jacob Henry Smith, born in Lexington, Va., was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, N.C., 1859-1897. He was married in 1857 to Mary Kelly Watson (1834-1924), whose life and letters were published as "The Love That Never Failed."

Microfilm of diary, with entries 1860-1897, documenting Smith's pastoral work and professional activities, as well as his personal and family life, reading and study, and travels in North Carolina. Entries typically include a list of persons Smith visited, sometimes with records of problems discussed and advice offered. Smith also recorded which sermons he preached where and the size and response of congregations. He also discussed Presbyterian Church matters in general and wrote of his travels to synod, session, institutes, and various preaching and teaching missions. During the Civil War, he told of his preaching to troops and counseling of civilians.