Edward Ellis Smith papers, 1879-1983

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Summary

Creators:
Smith, Edward Ellis, 1921-1982
Abstract:
Writings, correspondence, notes, printed matter, bibliographies, and photographs relating to the tsarist Russian secret police, the youth of Joseph Stalin, Roman Malinovskii (Malinovsky), and the history of Soviet espionage. Digital copies of select records also available at https://digitalcollections.hoover.org.
Extent:
12 manuscript boxes, 8 card file boxes (6.4 Linear Feet)
Language:
In English and Russian
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Edward Ellis Smith papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

Writings, correspondence, notes, printed matter, bibliographies, and photographs relating to the tsarist Russian secret police, the youth of Joseph Stalin, Roman Malinovskii (Malinovsky), and the history of Soviet espionage.

When possible, Smith's original folder titles were maintained, though some have been edited for clarity.

Biographical / historical:

Edward Ellis Smith was a historian, writer, foreign service officer, and CIA agent. After graduating from West Virginia University in 1939, he was deployed to Germany to serve in World War II. Following the end of the war, he was chosen to attend Naval Language School, where he became fluent in Russian. From 1946 until 1947, he attended Strategic Intelligence School at the Pentagon and Counter Intelligence School at Camp Holabird.

Smith began work at the American Embassy in Moscow after graduation, serving as the assistant military and economic attaché. In 1950 he was appointed by United States Army Intelligence to serve as Section Chief, managing the Soviet economic and political section and analyzing policies on Soviet affairs. Towards the end of 1953, he resigned to become an intelligence officer for the CIA and completed various missions throughout Moscow. After working as a secret agent, Smith served as a Foreign Service Officer from 1954 until 1956, where he analyzed economic trends in the Soviet Union. He then served as a consultant and project manager until 1962, leading teams of specialists to work on various economic policies, such as the Marshall Plan.

Following his extensive career in the United States government, Smith pursued a full-time profession lecturing and writing. He wrote extensively for periodicals and published two historical books, both focused on Russian history, particularly Joseph Stalin and the Okhrana. From 1970 until 1980, Smith was an international economist and later vice president of Crocker Bank. He spent his final years working for Smith Bellingham International Incorporated until his sudden death in 1982.

Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1982.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Edward Ellis Smith papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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