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Finding Aid for the Albert E. Smith Papers, 1897-1933
2004
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Title: Albert E. Smith Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1897-1933
Collection number: 2004
Creator:
Smith, Albert E.
Extent: 15 boxes (7.5 linear ft.)
6 oversize boxes
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: Albert E. Smith (1875-1958) co-founded the Vitagraph Company of America as the Reader, Smith, and Blackton Combination in
1894. He invented the Vitagraph, one of the first successful motion picture projectors, in 1896. The collection consists of
correspondence, scrapbooks, albums, photographs, auditor's reports, and trade agreements pertaining to the business of the
Vitagraph Company of America, of which Smith was co-founder.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Language:
English.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including
copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds
the copyright and pursue the
copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access.
Additional Physical Form Available
A copy of the original version of this online finding aid is available at the UCLA Department of Special Collections for in-house
consultation and may be obtained for a fee. Please contact:
- Public Services Division
- UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
- Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
- Box 951575
- Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
- Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific Time)
- Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Lucile Smith, 1959.
[Identification of item], Albert E. Smith Papers (Collection 2004). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Smith was born in 1875 in Faversham, England; co-founded the Vitagraph Company of America as the Reader, Smith, and Blackton
Combination in 1894; Vitagraph producer, writer, and executive with actor and director J. Stuart Blackton until sale of the
company to Warner Brothers in 1925; invented the Vitagraph, one of the first successful motion picture projectors, in 1896;
had a wife, Lucile, and 6 children; died August 1, 1958 in Los Angeles.
Collection consists of correspondence, scrapbooks, albums, photographs, auditor's reports, and trade agreements pertaining
to the business of the Vitagraph Company of America, of which Smith was co-founder. Runs of ephemeral publications, Vitagraph
releases (1916-1920) and six bound volumes of the
Vitagraph Bulletin (1906-1916) complete the Vitagraph documentation. There are 17 reels of audiotapes recorded by Smith on the subject of motion
picture history, as well as a copy of his autobiography.
Arranged in the following series:
- Collection arranged chronologically.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Smith, Albert E.--Archives.
Blackton, James Stuart, 1875-1941.
Vitagraph Company of America--Archives.
Motion picture producers and directors--United States--Archival resources.
Motion picture industry--History--Archival resources.
Audiotapes.
Scrapbooks.
Photographs.
Vitagraph Company of America.
Vitagraph bulletin.
Vitagraph releases.