CLASS OF 1869

The following is from the Publisher'sWeekly, March 2, 1912:

"Henry L. Smith retired from his position at Charles Scribner's Sons last February first, after holding for more than forty-two years a place of trust and responsibility there, which made him widely known to the trade both here and in England. He now purposes to give his time mainly to forwarding the interests of various religious and philanthropic associations in which he is prominent, and in some measure to golf, in which he is proficient.

"He entered the publishing business in August, 1869, directly after graduation from college. The firm then had its offices at 645 Broadway. Mr. Smith began at the bottom: arranged stock, opened cases, had some deskwork, correspondence, etc., and sold at retail. Later he became city salesman, and finally, as salesman, covered the district of New England, including Boston. In this way he was able to lay out a sound groundwork for future responsibilities.

In 1875 the house moved its offices to 743-5 Broadway. Mr. Smith's work had grown steadily in importance, and ten years later, 1885, when Mr. Welford, who represented the importing side of the business in London, died, and Mr. Bangs, Mr. Smith's immediate superior, took his place abroad, Mr. Smith assumed this responsibility on this side, and became the head of the retail department.

"In 1894, with the removal of Charles Scribner's Sons to their present site at 1537 Fifth Avenue, Mr. Smith's work so largely increased that he had to give up traveling, and finally all active wholesale selling. In the interests of, the house he made a number of trips to Europe. These gave him a wide acquaintance among publishers on .the continent and in England; also among booksellers, especially those dealing in rare books.

"In America, Mr. Smith became widely acquainted among connoisseurs and collectors of rare books. He knew thoroughly all the departments of the importing business, custom house work, and so forth,—work which sometimes took him to Washington, and often as an expert witness, to the New York Custom House.

"Charles Scribner's Sons were incorporated in 1904, and Mr. Smith was a director from that date till his retirement. Mr. Smith's residence is 201 West 55th St., New York city. He is just sixty-four years old. For many years he has been a member of the Brick Presbyterian church, and a member of the executive committee of the College Board of the Presbyterian Church, and a director of the New York City Mission and Tract Society. At one time he was president of the New York Bible Society. He was born in this city on February 19, 1848; went from the public schools here to Andover Academy, and then to Dartmouth College; was graduated from there in 1869, a member of Phi Beta Kappa Society. He is a member of the Century and Aldine Associations, and the Englewood Golf Club.

"Mr. Smith carries with him into his new work, not only the interest of his former associates in Charles Scribner's Sons, but of a great body of the book trade,—men who

Secretary, Charles P. Chase, Hanover, N. H.