F L SMITH OF DONCASTER: RESEARCH PAPERS

Comprising: 227 volumes of research notes, mostly from secondary sources, relating to Doncaster-based subjects, with union card-indexes; lectures given by Mr Smith 1941-1982; diaries 1923-1993 and domestic accounts 1936-1979; original manuscripts, including diary of E M Hatfield, architect, Jan 1830- Dec 1831; mourning cards, 19th century

Leslie Smith (1906-1999) played an significant role in the promotion of the study of both local and natural history in Doncaster both through his activities in local societies and his own work in archives. With his colleague Ted Day he was responsible for the rescue and sorting of the substantial archive of Baxter and Somerville of Doncaster, solicitors, and the indexing of the Sykes genealogical papers. His own researches, meticulously recorded and indexed, are a potentially valuable source for local studies. He gave his collection of book on local history to the Central Library Doncaster and his collection on natural history to Doncaster Museum.

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