{"value"=>"<p>The bulk of these papers consist of deeds and/or maps for properties eventually purchased by Judge John Lawrence Smith or members of his family in Smithtown and adjacent townships on Long Island, New York. There are also a few deeds and/or plans for properties in New York City. The earliest deed is dated 1791.</p> <p>Letters to James Clinch Smith (the son of Judge John Lawrence Smith who perished on the Titanic) are included in this series. Most of these, which are from the years 1908-1912, are of a business or organizational nature, but there are letters from James Clinch's wife, Bertha Barnes Smith (filed under S). She was living in Paris at the time, and in some of these letters, she describes her illness and lack of money.</p> <p>Also included in the Smith papers are the related names of Haight, Stewart and White. Sarah Haight was the first cousin of Judge John Lawrence Smith. She traveled extensively and had her travel writings published in the book Letters from the Old World. Her letters contain fascinating detail about her travels in 1836 and 1837.</p> <p>The White papers include a copy of letter from Stanford White to Prescott Hall Butler, mortgage bond signed by Stanford White, articles on Stanford White's murder, and a writing by Lawrence White (Stanford's son) on the history of Smithtown.</p>"}