George Peabody Wetmore papers relating to William Smith Jr

1903-1932

George Peabody Wetmore was the 37th governor of Rhode Island and later a U.S. senator from the State. The George Peabody Wetmore papers consist chiefly of his correspondence with dealers, librarians, and others regarding the location or purchase of books, papers, and portraits associated with American loyalist William Smith Jr. and his family, and the acquisition of Smith's papers by The New York Public Library. Also present is his daughter Maude A.K. Wetmore's correspondence regarding John Wollaston’s portrait of William Smith Jr., acquired by her father; the original label for the portrait; photographs of the portrait; Smith family bookplates; and some printed matter concerning Smith. The collection was originally described as a scrapbook; materials are not bound together. Original letters and documents pertaining to William Smith Jr., his father William Smith (1697-1769), and his brother Joshua Hett Smith have been transferred to the Division's Miscellaneous Personal Name Files collection; photocopies are retained in this collection.