Smith, Gerald L. K. (Gerald Lyman Kenneth), 1898-1976

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Founder of the America First Party, head of the Christian Nationalist Crusade, and outspoken antisemite.

From the description of Gerald L.K. Smith papers, 1922-1976. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34418952

Minister and political agitator; d. 1976.

From the description of Gerald L.K. Smith publications, 1950s-1977. (Arkansas History Commission). WorldCat record id: 234380142

Smith (1898-1976) was a minister, publisher, and political crusader with a message of hate and bigotry. He founded the America First party and the Christain Nationalist Crusade. Smith published The Cross and the flag from 1942 to 1976, as well as many tracts, short books, and newsletters and was known nationally for his radio addresses. He ran unsuccessfully for a number of political positions. In 1964 Smith built the seven-story high Christ of the Ozarks statue and began a Christian museum, art gallery, and staged passion plays in Eureka Sprints (Ark.). (Information from American National Biography Online.).

From the description of Solicitation letters, 1942-1976. (Clarke Historical Library). WorldCat record id: 47066882

Born in Pardeeville, Wis., Gerald L.K. Smith grew up in Viroqua, Wis., and was ordained as a minister in the Disciples of Christ denomination in 1916. Following a move to Louisiana in 1928 to seek treatment for his wife's tuberculosis, Smith became a friend of Huey Long and with him established the Share Our Wealth Society, a group that proposed minimum and maximum limits on household wealth and income. Smith was present at the assassination of Long in 1935 and delivered the eulogy at Long's funeral. After Long's death, Smith became active in white supremacist politics, founding the America First Party and running for president in the 1944 and 1948 elections. He later moved to Arkansas in order to found a religious theme park that was never completed.

From the description of Gerald L.K. Smith broadside, circa 1935. (Louisiana State University). WorldCat record id: 301989495

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Christian Nationalist Crusade. [Antisemitica] Hebrew Union College-JIR, Cincinnati, Klau Library
referencedIn University of Michigan. Dept. of Political Science. Dept. of Political Science (University of Michigan) student papers, 1939-1962. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Walter Winchell miscellaneous papers, 1936-1968 Hoover Institution Archives
referencedIn Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota. Council records, 1922-1974 (bulk 1945-1970). Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn American Council of Christian Laymen. Records, 1949-1963. Wisconsin historical society
referencedIn Richards, Augustus L. Papers, 1941-1944. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Glen A. Chandler collection 1937-1971 Hoover Institution Archives
referencedIn Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles' Community Relations Committee collection 1933-1980. California State University, Northridge
referencedIn Long, Huey Pierce, 1893-1935. Papers, 1929-1940. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Pittsburgh. Records of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Pittsburgh, 1928-1959 (bulk 1935-1950) University of Pittsburgh
referencedIn Christenberry, Earle J. Speech on Gerald Lyman Smith, circa 1936. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
referencedIn Charles Parsons papers, 1880-1965 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Winchell, Walter, 1897-1972. Walter Winchell miscellaneous papers, 1936-1968. Stanford University, Hoover Institution Library
creatorOf Miklethun, John L., 1873-1955. John L. Miklethun papers, 1899, 1909-1954. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Anticommunist movement collection, 1951-1965. University of West Florida, John C. Pace Library
referencedIn Meier, Margaret,. Margaret Meier collection of extreme right wing American political ephemera, 1930-1980. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Smith, Gerald L. K. (Gerald Lyman Kenneth), 1898-1976. [A collection of printed material issued by or pertaining to Gerald L.K. Smith and the Committee of 1,000,000]. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Chester, Robert, 1912-1975. Papers, ca. 1944-1976. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Smith, Gerald L. K. (Gerald Lyman Kenneth), 1898-1976. Gerald L.K. Smith broadside, circa 1935. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
creatorOf Norris, J. Frank (John Frank), 1877-1952. Papers, 1928-1952. Southern Baptist Historical Library & Archives
creatorOf Smith, Gerald L. Dexter Smith and Jesse Sprague family group sheets. Mid-Continent Public Library, Administrative Headquarters
referencedIn Merwin K. Hart papers, 1929-1962 University of Oregon Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Taber, Marcius Erwin, 1903-. Marcius Erwin Taber papers, 1953-1968. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Hart, Merwin K. (Merwin Kimball), 1881-. Papers, 1929-1962. University of Oregon Libraries
referencedIn Socialist Workers Party records, 1914-1980 Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf MacDonald, Bert. Papers of Bert MacDonald, 1935-1950. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Wells, Carlton F. (Carlton Frank), 1898-. Carlton F. Wells papers, 1910-1993. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn American Council of Christian Laymen. Records, 1949-1964. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Stace, Arthur W. (Arthur William), 1875-1950. Arthur W. Stace papers, 1927-1950. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Parsons, Charles, 1889-. Charles Parsons papers, 1880-1965 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Norris, J. Frank (John Frank), 1877-1952. Papers [microform], 1928-1952. Southern Baptist Historical Library & Archives
creatorOf Smith, Gerald L. K. (Gerald Lyman Kenneth), 1898-. Gerald L.K. Smith publications, 1950s-1977. Arkansas History Commission, Department of Archives and History
referencedIn Anticommunist Movement Collection 1951-1965 University of West Florida Libraries
referencedIn Chandler, Glen A.,. Glen A. Chandler collection, 1937-1971. Stanford University, Hoover Institution Library
creatorOf Smith, Gerald L. K. (Gerald Lyman Kenneth), 1898-1976. Gerald L.K. Smith papers, 1922-1976. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Papers of Drew Pearson. Files from the Merry-Go-Round Farm, 1919-1969 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Wick, Grace, 1888-1958. Grace Wick papers, 1888-1962 (bulk, 1928-1951). Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Florence Mendheim Collection of Anti-Semitic Propaganda, 1917-1994, bulk 1922-1948 Leo Baeck Institute.
referencedIn Terminiello, A. W. (Arthur W.). Papers, 1939-1962. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
referencedIn Arthur H. Vandenberg papers, 1884-1974, 1915-1951 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Anti-Semitism collection, [ca. 1930]-1961. Yeshiva University
creatorOf Taber, Marcius Erwin, 1903-. Marcius Erwin Taber papers, 1953-1968. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Smith, Gerald L. K. (Gerald Lyman Kenneth), 1898-1976. Solicitation letters, 1942-1976. Clarke Historical Library
referencedIn Parsons, Charles, 1889-. Charles Parsons papers, 1880-1965 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Earl Browder Papers, 1879-1990 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Inventory of the John R. Anthony Papers TAMU MSS 00042., 1912-1977 Cushing Memorial Library,
referencedIn George Murphy papers, 1911-1961 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Meier, Margaret, collector. Margaret Meier Collection of Extreme Right Ephemeral Materials, 1930-1980 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Grace Wick Papers, 1888-1962, 1928-1951 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Allen, Marilyn R. person
associatedWith Allstorm, Oliver. person
associatedWith America First Party. corporateBody
associatedWith American Council of Christian Laymen. corporateBody
associatedWith Anthony, John R. person
associatedWith Anticommunist Movement family
associatedWith Armstrong, George Washington, 1866- person
associatedWith Asher, Court. person
associatedWith Bealle, Morris A. person
associatedWith Beaty, John Owen, 1890-1961. person
associatedWith Blake, Aldrich. person
associatedWith Bricker, John W. (John William), 1893-1986. person
associatedWith Britton, Frank. person
associatedWith Browder, Earl, 1891-1973 person
associatedWith Brown, Catherine. person
associatedWith Buckley, William F. (William Frank), 1925-2008. person
associatedWith Burke, Emory. person
associatedWith Carlson, John Roy. person
associatedWith Chandler, Glen A., person
associatedWith Chandler, Glen A., collector. person
associatedWith Chester, Robert, 1912-1975. person
associatedWith Christenberry, Earle J. person
associatedWith Christian Nationalist Crusade. corporateBody
associatedWith Christian Veterans of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Clark, Max A. X. person
associatedWith Committee of 1,000,000. corporateBody
associatedWith Florence Mendheim, 1899-1984 person
associatedWith Hart, Merwin K. (Merwin Kimball), 1881- person
associatedWith Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Pittsburgh. corporateBody
associatedWith Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota. corporateBody
associatedWith Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles. Community Relations Committee. corporateBody
associatedWith Long, Huey Pierce, 1893-1935 person
associatedWith MacArthur, Douglas, 1880-1964. person
associatedWith MacDonald, Bert. person
associatedWith McCarthy, Joseph, 1908-1957. person
associatedWith Meier, Margaret, person
associatedWith Meier, Margaret, collector. person
associatedWith Miklethun, John L., 1873-1955. person
associatedWith Murphy, George, 1897-1961 person
associatedWith Norris, J. Frank (John Frank), 1877-1952. person
associatedWith Parsons, Charles, 1889- person
associatedWith Richards, Augustus L. person
associatedWith Share Our Wealth Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Smith, Dexter. person
associatedWith Smith family. family
associatedWith Socialist Workers Party. Minnesota Section. corporateBody
associatedWith Sprague family. family
associatedWith Sprague, Jesse. person
associatedWith Stace, Arthur W. (Arthur William), 1875-1950. person
associatedWith Taber, Marcius Erwin, 1903- person
associatedWith Terminiello, A. W. (Arthur W.) person
associatedWith United Farmers of America. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Dept. of Political Science. corporateBody
associatedWith Vandenberg, Arthur H. (Arthur Hendrick), 1884-1951 person
associatedWith Wallace, George C. (George Corley), 1919- person
associatedWith Wells, Carlton F. (Carlton Frank), 1898- person
correspondedWith Wick, Grace, 1888-1958. person
associatedWith Winchell, Walter, 1897-1972. person
associatedWith Yeshiva University. Archives. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Michigan
United States
Eureka Springs (Ark.)
United States
United States
New York (N.Y.)
Louisiana
United States
Subject
Religion
Anti-communist movements
Antisemitism
Antisemitism
Christianity and antisemitism
Clergy
Communism
Conservatism
Conservatism
Elections
Judaism
Oral history
Politicians
Presidents
Presidents
Presidents
Presidents
Presidents
Presidents
Protestants
Right-wing extremists
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1898-02-27

Death 1976-04-15

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6zp4px9

SNAC ID: 14571774