Marcella Henley Smith papers

Collection

Identifier: IWA0681

Staff Only
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Scope and Contents

The Marcella Henley Smith papers date from 1938 to 1999 and measure 5 linear inches. The papers consist of Confetti, a book of short essays Smith wrote describing her life in rural Iowa from childhood through aging adulthood; letters Smith wrote to her mother and brother, Bill, during a month-long trip she took east and into Canada in 1938, along with two letters sent to Smith from her mother and one from family friend, Pearl Richey; several journals in which Smith documents her reading from 1959 to 1992; book lists; and newspaper articles that were originally stuffed into the reading journals that cover such topics as new publications, U.S. presidents and world history.

Dates

Creation: 1938-2012

Creator

Smith, Marcella Henley, 1909-2012 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The papers are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to the University of Iowa.

However, copyright status for some collection materials may be unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owner. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility and potential liability based on copyright infringement for any use rests exclusively and solely with the user. Users must properly acknowledge the Iowa Women’s Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries, as the source of the material. For further information, visit https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/sc/services/rights/

Biographical / Historical

Marcella Henley was born November 30, 1909 to Will Henley and Pearl Smith Henley on a farm in Monroe County, Iowa. Will Henley had been orphaned and had little schooling, but he worked hard as a rural laborer, for the coal mines and railroads, and with the Albia police department. Pearl Smith Henley had a grade school education and a passion for reading which she passed down to her daughter. Henley had an older step-brother, Babe, who was injured in World War I. She also had one biological brother, Bill.

In 1940 Henley married Clell Smith. He died in 1995. They had no children. Smith spent her entire life in the Albia, Iowa area. Together, Marcella and Clell Smith ran a sandwich shop in Albia. During her husband's absence during World War II, Marcella Smith purchased a flower shop and greenhouse. She was always active in the Presbyterian Church; as a high school student she was nominated to attend the national convention of the Young People's Christian Union in Seattle. During World War II, she became active with the local chapter of the Order of the Rainbow for Girls as their Mother Advisor. As a senior citizen, Marcella Smith was instrumental in developing a senior center in Albia.