RIAMCO

Rhode Island Archival and Manuscript Collections Online

For Participating Institutions

H. Adrian Smith Magic Objects collection (Ms.2011.001.objects)

Brown University Library

Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Biographical/Historical note

H. (Harold) Adrian Smith was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on September 17, 1908 to Alvin H. Smith and Jennie Bryant. He became interested in magic as a young boy, and his magic performances helped to pay for his tuition to Brown University. He earned a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, graduating in 1930 and continued performing as a magician throughout Southern New England. Smith married Anna Fuller, and moved to North Attleboro, Massachusetts, in 1934. In 1941 Smith enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the Quartermaster Corps, serving on the Okinawa campaign. He was discharged in 1946, and immediately resumed his magic career.

An avid collector of magic memorabilia, Smith also became an internationally known bibliographer of conjuring literature and author of four books on conjuring and mnemonics. In the course of time, the H. Adrian Smith Collection of Conjuring Books and Magicana become one of the finest private collections of magicana in the world. A frequent contributor to books and periodicals in the United States and abroad, he served as editorial consultant to The Journal of Magic History and was elected to the Magic Hall of Fame in October 1976. Mr. Smith was a member of the Inner Magic Circle of London; national president, Society of American Magicians from 1940-1941; international president, International Brotherhood of Magicians in 1948; past president New England Council of Magicians; and past president, New England Magic Collectors Association. In 1988, he became one of the first recipients of the William Williams Award presented in recognition of his many years of outstanding service to Brown University Library. Upon his death in 1992, Smith bequeathed his library, including his personal correspondence and photographs, to Brown University. He is buried in the Smith family plot at Riverside Cemetery in East Providence, Rhode Island.

Citation: Books at Brown, Volume 34, 1987