Dee Glen Smith Oral Histories
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of the audio cassette recordings and the typescripts of numerous oral history interviews conducted by Howard M. Carlisle during the 1980s. These interviews were conducted by Carlisle for use in writing his 1992 book, Fulfilling a Dream: The Dee Smith Story (see citation below). Concerning the content these interviews Carlisle stated;
The taped interviews are not restricted to topics related to the growth of the company. Several interviews are with older Brigham City residents (most of whom have since died) relating to early years and conditions in the community during the past century. Most notable are insights into the small general stores of the period, how investment capital was obtained during the Great Depression when banks were extremely conservative, and insights into living conditions in the typical small Utah community.
The material in this collection has been organized into two Series. Series I consists of the oral history typescripts, Carlisle's notes concerning the interviews, and one box (Box 3) containing information about Dee Smith's businesses. Series II consists of the oral history audio cassette and compact disc recordings.
Dates
- 1925-1984
Language of Materials
Material in English
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Dee Glen Smith Oral Histories must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Biographical Note
Dee Glen Smith was born September 30, 1925 in Brigham City, Utah the son of Ren and Seret Smith. He worked for his father, who owned a small grocery story, throughout his youth. He graduated from Box Elder High School in 1943 and quickly joined the US Army. During a leave of absence, Smith married his high school sweetheart, Ida Woodyatt in May 1944. After a honorable discharge as a corporal from the Army, Smith returned to help his father run his grocery store, quickly catching on to the daily store activity and soon taking over many responsibilities from his father. Smith joined with a partner and expanded his business, Smith's Grocery, into Ogden, Roy, and Layton, Utah. After his father passed away, Smith took over as president and began to expand even more throughout Utah and later into Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, and other states. Many small grocery chains were up for sale at the time due to poor business practices and Dee Smith bought them up and consolidated them into a profitable venture. Dee Glen Smith died June 30, 1984 in Salt Lake City, Utah, leaving behind a billion dollar business that included 128 stores and 6,500 employees.
Dee Glen Smith Biographical Timeline:
- 30 Sept. 1925 Born in Brigham City, Utah to Ren and Seret Smith
- 22 May 1943 Graduated from Box Elder High School in Brigham City, Utah
- 5 May 1944 Married High School sweetheart, Ida Woodyatt
- January 1952 Awarded the Jaycee's Distinguished Service Award in Brigham City, Utah
- 15 May 1975 Awarded the ‘City of Hope” award by the Food Industries Circle in Salt Lake City, Utah
- Spring 1978 Awarded the Maurice Warshaw Golden Key Award
- 25 May 1979 Named the food executive of the year by USC and the Food Marketing Management Institute
- 22 June 1979 Awarded the ‘Golden Plate’ by the American Academy of Excellence
- 12 May 1983 Awarded the distinguished executive award by the USU College of Business, Logan, Utah
- 10 June 1983 Received an honorary PhD of humanities from Weber State College in Ogden, Utah
- 30 June 1984 Died at age of 58 in Salt Lake City, Utah
Extent
7 boxes (3 linear feet)
Abstract
This collection consists of the audio cassette recordings and the typescripts of numerous oral history interviews conducted by Howard M. Carlisle during the 1980s about Dee Smith.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by material type.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials in this collection were donated to Utah State University Special Collections & Archives by Howard M. Carlisle in December 2002.
Existence and Location of Copies
Contains audio cassette tapes and compact discs.
Separated Materials
Dee Glen Smith Photograph Collection P0438
Source:
- Carlisle, Howard M., Fulfilling a Dream: The Dee Smith Story, (HD 9321.95 .S64 C37 1992)
Processing Information
Processed in February of 2006
- Title
- Guide to the Dee Glen Smith Oral Histories 1925-1984
- Author
- Finding aid/Register created by Ann Buttars and Bradley Armstrong
- Date
- ©2011
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid encoded in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)
scweb@usu.edu