Wilfred I. Smith, 1919-1998, Founding Fellow 

Highlights

Dominion Archivist 1970-1984, initiated nationally significant collections of audiovisual and digital records; leader in archival education, professional associations, and collaboration among Canadian and international archival institutions. 

Education and Background 

Born in Nova Scotia, Wilfred Smith received both a BA (1943) and an MA (1946) from Acadia University, and a PhD from the University of Minnesota. He served as an officer overseas during World War II, originally with the Canadian Army and later with the British Army (under the CANLOAN program, about which he authored Code Word CANLOAN(Dundurn Press, Toronto, 1992). 

Professional Career 

Dr. Wilfred I. Smith (“Wilf”) lectured in history at the University of Saskatchewan (1948-1950) before joining the Public Archives of Canada (PAC, now Library and Archives Canada) in 1950, where he worked closely with W. Kaye Lamb and played a key role in modernizing the institution. Smith served as Manuscript Division Chief (1963-1964), Historical Branch Director (1964-1965), Assistant Dominion Archivist (1965-1968), Acting Dominion Archivist (1968-1970), and ultimately as Dominion Archivist (1970-1984). During Smith’s tenure the PAC staff and budget expanded to address the growing volume and complexity of government records. He initiated national collections of film, television, sound, and electronic records, and introduced the use of automated systems for managing government records. Smith also strongly supported and taught in the Archives Course offered by the PAC in conjunction with Carleton University, a key source of education for Canadian archivists at that time. Those who worked with him emphasize his personable and open manner, receptive to new ideas, encouraging younger colleagues to advance the discipline and the profession. 

Contributions to the Profession 

Wilfred Smith initiated regular meetings of the Dominion, Provincial and Territorial Archivists in 1971 as a forum for discussion of key archival issues; a forum which continues to this day as the National, Provincial and Territorial Archivists Conference (NPTAC). He also helped found the Canadian Council of Archives and supported the publication of Archivaria. Keenly interested in the international archival community, he served as president of the Society of American Archivists (1972-1973), and as Secretary General of the International Council on Archives (1982-1984).(1982-1984). Through the respect he earned and at his invitation, Canada hosted the 12 the quadrennial Congress of the International Council on Archives in Montreal in 1992. 

Honours, Awards and Recognition 

• Society of American Archivists Fellow, 1958 
• Royal Society of Canada Centenary Medal, 1982 
• ACA Fellow, 1984 
• Officer of the Order of Canada, 1985, awarded in recognition for leading the PAC to become a world-class institution, for contributions to the international archival profession, and for making Canada’s historical heritage more accessible to all 
• Numerous honourary degrees 

Further Information: 

• Bill Green, “Reflections of Dr. Wilfred I. Smith, Dominion Archivist of Canada, 1970-1984,” ACA Bulletin 22, no. 1 (September 1997): 16-19. 
• Michael D. Swift, “Wilfred I. Smith, 1919-1998,” Archivaria 45 (Spring 1998): 231-235. 
• Ian Wilson, “In Memoriam: Dr. Wilfred I. Smith: An Archival Tribute,” Archivaria 46 (Fall 1998): 175-179. 
• Wilfred I. Smith Fonds MG31, E 96, Library and Archives Canada 
• LAC, “Wilfred I. Smith, O.C., C.D., M.A., Ph.D., D.C.L., F.S.A.A” https://www.uelac.org/events/2015-07-12-Wilfred-I-Smith-Bio.pdf 
• Wikipedia entry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_I._Smith 

Photo source: https://www.dundurn.com/authors_/t156375/t143609-wilfred-i--smith

If you see any inaccuracies or information gaps in any biography, the ACA would very much welcome your input. Please send a message to the current chair of the Nominations and Awards Committee.