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Smith, Ida, 1931-2015

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1931 - 2015

Biographical History

Ida Smith (1931-2015) was an educator, academic administrator, and feminist.

Ida Smith was born on December 12, 1931 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Joseph F. Smith and Ruth Pingree. Raised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she attended the University of Utah. After receiving her bachelor's degree in 1953 she worked as a teacher in Hawaii for a couple of years before beginning a career in administration.

In 1978 she was appointed the founding director of the Women's Research Institute at Brigham Young University. In 1983 she moved to the university's alumni association, where she worked as an administrator until her retirement in 1998.

Smith was active in her community and Church. She had been involved with the Gray Panthers, and later served on the board of the Sharon Cultural, Educational, Recreation Association (SCERA). In 2008 she left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but remained engaged in the Church community.

Ida Smith passed away on February 22, 2015.

Citation:
Ida Smith papers, circa 1978-1991

Brigham Young University, L. Tom Perry Special Collections worksheet, Feb. 28, 2007 (Ida Smith; b. 1931; first director of Women's Research Institute at BYU)

Deseret news, Feb. 24, 2015 (Ida Smith; b. Dec. 12, 1931; parents: Joseph F. Smith and Ruth Pingree; descendant of Hyrum Smith; d. Feb. 22, 2015; resident of Orem, Utah)

LDSLiving, Feb. 3, 2011 (Ida Smith; former head of BYU Women's Research Institute; excommunicated from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2008)

LDS WAVE, via WWW, May 17, 2020 (Ida Smith; member of feminist group the Gray Panthers)

Prabook, via WWW, May 17, 2020 (Ida Smith; b. in Salt Lake City, Utah; bachelor's degree, University of Utah, 1953; teacher, Punahou School, Honolulu, 1954-1956; office manager, National Association of Manufacturers, 1958-1972; Arutinian-Kinny Landscape Architects, Palo Alto, 1972-1978; director, Women's Research Institute, Brigham Young University, 1978-1983; alumni association administrator, 1983-1998; member of board of directors, Sharon's Cultural, Educational, Recreational Association Corporation (SCERA), Orem, Utah, 1987-1996)

Found in 13 Collections and/or Records:

Women's Research Institute files on Young Women, approximately 1978-1997

 Series — Carton 5: Series 5; Series 6; Series 7; Series 8 [Barcode: 31197225547261], Folder: 14-16
Identifier: MSS 3312 Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains subject files related to the Young Women program of the Church. Materials date from between approximately 1978 and 1997.

Dates: approximately 1978-1997

Women's Research Institute records

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 3312
Scope and Contents Contains correspondence, reports, and files on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and women, articles, and files on Mormon relations and issues related to women. Includes personal and corporate records produced and compiled by Ida Smith documenting her tenure as director of the Women's Research Institute at Brigham Young University between 1978 and 1983. Also contains personal correspondence and research files, as well as documenting her work with the BYU Alumni Association....
Dates: approximately 1978-1997

Women's Research Institute reports, approximately 1978-1988

 Series — Carton 2: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197225547238]
Identifier: MSS 3312 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains reports related to the Women's Research Institute. Materials date from approximately 1978 to 1983.

Dates: approximately 1978-1988