Calvin (Mortimer) Rae Smith
November 12, 1847 - August 8, 1918
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From the College of the City of New York Quarterly:
PROFESSOR SMITH
Professor Calvin Rae Smith, who at the time of his retirement from the College in February, 1917, held the rank of Associate Professor of Art, died on August 8, 1918, at the home of his sister in Brooklyn. Several weeks before his death he had had a paralytic stroke, which made it necessary for him to take to his bed. Professor Smith, who had been a member of the Art Department for over thirty-six years, was born in New York City in 1847. His father was one of the best known map makers of New York about the middle of the last century. The son was educated at a private school in Edgewater, N. J., and later studied art for seven years under the leading artists of Paris, among them Julian, and for some time prior to his appointment as tutor in the College in 1880, he had a studio in this city. As an artist his specialty was the painting of miniatures on ivory, although in his portrait work and his etchings also he was very successful. He travelled extensively and had been for many years a collector of art objects and curios of various kinds. His collection of antique watches was one of the finest in the country. He leaves two sons and a daughter. One of his sons was graduated from the City College in 1912, while the younger was a student here until his enlistment in the army shortly after the United States entered the war.
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Faculty Resolution on the Death of Professor Calvin Rae Smith
With profound regret, the faculty of the College of the City of New York learns of the death of Calvin Rae Smith, who for thirty-six years prior to his retirement in 1917 was a member of the Art Department.
He came to us well equipped, a man who had successfully worked in all the media of the graphic arts. He painted in oils and water colors, he illustrated in black and white and manipulated the burin and etching-needle with equal facility. He will be best remembered, however, by a series of exquisite miniature portraits on ivory. Intimately linked with a sensitive artistic taste was that of the collector; and Professor Smith was as fastidious in gathering his many precious objets d'art as he was in giving finish to his canvasses.
A long service in the College was marked by a steadfast fidelity to duty, which was one of his characteristics. Those of us who knew him well prized his friendship and enjoyed his geniality and kindliness. Professor Smith was quiet and unostentatious, almost to the point of shyness; and so modest and retiring that he shrank at mention or praise of his successes. At the same time he was a most charming host, as those partaking of the hospitality of his city house or country home will long remember. While he was not a College graduate, our alma mater so endeared herself to him that he took pride in sending his two sons to be educated at the College of the City of New York.
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Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 9, 1918
Calvin Rae Smith, a professor of art for some years at the College of the City of New York, who was retired from active service a year and a half ago, died yesterday of enemia at the residence of his sister, Mrs. Louise Draper, 466 Westminster road. He was born in New York City, the son of the late John Calvin and Christina Rae Smith. His father was a geographer and engraver. He was educated as an artist in New York and Paris and years ago exhibited his work in the old Brooklyn Academy of Art on Montague street. He was both a landscape and portrait painter. Mr. Smith was a member of the Salmagundi Club. He is survived by a son, Russell A. Smith, a sargeant in the Fifth Pioneer Infantry, Camp Wadsworth, Spartansburg, S.C.; a daughter, Miss Marion Smith, and four sisters, Mrs. Marton Johnston, Mrs Jeannie Epstein, widow of Major Frederick H. Epstein, at one time Police Commissioner of Brooklyn; Miss Emily Smith and Mrs. Draper.
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(Note: Frederick Epstein is sometimes written as Frederick Ebstein)
From the Cornell Daily Sun, February 23, 1917
C. C. N. Y. PROFESSORS QUIT
Two Resign Their Posts — One on Account of ill Health. The College of the City of New York has announced that Professor Calvin Rae Smith, of the department of art, and James H. DeGroodt, instructor in mechanic arts, had resigned their posts. Professor Smith has been in the service of the college for thirty-seven years. He has left to enter private business. Mr. DeGroodt has been connected with the institution since 1886. Ill health is the cause of his retirement.
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Note: Calvin's daughter was Marion L. Smith (1893-1972) and his younger son was (Charles) Russell Avery Smith (June 30, 1895-January 12, 1969). Calvin's wife was Eleanor Maria Cornell Smith (April 22, 1858-January 22, 1899). Calvin's older son was Cornell Rae Smith (July 4, 1890-1923), who is not mentioned in some of Calvin's obituaries, but family lore has it that he was a fine artist (two watercolors and some sketches exist).
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Below is the advertisement for the auction of his watch and jewelry collection, from the New York Tribune, December 10, 1919.
