Roy Clark Smith Bio
Monongalia Co. WV



The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II
pg 93

Roy  Clark Smith.  Few figures are better known in the educational profession 
of Monongalia County than Roy Clark Smith, who since 1913 has been 
superintendent of the public schools of Morgantown.  Identified with 
educational work since the beginning of his career, he has been located at 
Morgantown since 1909, constantly filling places of trust and responsibility, 
and during this time has impressed himself upon the life and institutions of 
the community in a manner alike creditable to himself and productive of 
lasting benefit to the city.

Mr. Smith was born at Cambridge, Maryland, December 4, 1883, and is of 
English-French-Irish stock, being descended from three of the oldest families 
of Maryland, the Smiths, Harpers and Clarks.  His grandfather, Henry Smith, a 
native of Maryland, married Martha Harper, a daughter of Edward Harper, who 
was an extensive landholder of Dorchester County, Maryland, owning land which 
came to the Harper family by grant directly from Lord Baltimore.  He married 
Miss Beauchamp, who was born in France.  The father of Roy C. Smith was 
Marcus H. Smith, who was born in Dorchester County, Maryland, in July 1857, 
and was in early life a farmer, later a mill owner and operator at Denton, 
and finally a merchant at that place.  He married Sarah Matilda Clark, who 
was born in Caroline County, Maryland, in December, 1861, a daughter of John 
W. Clark, who at the time of his death in 1899 was probably the largest land 
holder in Caroline County.

Roy Clark Smith was born at Cambridge, Maryland, December 4, 1883, and 
secured his primary education in the public schools of Denton, Caroline 
County, Maryland.  Graduating from the high school at that place in 1902, he 
entered the Western Maryland College, from which he was graduated as a 
Bachelor of Arts in 1906.  At that time he commenced teaching, but did not 
give up his studies, as later he was graduated from the University of 
Pennsylvania, class of 1911, with his Master of Arts degree, and in 1916 he 
took post-graduate work at Columbia University.

Mr. Smith entered public school work as principal of the schools of Preston, 
Maryland, and next became teacher of mathematics and history at Friends 
Academy, Long Island, New York, in the fall of 1907.  In 1908 he was head of 
the department of mathematics of the Westchester (Pennsylvania) High School, 
and in the fall of 1909 came to Morgantown to become principal of the high 
school here.  He continued to act in this capacity until elected 
superintendent of city schools in the fall of 1913, and has occupied that 
position ever since.  Superintendent Smith has made education and 
organization and direction of educational activities his life work, and has 
been remarkably successful.  In almost every field of the work from the 
primary to teaching classes in a university, from grade to superintendent of 
schools, he has left the mark of an earnest student and apt instructor, an 
intelligent organizer and a judicious director.  In a professional way his 
connections include membership in the West Virginia State Educational 
Association and the department of superintendents of the National Educational 
Association.  Fraternally he is affiliated with Morgantown Union Lodge No. 4, 
F. and A. M.;  and Lodge of Perfection Rotary Club and the Morgantown Chamber 
of Commerce, and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian Church.

On June 16, 1913, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Charlotte Wade, 
daughter of Clark Wade, of Monongalia County, and granddaughter of Alexander 
Wade, one of the most prominent of West Virginia's public school educators.  
Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one son, Robert Wade, born June 5, 1918.