North American Scholar

Study at Bradley Coll., 1912-4; A.B. U. Chicago, 1916; M.A., 1917; Ph.D., 1921; L.H.D. Ripon Coll., 1953.

Instr. to asso. prof. Gk. U. Chicago, 1921-33; Edward Olson prof. Gk., 1933-61; actng. chair dept. Gk., 1934-6; chair, 1936-53; chair dept. class., 1953-60; vis. prof, class. U. Illinois, 1961-5; Loyola U., 1966-8; Vanderbilt U., 1968-9; res. award ACLS, 1930; arm. prof. ASCSA, 1949-50; pres. CAMWS, 1940-1; pres. APA, 1957-8; ed. bd. CP 1925-65; Cross of Comdr. Royal Order of Beneficence (Greece); hon. pres. Eta Sigma Phi.

"The Administration of Justice from Hesiod to Solon" (Chicago, 1921); printed (Chicago, 1924).

"Athenian Casualty Lists," CP 14 (1919) 351-64; "The Prytaneum in the Athenian Amnesty Law," CP 16 (1921) 345-53; "Early Greek Codes," CP 17 (1922) 187-201; "Dicasts in the Ephetic Courts," CP 19 (1924) 353-8; "The Jurisdiction of the Areopagus," CP 22 (1927) 61-79; The Administration of Justice from Homer to Aristotle, with R. J. Bonner, 2 vols. (Chicago, 1930-8); "The Administration of Justice in Sparta," with R. J. Bonner, CP 37 (1942) 113-29; "ΠΟΛΙΣ ΑΝΔΡΑ ΔΙΔΑΣΚΕΙ," CJ 38 (1942-3) 260-79; "The Administration of Justice in the Delphic Amphictyony," with R. J. Bonner, CP 38 (1943) 1-12; "The Administration of Justice in Boeotia," with R. J. Bonner, CP 40 (1945) 11-23; "More Recent Theories on the Origin and Interrelation of the First Classifications of Greek Laws," Cahiers d'histoire mondiale 3 (1956) 173-95; "Cretan Law and Common Tendencies in Archaic Greek Law," Acta Congressus Madvigiani vol. 1 (Copenhagen, 1958) 235-50; "On Verbal Repetition in Aeschylus," Studies Ullman (1960), 19-28.

Scholar, teacher, and administrator, Smith was a woman of many talents and extraordinary accomplishments. Unlike most women classical scholars of her generation, she was the product of a coeducational institution, the University of Chicago, where she spent her entire professional life. As a scholar, her main achievement was a joint undertaking with her teacher and mentor, R. J. Bonner. Her contribution to this work was substantial.Bonner's other books are broad, synthetic works; what distinguishes The Administration of Justice from Homer to Aristotle, one of the most important books ever written on Greek law, is the originality of interpretation regarding the development of Greek law, especially in Volume One, and much of this was the result of Smith's work. As a popular teacher for four decades she helped train many distinguished American classicists and is fondly remembered by many of them to this day. Her administrative accomplishments were most important and covered a wide range: in the Classics Department at Chicago, where she was chairman for a quarter-century; in CAMWS and the APA, for which she did much work in addition to her presidency of each organization and took a special interest in the teaching of Latin in Illinois high schools; and in the American School at Athens, where she was professor for one year, directed the Summer Sessions three times, and chaired the Admissions Committee for 18 years, developing and implementing policies and standards as the school emerged from the devastating impact of World War II and regained its former eminence. For this work she was honored by the Greek government. A strong personality and high standards combined with originality of intellect and generosity of spirit to produce one of the most important American classicists of her time.

APA Newsletter 9,1 (Winter 1986) 11-2; DAS 74; WhAmW 1968:1127; Michael Gagarin, "Six Women Classicists," CW 90, 2-3 (Nov. 1996-Feb. 1997) 167-77.