When you step into Lutnick Library, you may find yourself drawn toward the cozy Philips Wing, a warm, welcoming study space with a sprawling ceiling and an artificial fireplace. Tucked in the corner of this captivating room is the Rufus Jones Study, an equally charming room utilized as a prayer and meditation space.
The space is named for Rufus Jones (1863-1948), a Quaker historian and professor of philosophy at the College. Given his contributions to Haverford’s community, Jones is considered an integral part of the College’s history, as reflected in his presence in our Quaker and Special Collections archive. While there is much to be found in the archives about the Jones family, including Rufus, his wife, Elizabeth Bartram Cadbury Jones, and his daughter, Mary Hoxie Jones, there is one essential member of his household that is often overlooked: house manager Ada Smith.
While little is known about Smith’s life before her arrival at 2 College Circle, a new exhibition in the study brings Ada’s story to life. Exploring the Life of Ada Smith, on view through June, draws on a series of written and visual mediums to illuminate the life of an influential figure often overlooked in Haverford’s history.
Born in 1879 in Charlottesville to formerly enslaved parents, Smith is best known for her role in Jones’ house, but she also lived a rich and fulfilling life outside of her position. Little is known about her educational background, as Smith was believed to be illiterate. However, the archives include written correspondence between her and the Cadbury family, leading archivists to ponder whether she dictated or wrote these letters.
The archival materials also provide evidence of Smith’s connections outside of the home, specifically her close relationship with her siblings, who resided in both Ardmore and Charlottesville. Ada, the exhibition shows, was a loving, attentive house manager, and it is clear that she had a strong connection both to the family that she worked for and to her biological family.
Smith died in 1956 in a work-related accident in Charlottesville. In her memory, Marie Hoxie Jones wrote a poem called For Ada Smith. She spends much of the poem praising Smith for her care, writing:
“Child of slaves,
Born with a black skin,
You have been made glorious by your gifts
To those you loved,
Who have loved you in return.”
It is clear from the touching tribute that the Jones family regarded Smith with great love, mourning her passing while remaining grateful for her hard work and steadfast presence in their lives. While most Quaker historians put their focus on Jones’ contributions to Haverford, this exhibition serves to tell the story of an individual instrumental to Jones’ success and, by extension, Haverford’s success as an institution.
By telling stories like Smith’s, Haverford’s archives paint a full, vivid picture of the school’s history, while amplifying essential voices often forgotten in the College’s collective memory. To explore more about Ada’s story, and others like it, you can look at the TriCo Digital Collections or explore Haverford’s Quaker and Special Collections.