The Papers of Samuel Smith contain a complete representation of life as a state legislator. Examples of newspaper clippings, legislative work and research, photographs, and speeches make up the bulk of the collection. Although Smith focused on many issues during his time in office, he continually introduced legislation related to the environment. He sponsored bills regarding waste management, landfills, and the Growing Greener initiative. His efforts came to fruition with the passing of Act 68 of 1999 which included the idea of Environmental Stewardship, something Smith was most proud. In addition to written material, the collection contains photographs showing Smith and his colleagues in both professional roles (district programs, press conferences, bill signings) and more comfortable scenarios (ad-hoc meetings, staff gatherings, “off the clock” get-togethers). He served in several House Leadership positions, including Speaker of the House, making this collection a rare and valuable addition to the House Archives’ historical records holdings. Some of the items that this collection contains are specific to the Speaker of the House such as a gavel.