Lowe-Dickson-Smith Family Collection

Collection

Identifier: 2024.031

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Lowe-Dickson-Smith Family Collection houses the personal papers of the Lowe, Dickson, and Smith families. This collection, which dates from 1846 to 1974, consists of letters, newspapers, genealogical records, photographs, scrapbooks, and a family Bible, documenting the families’ personal and professional endeavors. This collection uniquely documents the lives of Montgomery County residents and speaks to events going on in the county and country at the time; this is seen particularly through the collection’s programs, invitations, advertisements, and playbills. The collection also contains genealogical records which document the relations between the Lowes, Dicksons, and Smiths, and their ties to other local families.

The “Lowe Family” series, which dates from 1846 to 1974, primarily consists of items pertaining to Catherine Lowe and Nannie (Mary Anne) Lowe, but also includes items from eight different members of the Lowe family. The series includes a wide range of items such as, letters, invitations, programs, playbills, wallet contents, estate settlements, photos, scrapbooks, and a family Bible.

The second series titled “Dickson Family” is comprised of letters, invitations, programs, photos, newspapers, and scrapbooks from the Dickson family. Most of the series pertains to Mary Lowe Dickson Ledbetter and her mother Mary Richardson Lowe Dickson, with the materials ranging in date from 1913 to 1963.

The “Smith Family” series contains letters, business papers, newspapers, photos, scrapbooks, and several 3D objects. The series, which largely pertains to Annie Laurie Lowe, her husband Homer Fraser Smith, and their son Homer Christopher Smith, ranges from 1861 to 1962. Items of particular interest include World War I letters received by Annie Laurie Lowe.

The fourth series, titled “Genealogy” is home to the collection’s family trees and genealogical records. The series dates from 1860 to 1968, and touches on multiple families including the Harrises, Wyatts, Lowes, Ledbetters, Dalys, and Dicksons. The series also contains letters, newspapers, obituaries, wills, and national society membership information.

The “Photographs” series is comprised of photographs and negatives of the Lowe, Dickson, and Smith families. The photographs have been grouped together primarily by family member.

Dates

1846 - 1974

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Biographical / Historical

The Lowe-Dickson-Smith Family Collection highlights the three daughters of Montgomery County residents George Lowe (1859-1898) and Mary Anne (Nannie) Daly Lowe (1858-1929). The Lowes raised their children on a Montgomery County farm located at 3248 Marthas Chapel Road.

Catherine Lowe, born August 1, 1882, was the oldest of their six children. When George Lowe died at age 40, Catherine, who was 17 at the time, began working in Clarksville to help support her family. Catherine never married and spent much of her career working as a store clerk and milliner. Catherine worked at the McNeal Edwards Store on Franklin Street for many years and at one time had her own milliner shop. She enjoyed taking business trips to New York City and Chicago, to make purchases for her millinery store, and she often attended the latest theater productions while visiting the city. Catherine was a member of the Clarksville Business and Professional Women’s Club as well as the Madison Street United Methodist Church.

George and Mary Anne’s third oldest daughter, Mary Richardson Lowe, was born April 17, 1887. Mary moved from her parents’ farm into Clarksville in the early 1900s to work at Gerhart Sons. In 1909, Mary married John Robert Dickson, and together they had four children: John Robert Jr., Nancy Ellen, George Lowe, and Mary Lowe. George Lowe passed away before his second birthday, and Mary’s husband, John, died in 1951. After his passing, Mary worked as a caterer for the Clarksville Women’s Club and lived in their building on North Second Street, while she managed their catering and special events. Mary was a member of the Madison Street United Methodist Church, and she passed away in 1972 at the age of 85.

Annie Laurie Lowe was the youngest Lowe sibling, born September 10, 1896. Her father died when she was around two years old, and her mother had to sell their family’s farm shortly after. Annie Laurie married Homer Fraser Smith and they lived together at their home on Glenwood Drive throughout their marriage; Annie Laurie remained in the family home after Homer’s death, until her passing in 1972. Together they had one son, Homer Christopher Smith. Annie Laurie worked at a bank after graduating high school and later as a secretary for the Madison Street United Methodist Church, where she attended.

George and Mary Anne Lowe’s remaining children, Julia Richardson Lowe Love, Willa (Willie) Lowe Babb, and Joe Lewis Lowe are briefly touched on within this collection but not to the extent of their three sisters.

Extent

12.5 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

Arranged in five series: I. Lowe Family, 1846-1974. II. Dickson Family, 1913-1963. III. Smith Family, 1861-1962. IV. Genealogy, 1860-1968. V. Photographs, 1880-1966.

Custodial History

The materials in this collection were created by members of the Lowe, Dickson, and Smith families and passed down several generations. Barbara Heflin and Betsy Ledbetter, granddaughters of Mary Richardson Lowe Dickson, then donated them to the Montgomery County Archives. The materials were acquired through three accessions in July 2022, June 2024, and December 2024.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Barbara Heflin and Betsy Ledbetter, July 2022, June 2024, and December 2024.

Accruals

Further accruals are expected.

Related Materials

Related materials pertaining to the Smith family may be found in the Evelyn Glenn Hunter Collection, 2003.009. Evelyn Glenn Hunter’s mother, Mildred Smith, was the sister of Homer Fraser Smith.

Separated Materials

Photographs and negatives have been stored in a different box and housed separately.

Processing Information

The collection was arranged into series based on the original boxes which were labeled “Annie Laurie Lowe Smith”, “Catherine Lowe”, “Mary Richardson Lowe Dickson”, and “Genealogy”. The original groupings which pertained to each individual Lowe sister were broadened and transformed into series based on their married surname. The “Genealogy” series has remained the same and contains materials pertaining to each family. A photograph series was added to house the photographs from all series.

Materials were cleaned, placed in acid-free folders, and boxed. Metal fasteners were removed, and fragile documents were placed in protective mylar sleeves. Original folder titles were retained when available. Scrapbooks and photo albums were interleaved with acid-free paper and boxed. Photos were placed in photo sleeves, labeled, and boxed separately. Some photos were digital donation only.

Mold was discovered on several items, which were then removed and frozen to deactivate the mold. A vacuum was used to gently clean off the inactive mold particles from the items. These items have been physically separated from the rest of the collection (boxes 8 and 9), along with all other materials found in the original box.