Gerald A. Smith (–2001)

Dr. Gerald A. Smith is a graduate of the University of Redlands, where he also received his M.A. degree. He took graduate work at the University of California at Los Angeles and at Harvard School of Business Administration, and earned his Ed.D. degree at the University of Southern California.Dr. Smith has maintained an interest in education, history, and archaeology throughout his career. During World War II, while serving as an officer in the United States Naval Reserve, he worked with the Micronesian people of the Marshall Islands and assisted in re-establishing their schools, stores, and self government. He assisted the late Dr. M.R. Harrington in field archaeology in Northern and Southern California. During the many years that he served as Superintendent of Schools in Bloomington and in Colton, California, Dr. Smith wrote numerous books and articles dealing with the history and pre-history of the Indians of Southern California and established files for the ever increasing records of archaeological sites discovered in Southern California.Dr. Smith's conviction that history is important and should be preserved and shared found expression in the San Bernardino County Museum, which he founded with the cooperative efforts of dedicated volunteers and guided to the impressive edifice dedicated on November 22, 1975. He served as first director of the County Museum until his retirement in 1983. The Hall of Anthropology at the Museum was named in his honor.Dr. Smith has received many awards during his career. In recognition of his service to American youth as an educator, he was presented with the American Education Medal by the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. A school was named in his honor in recognition of his outstanding service to the children in the school district in which he served as Superintendent. A past president of the Conference of California Historical Societies, he was presented a Special Award for outstanding effort in preserving state and local history. In 1989 he was recognized by the American Rock Art Research Association as a pioneer in the study of the rock art of the American Indians. Far from retired, Jerry Smith continues his writing and his active participation in various research projects in Southern California. He also enjoys the time he spends with his four grown children, his ten grandchildren and his wife, Dr. Maxine Smith.