Sherwood Smith Collection

Raymond Sherwood “Bud” Smith II was a collector. Those who entered his office at the architecture firm were greeted by an assortment of items relating to buildings. Born in 1925, Smith started his own firm as a licensed architect in 1959. He worked in Topeka for well over 50 years. To add to his assortment he purchased a collection of blueprints being sold by a different architectural firm in Topeka. In 2003, he donated this blueprint collection as well as books, presentation prints and personal files to the Topeka and Shawnee County Library Local History Department.

The Sherwood Smith blueprint and document collection contains approximately 500 items that represent the growth of Topeka from the late 19th century to the middle of the 20th. The collection provides representative samples of businesses, residential homes and public buildings such as churches and schools. Some of these buildings still exist today. The collection also provides insights on the work process of architects with books on house planning and style, which reveal the evolution of the industry. Another component of the collection is Smith’s work files, which provide information on specific projects and organizations he was connected to during his career.