William and Alice Meagher collection of WH Smith & Sons memorabilia.

MS 5931

c.1950-1973

Henry Walton Smith (1738-1792) and his wife Anna Smith (nee Eastaugh, c.1756-1816) first established a news vendor’s business in around 1790 in Little Grosvenor Street, London. Upon Henry’s death in 1792, Anna took control of the business partnering with Zaccheus Coates until 1812, whereupon Coates was replaced by Anna’s son William Henry Smith (1792-1865, the first W.H. Smith). The latter inherited the business, along with his brother Henry Edward Smith (1787-1846), on the death of their mother. In 1820 the business took its first steps in newspaper wholesale distribution. Henry Edward Smith left the partnership in 1828, and at this point the name “W.H. Smith” came into use. By 1848 the business had expanded and began opening new stands in railway stations, starting at Euston station in London; by 1850 Smith’s had opened stands in Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool stations. In 1855 the first bookstall contract was established with the North London Railway; advertising contracts with the South Eastern Railway were also obtained.

Comprises a copy of The Art of Letter Writing: W H Smith & Son's Manual of Wholesale House Practice by D M Locke; Christmas cards sent to staff from David and Helen Smith including photographs of them and their family.

1 folder

fonds

The items were collected by William Francis Meagher who worked for WH Smith between 1919 until 1961. The Christmas cards continued to be sent to his widow, Alice, after his death in 1966.