John Jay Smith

Biography

John Jay Smith, born in 1798, devoted his life to the world of letters and to the growth of civil knowledge. As a librarian he nurtured a culture of learning, welcoming students and seekers alike into spaces filled with books and thoughtful conversation.

He passed in 1881 and was laid to rest at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, leaving a legacy of intellectual generosity and a lasting belief in the power of the written word.