Industrial engineer J. F. Downie Smith was born on October 13, 1902 in Linlithgow, Scotland. He received a Diploma (1923) from the Royal Technical College, and his B.S. (1923) from Glasgow University. Smith received his M.S. (1925) from the Georgia School of Technology, his M.E. (1928) from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and both his S.M. (1930) and S.D. (1933) from the Graduate School of Engineering at Harvard University. Smith was named Dean (1947-1957) of the Division of Engineering and Director of the Engineering Experiment Station at Iowa State College (University). This collection contains biographical information, correspondence, and publications.

J. F. Downie Smith was born on October 13, 1902 in Linlithgow, Scotland. He received a Diploma (1923) of the Royal Technical College, and his B.S (1923) from Glasgow University. Smith also received his M.S. (1925) from Georgian School of Technology, his M.E. (1928) from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, his S.M. (1930) from Graduate School of Engineering at Harvard University, and his S.D. (1933) from Graduate School of Engineering at Harvard University.

After serving an apprenticeship as an engineer with the Albion Motor Car Company in Scotland at the age of 13, he worked as a machine and tool designer until he entered the teaching field. For two years he was assistant professor of experimental engineering at Georgia Tech, two years as Assistant Professor of Engineering Drawing at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and worked at Harvard Graduate School of Engineering as a national research fellow and as an Instructor (1928-1936). He then worked as an executive engineer (1936-1940) of research and development for Budd Manufacturing Company. He was chief engineer (1940-1947) of the aircraft section of the United Shoe Machinery Corporation and served as head of the engineering eepartment of that company.

Smith was named Dean (1947-1957) of the Division of Engineering and Director of the Engineering Experiment Station on March 15, 1947, at Iowa State College (University). He was the author of more than 28 different articles and papers on industrial engineering subjects.

Smith married Doris in 1934 and they had two children, John and Eleanore.

This collection (1946-1983) contains biographical information, correspondence, and publications by J. F. Downie Smith.