Harry H. Smith, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, was born on September 10, 1916. He attended Nebraska State Teachers College and received his LLB (1939) from the University of South Dakota. He was admitted to the Iowa and South Dakota bars in 1939. Smith served as attorney (1943-1944) for the Federal Trade Commission and represented labor organizations such as the Iowa Federation of Labor, Eastern South Dakota Building Trades Council, Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council, Bover’s Provision (packing house), Hughes Steel Erection Company and others.

Smith also was a member of the Woodbury County Bar Association (president, 1963), the Iowa State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.

This collection (1962-1972) contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, maps for redistricting, reapportionment suit files, reports, and materials relating to labor organizations. The documentation relates with Smith’s work on reapportionment suites of 1965 (state), 1967 (Woodbury County), 1969-1970 (state) and 1971-1972 (state). Printed material relating to Iowa reapportionment cases including: 1965 (state), 1967 (Woodbury County), 1969-70 (state), and 1971-72 (state).

Labor organization clients include: Iowa Federation of Labor, Eastern South Dakota Building Trades Council, Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council, Bover's Provision (packing house), Hughes Steel Erection Company and others. Materials relating to the labor organizations include an Iowa AFL-CIO Legislation and Education Bulletin, Bill for act relating collective bargaining in public employment, Act to make appropriation to certain counties, letter to R. Wayne Richey (Board of Regents) regarding deduction of union dues for Regents Institution employees, a proclamation revoking proclamation No. 4031 of February 23, 1971 by U.S. President Richard M. Nixon, and Title II reporting by labor organizations.

Below are descriptions of the cases included in the collection:

Elizabeth Kruideneir et al v State of Iowa, #51879: Constitutionality of the matter of apportionment of the Legislature under the Provisions of the State Constitution

Keith G. Squier, Webster County Federation of Labor v Leonard Hansch (First District Supervisor) et al, #40594: Class action brought by a voter and taxpayer questioning the apportionment invidiously discriminatory to plaintiff and his class and thus unconstitutional.

Woodbury County, Frank Mandicino and Anthony Boe v Fred T. Kelly (First District Supervisor) et al, #86768: Suit in equity-the issue presented here is whether or not a residence requirement providing for the diversification of residence of candidates for office of supervisor violates the Constitution’s 14th amendment.

Rasmussen v State of Iowa, House File 781: Review of apportionment and its constitutionality

Louise Noun et al v State of Iowa, House File 732: Review of apportionment and its constitutionality