Jessica Smith (editor)
Encyclopedia
Jessica Smith was an American
editor and activist.
Daughter of the painter Walter Granville-Smith of New York
, Jessica Granville-Smith, as she was known in her early life, graduated from Swarthmore College
and championed women's suffrage. She went to the Soviet Union
in 1922 with a Quaker Mission.
In the early 1920s, she visited Russia
on behalf of the Quaker famine relief effort, the American Friends Service Committee
. In Moscow she met Harold Ware
, an agricultural expert and socialist. They tried to establish a model collective farm in the Ural Mountains
using American tractors. Back in New York, they were married by Norman Thomas
. When Ware returned to Moscow for a time, Jessica Smith remained in the United States and became editor of the Soviet Russia Today, a publication of the organization Friends of Soviet Russia
, and held the position for more than twenty years.
Ware died in an automobile accident in 1935. John Abt
married Jessica Smith, after Ware's death. Abt died in 1991. Whittaker Chambers
mentioned her in connection with Abt to Adolf Berle in September 1939.
At the time of her death in October 1983, Smith was longtime member of the Board of Directors of the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
editor and activist.
Daughter of the painter Walter Granville-Smith of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Jessica Granville-Smith, as she was known in her early life, graduated from Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
and championed women's suffrage. She went to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1922 with a Quaker Mission.
In the early 1920s, she visited Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
on behalf of the Quaker famine relief effort, the American Friends Service Committee
American Friends Service Committee
The American Friends Service Committee is a Religious Society of Friends affiliated organization which works for peace and social justice in the United States and around the world...
. In Moscow she met Harold Ware
Harold Ware
Harold Maskell "Hal" Ware was an American Marxist regarded as one of the Communist Party's top experts on agriculture....
, an agricultural expert and socialist. They tried to establish a model collective farm in the Ural Mountains
Ural Mountains
The Ural Mountains , or simply the Urals, are a mountain range that runs approximately from north to south through western Russia, from the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the Ural River and northwestern Kazakhstan. Their eastern side is usually considered the natural boundary between Europe and Asia...
using American tractors. Back in New York, they were married by Norman Thomas
Norman Thomas
Norman Mattoon Thomas was a leading American socialist, pacifist, and six-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America.-Early years:...
. When Ware returned to Moscow for a time, Jessica Smith remained in the United States and became editor of the Soviet Russia Today, a publication of the organization Friends of Soviet Russia
Friends of Soviet Russia
The Friends of Soviet Russia was formally established in the United States on August 9, 1921 as an offshoot of the American Labor Alliance for Trade Relations with Soviet Russia...
, and held the position for more than twenty years.
Ware died in an automobile accident in 1935. John Abt
John Abt
John Jacob Abt was an American lawyer and politician. He spent most of his career as chief counsel to the Communist Party USA ....
married Jessica Smith, after Ware's death. Abt died in 1991. Whittaker Chambers
Whittaker Chambers
Whittaker Chambers was born Jay Vivian Chambers and also known as David Whittaker Chambers , was an American writer and editor. After being a Communist Party USA member and Soviet spy, he later renounced communism and became an outspoken opponent later testifying in the perjury and espionage trial...
mentioned her in connection with Abt to Adolf Berle in September 1939.
At the time of her death in October 1983, Smith was longtime member of the Board of Directors of the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship.