Charles Sprague Smith

Charles Sprague Smith (1853-1910?) founded the People's Institute of New York City in 1897. The Institute presented public forums on current issues, and the consequent "forum movement" it inspired eventually expanded to more than 100 locations, mostly in the northeastern United States. Later, the Institute was also involved in opening social centers, usually at public schools, and it organized a school for community workers. The People's Institute closed in 1934. Smith had been a professor at Columbia University, and was the author of several books, including a 1908 volume of poetry. For a Progressive activist, his verse was remarkably old fashioned. In addition to the book of poetry and the book linked by cecilacase above, his 1903 volume on four Barbizon school painters is available from Google Books, as is his anthologized essay on the Spanish legend of El Cid. The author photo is from George Eastman House - http://www.flickr.com/photos/george_eastman_house/2871182986/

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