Leslie R. Smith

Leslie Russell (Melville) Smith was born October 13, 1927, in Woodbury, NJ. Leslie’s father, Robert Urquhart Melville was 35 (12/12/1890-01/21/1975), and her mother, Mary Barbour Melville was 32 (03/26/1896-11/23/1968). Both of Leslie’s parents hailed from Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Leslie had one sister Jeanne Marie Melville (18 August 1925-24 February 2006). Leslie attended Cambridge High School in Norfolk, MA. Nickname “Boo.” Her High School yearbook quote read, “She’s never selfish and never vain, combining beauty and a good brain.” She was an officer of her HS combined French and Italian Club. After graduating, Leslie attended Radcliff Harvard University. At Age 21, Leslie’s graduate senior honors theses for Radcliff, Department of Anthropology was published and archived on the topic of “Land of Ancient Irrigation,” on the kingdom of Khorezm. Leslie married Caldwell Peyton Smith in 1950 in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the age 22 years old. They were married for 58 years, before Caldwell passed away 12 October 2008. Leslie is survived by three children: Rodrick Melville Smith (born 5 June 1953), Duncan Barbour Smith (born 07 OCT 1955), and Russell Harrison Smith (born 3 August 1960). In Leslie’s professional career, she was a curator at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Textile Services and Library, as well as The Museums of California. Leslie authored her work of restoration and conservation of textiles including, American clothing and embroidery samplers, pre-Columbian textile samples and tools, contemporary Middle Eastern clothing, and ethnographic textile samples ranging in origin from Nigeria to India to Peru. Leslie traveled extensively to international conferences and was considered an expert in her field. Leslie provided mentorship for others during her career. Leslie loved her family, was a wonderful culinary cook, world traveler, book collector, and avid reader. Leslie passed away 27 March 2022 at the age of 94.