author
Albert Henry Smyth
1863–1907
Remembered for his work as a literary scholar and editor, he helped preserve important pieces of American literary history, especially through his research on Benjamin Franklin and Bayard Taylor. His writing moves between scholarship and storytelling, making older subjects feel lively and human.
1 Audiobook
The Philadelphia Magazines and their Contributors 1741-1850
by Albert Henry Smyth
About the author
Born in Philadelphia in 1863, Albert Henry Smyth was an American writer, teacher, editor, and historian. He studied at Johns Hopkins University and went on to teach English and history, while also building a reputation as a careful literary scholar.
He is especially noted for editing and publishing Benjamin Franklin's writings, including letters and papers he tracked down in private collections in America and Europe. Smyth also wrote on Shakespeare and American literature, and he published a book on Bayard Taylor, showing his lasting interest in both literary criticism and biography.
Alongside his academic work, he was active in the American Philosophical Society, where he served as a member and curator. He died in 1907, but his work still matters to readers interested in early American writing, literary history, and the patient craft of editing the past.