Elva Sophronia Smith

Born in 1871, Elva Sophronia Smith was an American librarian, educator, and author best known for her work with children's books. Reliable library and catalog records connect her with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, where she worked on children's reading and book selection, and with later landmark reference works on the study of children's literature.

She compiled and edited a wide range of books for young readers, including Christmas in Legend and Story, A Book of Lullabies, Heroines of History and Legend, and Mystery Tales for Boys and Girls. She also wrote The History of Children's Literature and contributed to professional library tools such as guides to cataloging and subject headings for children's books, showing how strongly she shaped both what children read and how librarians organized those books.

Smith died in 1965. Even now, her work stands out for bringing together scholarship, storytelling, and a practical understanding of what makes books memorable for children.