“Upon the world he made his mark, and from
him we learn how not to be one.” The Soapy Smith Preservation
Trust is a sanctioned voice for the Smith family* regarding Jefferson
Randolph "Soapy" Smith. The website, Friends of Bad Man Soapy Smith, is a subsidiary
and the official mouthpiece of the foundation, whose main purpose is for the distribution of information in regards to Soapy
Smith.
The family established
the Soapy Smith Preservation Trust to:
- Represent the descendants viewpoint
- Preserve
and disseminate the factual history
- Correct misinformation
and curtail intentional
fabrications
History
The
Trust was originally formed in 1985 under the name, the Soapy Smith Collection, whose membership consisted of family members
who had inherited the main portions of the family artifacts and documents. In June 2006 it was expanded and renamed
to accommodate all members of the Smith family with an interest in the history of the entire bloodline.
Why a Trust? It
is very likely Soapy Smith kept most, if not all, of his correspondences, personal, business documents and letters. These
have been preserved by members of the Smith family. Inclusive, the family has invested over one hundred years in researching
and investigating the life of this infamous bad man. Being the primary and foremost source of information we therefore feel
we should be recognized in the historical community as the leading voice on the factual events of Soapy Smith's life.
Officers
Jeff Smith, President
Geri Murphy, Vice President
Ellen Rafeedie, Family
History Director
Erik Andersen, Family
History Vice Director
Jeanie
Shaftner, Newnan, Georgia Family Site Curator
John “Grub” Culligan, Historical Weapons Analyst
Board of Trustees
James Smith, Senior Manager
Mildred
"Bunny" Godard
Consultants
Art Petersen
Cheryl
Jenkins
Grubstakers
Members who have supported
this site financially
(in alphabetical order)
"Anonymous"
Tad Brunton, g-grandson of Soapy
Jim Caraway, g-grandson of Soapy
Jay Hartzell, g-g-grandson of Soapy
Art Petersen
Ellen Rafeedie, cousin
twice removed of Soapy
*The Trust does not claim to represent 100% of the Smith family
"If you cannot get rid of the
family skeleton, you may as well make it dance."
—George Bernard Shaw
Become a member
of The Friends of Soapy Smith and receive up-to-date information on history and modern events as they pertain to Soapy and
the rest of the Smith family. This is all by email. You don't need to be a family member; just interested in Soapy Smith's
history. Best of all it's FREE! In fact, if you join today we will give you the one dollar bill below!
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A list of things to do
and wish for 1.) Start maintenance
of the Soapy Smith Skull Memorial on the hillside by the Skagway wharf, erected in 1920.
2.) Start a fund drive
for maintenance of the Soapy grave site and to replace the fence surrounding it.
3.) DNA testing on Soapy's lock
of hair on display at the Alaska State museum in Juneau.
4.) DNA on blood taken from the ascot/tie worn by Soapy
the night of the shooting (July 8 1898). On display in the city museum, Skagway, Alaska.
5.) Have a marker
placed on the grave of Jefferson Randolph Smith III (there is no marker).
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