Dr. Gerald Smith will address the Heritage Center at 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 19. The Heritage Center is located at 465 Railroad Ave., Tracy City. The public is invited. Admission is free.

Dr. Smith is a graduate of the University of Richmond, where he was awarded a BA in English. He graduated from Duke University with BD and PhD degrees. He is the retired Robert M. Ayres, Jr. Distinguished Professor at the University of the South. He served on the University of the South’s Religion Department faculty from 1969 to 2016. He taught religion and environmental studies along with field classes in rural religion for 46 years. He also served as University Marshal from 1989 to 2016, and as secretary of the University Board of Trustees from 1980 to 2016. Beginning in 1977, he served as chief of emergency services for the Sewanee Volunteer Fire Department.

He is a published poet and his literary essays have appeared in the Sewanee Review. His book of “Selected Poems” is currently in press and will be available later this year.

A native of Virginia, Dr. Smith’s first archaeological experience was working on the restoration of George Washington’s boyhood farm, and on the cemetery of the 18th century Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge. A past president of the Franklin County Historical Society, he continued his field research on cemeteries throughout middle Tennessee. He was appointed lecturer on Tennessee cemeteries by the Smithsonian Institution.

At the Advent Convocation in September 2025, Dr. Smith was awarded the Sewanee Medal in recognition of his service to the University.

For several years, Dr. Smith contributed as a co-editor to the former Vice Chancellor Sam Williamson through the Sewanee Sesquicentennial History Project. The project includes 11 books. His address will center on the founding of the University of the South.