Frog Smith, Thomas A. Edison. Oil on wood panel, 15 1/2 by 26 inches.
“Frog” Smith was a Florida artist, raconteur, folk historian and writer for the Fort Myers New Press. His column in the Press, Cracker Crumbs, retold the history of old time Florida. Smith worked as a yard sweeper, blacksmith, machinist, oiler, steam locomotive operator, lumberman, harmonica player, alligator hunter, and frog-gigger. The last occupation earned him his nickname “Frog.” When Smith was in his 80’s he began painting, in a Grandma Moses style, from memory, the life and times of old Florida. His paintings were displayed and sold at Thomas Edison’s Home in Fort Myers. He presented at the Smithsonian Institution’s Festival of American Folklife and the Florida Folk Festival. A self-taught artist, Smith specialized in scenes of early Florida, including cotton mills, lumber yards and river boats. He worked for a logging railroad, west of Ft. Myers, and was the author of two books, Crackers and Swamp Cabbage, Rich Tales about Poor Crackers, 1975, and The Tramp’s Heritage, 1985.
Born: 1896.
