T Dan Smith Archive II
Various
Photographic
Photographs from the personal archive of T Dan Smith, Newcastle’s radical post-war council leader, documenting his political life, ambitions for the region and legacy of contested redevelopment.
T Dan Smith Archive I
Various
T Dan Smith Archive I
Various
Photographs from the personal archive of T Dan Smith, Newcastle’s radical post-war council leader, documenting his political life, ambitions for the region and legacy of contested redevelopment.
- Photographic
- Historical Documentary
- Northern Documentary
- Urban Landscapes
- UK Documentary
- Portraits
- Work & Unemployment
- Place
- 1980 – 1989
- Historical
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- UK
T Dan Smith’s personal archive of photographs offers a visual insight into the political life of one of North East England’s most complex and controversial figures. Leader of Newcastle City Council from 1958 to 1965, Smith brought an ambitious and visionary approach to post-war urban renewal, driven by a belief in modernisation and regional autonomy. His personal image collection reflects both the scale of his ambition and the public persona he cultivated.
See Also T Dan Smith Archive II
Working closely with planning officer Wilfred Burns, Smith developed strategies that foregrounded culture, higher education, transport, pedestrianisation and bold architecture, including the use of ‘signature’ designers and pioneering PR. Though lauded by some for progressive thinking, he remains heavily criticised for widespread demolition and the legacy of Brutalist structures that reshaped Newcastle’s historic centre.
Following a corruption conviction in the mid-1970s related to his PR consultancy work, Smith served a prison sentence. After his release, he worked closely with Amber on the film T Dan Smith: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Utopia (1987). This collaboration included the deposit of his personal photograph collection and associated documents, now held by the AmberSide Collection. The archive includes original prints, 35mm slides, interviews and an unfinished autobiography, offering a layered record of a contentious but significant political legacy.
Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC)
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© AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Mr T Dan Smith, chairman of the Northern Economic Planning Council, with his personal copy of 'Challenge of hte Changing North' studying a giant wall map of the Northern Region in his office 1966
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith050processed
- Date: 1966
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Newcastle University, May 1968, TDS with Ted Short (Education Minister) and Prof Flowers
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith040processed
- Date: 1968
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: RW Elliot MP Opening Heaton Flats, 1960
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith043processed
- Date: 1960
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Meeting with Anthony Wedgwood Benn, 9th December 1966
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith042processed
- Date: 1966
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan and Ada's Wedding Day, 1939
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith022processed
- Date: 1939
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan Smith at NE Council of Grocers, c. 1950s - 1960s
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith017processed
- Date: c. 1950s - 1960s
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan Smith with visitors looking at model of Cruddas Park, c. 1950s - 1960s
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith019processed
- Date: c. 1950s - 1960s
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Hugh Gaitskell and Dan Smith, 1961
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith044processed
- Date: 1961
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan Smith with US Embassy Visitor, c. 1950s - 1960s
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith020processed
- Date: c. 1950s - 1960s
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan meeting Willy Brandt, Robert Brown (MP) on right, c. 1960s
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith046processed
- Date: c. 1960s
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Leader of Opposition's Office, House of Commons, 1960/61
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith018processed
- Date: 1960/61
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Mr T Dan Smith, chairman of the Northern Economic Planning Council, with his personal copy of 'Challenge of hte Changing North' studying a giant wall map of the Northern Region in his office, 1966
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith041processed
- Date: 1966
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Wilf Burns, Lord Jellicoe, George Kenyon, TDS, Harry Russell, 1962
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith038processed
- Date: 1962
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan Smith with newspaper seller and headline 'Fraud Squad Arrest Councillor', 1974
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith036processed
- Date: 1974
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: A Window Display at Wellbar House, Newcastle, for the Department of Economic Affairs dealing with ‘Regional Strategy’ to coincide with a publication of a booklet of the same title. Designed and produced by the Exhibitions Division, Central Office of Information, late 1970s
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith052processed
- Date: Late 1970s
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Earl Jellicoe, 1962
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith048processed
- Date: 1962
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: With Harold Wilson, Nov 1968
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith049processed
- Date: 1968
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Blaydon Races, 1962
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith032processed
- Date: 1962
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Andy Cunningham and Dan Smith
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith034processed
- Date: unknown
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Bigg Market 1956, Suez Crisis Rally
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith033processed
- Date: 1956
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan Smith with Lord Thomson of Fleet (Roy Thomson), 1963
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith037processed
- Date: 1963
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan Smith with Harold Wilson, November 1968
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith039processed
- Date: 1968
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan Smith with children, Cruddas Park flats, March 1968
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith035processed
- Date: 1968
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: The Royal Commission on Local Government in England meets for the last time to sign its report, 8th May 1969
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith045processed
- Date: 1969
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan with workmates as young painter
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith023processed
- Date: unknown
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: T Dan Smith with Harold Wilson, November 1967
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith021processed
- Date: 1967
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Western Boys School, Wallsend, March 1968
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith011processed
- Date: 1968
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Western Boys School, Wallsend, March 1968
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith003processed
- Date: 1968
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Walker, 1950
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith030processed
- Date: 1950
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Western Boys School, Wallsend, March 1968
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith009processed
- Date: 1968
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan Smith with Jaguar Car DAN68, Whitehaven, 1965
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith031processed
- Date: 1965
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan Smith with members of DEA and CBI
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith006processed
- Date: unknown
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan Smith in Newcastle Council Chamber, Sept 1963
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith001processed
- Date: 1963
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Opening of an Estate, 1960/61
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith014processed
- Date: 1960/61
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Richardson Dees School, March 1968
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith004processed
- Date: 1968
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan Smith, January 1969
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith002processed
- Date: 1969
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan Smith with Coal Board people, 1968/69
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith015processed
- Date: 1968/69
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Peace Women in the 1940s
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith029processed
- Date: 1940s
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Western Boys School, Wallsend, March 1968
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith010processed
- Date: 1968
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan and Ada with International Friendship Group, pre-war
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith026processed
- Date: pre-1939
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan as painter, up ladder, Victoria Square, August 6th 1939
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith024processed
- Date: 1939
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: ILP Conference, Bangor, August 1944
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith025processed
- Date: 1944
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Blaydon Races Centenery, Scotswood Road, 1962
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith028processed
- Date: 1962
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: The Poplars, Scotswood Road, 1964
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith007processed
- Date: 1964
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: St Andrews Choir, Bigges Main, 1930
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith027processed
- Date: 1930
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: T Dan Smith, Cruddas Park, c. 1960s - 1970s
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith008processed
- Date: c. 1960s - 1970s
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Richardson Dees School, March 1968
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith005processed
- Date: 1968
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Chairman, Northern Economic Planning Council, 1965
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith012processed
- Date: 1965
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan Smith overlooking city scene, 1965
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith013processed
- Date: 1965
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
T Dan Smith Archive: Dan Smith with Harold Wilson (Prime Minister), November 1967
- Ref: T-Dan-Smith016processed
- Date: c. 1967
- Artist: Various
- Copyright: © AmberSide Collection
Related Works
T Dan Smith (1987)
Amber Films
Film and Video
Leader of Newcastle City Council, 1958 - 1965, T Dan Smith was a controversial politician. This docu-drama film takes an experimental structure to deal with the uncertainty of the evidence around his conviction for corruption in 1974.
T Dan Smith Archive: Slides
T Dan Smith
Photographic
Colour slides taken by T Dan Smith in 1962/63 capturing Newcastle’s redevelopment and May Day parade, offering a personal visual record of his transformative leadership of the city.