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Yeoman Smith was a female Human Starfleet crewmember in the 23rd century. She served in the command division (but wore an operations patch, not uncommon at this time) aboard the USS Enterprise in 2265 under the command of Captain James T. Kirk, during a historic five-year mission that starship undertook.

When Captain Kirk accidentally referred to Smith as "Yeoman Jones" on the ship's bridge in 2265, she immediately, politely corrected him as to her name. Smith was still on the bridge when the Enterprise entered the galactic barrier. Just prior to the ship's impact with the barrier, Smith held helmsman Gary Mitchell's hand for support. When Mitchell received a shock from the barrier, she was still holding his hand but did not receive the shock – she had a lower ESP potential than Mitchell. (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before")

Background information[]

Yeoman Smith was played by actress and model Andrea Dromm.

An official press release described the character as follows:

Yeoman Smith, who has drawn the important assignment of secretary to the Captain on her first mission in deep space, is easily the most popular of Kirk's staff. A capable secretary and efficient dispenser of instant coffee, she also provides a welcome change of scenery for eyes that have spent long hours scanning the vast reaches of space.

In the revised first draft script of "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (dated 27 May 1965), Yeoman Smith wasn't described. In the revised final draft of that script (dated 8 July 1965), however, she was characterized as "female, pert, early twenties."

The gag that involved Kirk mistaking this character's name as "Jones" was scripted to appear not only once, as in the episode's final version, but also be repeated at the end of the installment (shortly before Kirk made his final log entry of the episode). In the final edit, Smith does appear in that scene, but only briefly.

Herbert F. Solow once recalled that Gene Roddenberry finding Andrea Dromm attractive was the reason she was cast as Smith. "Actually, it was a non-part," Solow remarked. "But during the casting process, director Jimmy Goldstone overheard Gene say, 'I'm hiring her because I want to score with her.' It was not only a non-part, I'm pretty sure it was a non-score as well." (Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, p. 79)

The character of Yeoman Smith was a precursor of Yeoman Janice Rand, who was played by Grace Lee Whitney in the series that followed. (Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 1, Issue 1, p. 26)

External links[]

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