Mr. R. Brinkley Smithers, a recovering alcoholic, marshaled his personal and family fortune into the nation’s largest foundation in support of alcoholism research, education, prevention, and treatment – the Christopher D. Smithers Foundation.

In the fifties, Brink Smithers forged a close working relationship with Professor Harrison Trice at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Together, they conducted a number of pioneering studies on alcoholism.

In 1990, the ILR School established the R. Brinkley Smithers Institute for Alcohol-Related Workplace Studies with a generous endowment from the Smithers family. The Smithers Institute continues the long collaboration between the ILR School and the Christopher D. Smithers Foundation.