Eight graduates from Providence public high schools will be the first to benefit from a scholarship grant by the late Charles H. Smith, a Providence businessman who wanted to see local boys study at Harvard, University officials announced last night.

Smith's bequest provides funds for yearly scholarship awards for use at any schools in the University, providing that the recipient received his secondary public school training in the Rhode Island metropolis.

Six of the initial group receiving the Smith scholarships will study in graduate schools here with the remaining two coming directly from high school to the College.

Recipients Listed

The graduate recipients are William P. Corvese, Brown '46, Medical School, John J. Dorgan '44, Graduate School of Business Administration; Joseph F. Farrell, Providence College '42, Graduate School of Business Administration; Lawrence L. Okerblom, Jr., Brown '44, Graduate School of Business Administration; Milton E. Rabbitt, Brown '44, Graduate School of Engineering; and Howard E. Rice, Brown '41, Law School.

The under graduate scholarship holders, entering the College next fall in the Class of 1951, are Burton N. Bromson and Richard S. Welch.