Descriptive Summary
James A. Clark Papers
1889-1974
MS 277
11 boxes (11 cubic feet
)
Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University,
Houston, TX
Clark, James Anthony, 1908-1978
English.
Research materials related to the publications
and unpublished works of author/historian and public relations consultant James
A. Clark. Included are materials related to
Three Stars for the Colonel: The Biography of
Ernest O. Thompson,
The Tactful Texan: A Biography of Governor Will
Hobby,
Book of Oil, Petroleum Rectifying Company
of California, Hughes Tool Co., Pan American Sulfur Company, Robert A. Welch,
C.D. Lockwood, Admiral J.J. Clark, and syndicated columns “Petroscope” and
“Tales of the Oil Country.” The materials deal directly with the oil industry
primarily in the years of 1930-1960s.
Biographical Note
James Anthony Clark (1908-1978), author, columnist, and public-relations
consultant and historian of the oil industry, was born in Abita Springs, LA,
and grew up in Beaumont, TX. He attended South Park Junior College (Lamar
University) and worked for Magnolia Petroleum Company, the
Galveston News, and the
Beaumont Journal. In 1935 he was appointed
statehouse correspondent in Austin, and from 1941 to 1946 he served as
intelligence officer in Puerto Rico, the Pacific and Japan. He left the army as
a lieutenant colonel and became public relations manager for the Shamrock Hotel
in Houston. He established the James A. Clark Company, a public-relations
consulting firm, after the publication of his first book,
Spindletop, co-authored with Michel T.
Halbouty. He was well known for his Houston Post column, ”Tales of the Oil
Country,” and published
Three Stars for the Colonel: The Biography of
Ernest O. Thompson,
The Tactful Texan: A Biography of Governor Will
Hobby, among others. He was married to Estelle Walton in 1934; in 1969
he established the Energy Research and Education Foundation in Houston; he died
in 1978 in Houston.
Excerpted from
The New Handbook of Texas, 1996.
Scope and Contents
Research materials related to the publications and unpublished works of
author/historian and public relations consultant James A. Clark. Included are
materials related to
Three Stars for the Colonel: The Biography of Ernest
O. Thompson,
The Tactful Texan: A Biography of Governor Will
Hobby,
Book of Oil, Petroleum Rectifying Company of
California, Hughes Tool Co., Pan American Sulfur Company, Robert A. Welch, C.D.
Lockwood, Admiral J.J. Clark, and syndicated columns “Petroscope” and “Tales of
the Oil Country.” The materials deal directly with the oil industry primarily
in the years of 1930-1960s.
The papers are arranged in two series, Series I:
Research/Publications and Series II: Speeches/Addresses. Series I includes
research materials and photographs for numerous publications, and are grouped
according to the publication. Series II includes drafts and published versions
of delivered speeches arranged chronologically.
- Series I: Research/Publications
- Series II: Speeches/Addresses
Preferred Citation
James A. Clark Papers , MS 277, Woodson Research Center, Fondren
Library, Rice University, Houston, TX.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Mrs. James A. Clark, May 4, 1979.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish from the James A. Clark Papers must be obtained in
writing from Mrs. James A. Clark and may be arranged through Woodson Research
Center.
Access RestrictionsThis material is open for research but
requires 24 hours retrieval time.
Index Terms
Subjects
Oil industry
Subjects (Persons)
Halbouty, Michel
T.
Clark, J.J.
Scurlock, Ed
Lockwood, C.D.
Welch, Robert A.
Hobby, William
P.
Thompson, Ernest
O.
Hughes, Howard
Hobby, Oveta
Culp
Subjects (Organizations)
Petreco (Firm)
Pan American Sulfur Company
(PASCO)
Formats
Photographs
Newspapers
Awards
Manuscripts
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series I: Research/Publications
Series I includes research materials and photographs for
numerous publications, and are grouped according to the publication.
Subseries A:
Three Stars for the Colonel: The Biography
of Ernest O. Thompson
11
Manuscript
12
Typescript, chapter 12
13
Typescript carbon copy
14
Corrected typescript
15
Book layout and promotion
16
Book outline and chronology
17
Signed copy of book
18
Book reviews, 1954
19
Book orders, 1954
110
Acknowledgements, special instructions
111
Book inscriptions
112
Financial statements
113
Ernest O. Thompson chronology
114
Judge Gaines interview notes
115
Amarillo mayor information
116
1937 World Petroleum Congress
117
1939 shutdown, 1940 governor’s race
118
WD mission, WWII, Great Demand, PAW
119
Demand, flaring, imports, secondary recovery
120
Hague trip, Anglo-American oil treaty, sum
up
121
NIRA federal control, Connally Act
122
East Texas shutdown, injunctions, presidential
orders
123
FDR conference, IOCC, sales dinner
124
Natural gas history, corzelius, expert
125
Clippings, articles on Thompson
126-27
Clark’s notes on Thompson
128
Thompson corresp., 1952-53
129
Thompson corresp., 1954
21-2
Note cards for Thompson book
23
Speeches by Thompson
24
L.A. speech to API re: Thompson, 1936
25
Speeches, testimony, etc. by Thompson and
others
26-9
PETRECO history
210
Early PETRECO personnel
211
Petrolite history
212
The Electric Dehydrator (PETRECO),
1930-39
213
Historical photos
214
Barnickle biography and company history
215
Opinions and briefs
216
Photograph album
Subseries B:
The Tactful Texan
31
Typescript with corrections
32
Typescripts carbon with corrections, chapters
1-10
33
Final typescript
34
Final draft
35
Correspondence with Random House, 1954 &
1958
36
Reviews
37
Research notes
Subseries C:
The Houston Post
38
History
39
William P. Hobby biographical
310
William P. Hobby chronology
311
Oveta Culp Hobby biographical
312
Clark-Hobby correspondence
313
Clark correspondence
Subseries D: Hughes Tool Co.
314
Research for chapter 1 (to 1900)
315
Research for chapter 2 (1901-1907)
316
Research for chapter 3 (1908-1915)
317
Research for chapter 4 (1916-1924)
318
Research for chapter 5 (1925-1939)
319
Research for chapter 6 (1940-1959)
320
Research for chapter 7 (1960-date)
321
Notes, outlines, general info.
322
History documentation inventory
323
History documentation #1-50
324
History documentation #51-100
325
History documentation #101-134
326
Hughes Tool Co. catalog 1965-66 (2 copies)
327
Personnel
328
Newsclips
329
Hughes Aviation
Subseries E: Pan American Sulfur Company
41
PASCO book typescript
42
PASCO book typescript with corrections
43
PASCO galley proofs
44
Interviews, biographies
45
Financial, outline
46
Annual reports
47
Prospectus 1953, 1955
48
1965 presentation
49
Board minutes, 1947-53
410
History
411
Sulfur research
412
Jaltipan, Vera Cruz info.
413
Azufrera Panamericana, SA info.
414
Notes, newsclips
415
Photos
4-
Notecards
51
Typescript corrected, chapters 1-6
52
Typescript corrected, chapter 7
53
Typescript copy
Subseries F: Robert Welch biography
54-7
Interviews
58
Robert Welch story
59
General information
510
Fidelity Oil & Royalty Co.
511
Ashbel Smith Co.
512
Mound Co.
513
Welch family relations
514
Welch Foundation & Welch biography
515
Biography correspondence
516
Typescript biography
517
Original typescript draft
518
Typescript-introduction-chapter 4
519
Typescript-chapters 5-9
520
Typescript draft (carbon)
521
Research for chapter 2
522
Typescript draft chapter 3
523
Typescript draft chapter 4
524
Typescript draft chapter 5
525
Typescript draft chapter 6
526
Typescript draft chapter 7
527
Typescript draft chapter 8
528
Typescript draft chapter 9
529
Original typescript draft
530
Chapter 1 research: Boyhood-SC
531
Chapter 2 research: Early days in Houston
532
Page proof corrections
61
Chapter 3 research: Early enterprises
62
Chapter 4 research: 1920s
63
Chapter 5 research: 1930s-40s, WWII
64
Chapter 6 research: Last 7 years
65
Chapter 7 research: Welch’s philosophy
66
Chapter 8 research: Background of foundation
67
Chapter 9 research: Foundation today
Subseries G:
Book of Oil
68-9
Research, general
610
Manuscript draft, chapter 2
611
Manuscript draft, chapter 3
612
Manuscript draft, chapter 4
613
Manuscript draft, chapter 5
614
Manuscript draft, chapter 6
615
Manuscript draft, chapter 7
616
Manuscript draft, chapter 8
617
Manuscript draft, chapter 9
618
Manuscript draft, misc.
619
Carbons of typescripts
620
Copies for rework
621
Correspondence
622
Chapter outlines
623
Carbons of chapter typescripts
624
Reviewers’ comments
625
Appendix
626
Visuals
627
Chapter draft revisions
Subseries H: Admiral J.J. Clark book
71-2
Typescript carbon
73
Corrected typescript
74
Visuals
75
Book correspondence
Subseries I: Scurlock research
76
Eddy Scurlock biographical information
77
Scurlock, general
78
Scurlock, general and interview
79-13
Terrell research note cards
714
Possible projects
Subseries J: General research
715
Research for Corsicana historical markers dedications,
1969
716
L.W. Gonzaullas interview, 1970
717
Patillo Higgins
718
Spindletop
719
Louisiana reference report
720
Germany
721
Copies of field notes, maps
81
Publications, petroleum and engineering
82
Report of Dr. I.C. White, WV
83
Roumania
84
France
85
Company histories
86
Houston photographs
87
Pennsylvania oil fields stereoscope views
88
Tidelands case
89
Statements re: petroleum
810
C.D. Lockwood, general
811
National Resources Cmte. report
812
Ledger pages
813
Reports, reprints mainly regarding petroleum
Subseries K: “Tales of the Oil Country” syndicated
column
814
Column index, typescript carbon, clips
815
Column ideas, notes
816
Typescript corrections
817
Column typescripts, 1964-65
818
Adcox Associates
819
Correspondence
820
TV proposal, 1964
821
Syndication legalities
822
Trademark
823
Maps
824
“Petroscope” column,
Houston Chronicle, 1963-65
photocopies
825
“Jim Clark’s Petroscope,” 1963-65
typescripts
826
Column comments
827
Column: Finkelstein
828
Column reprints
91
Column ideas: General
92
Column ideas: Oil and the War
93
Column correspondence
95
Oil Almanac: “Lockwood’s Texas Oil Report”
96
Syndicated columns 1960 typescripts
97
Syndicated columns 1961 typescripts
98
Syndicated columns 1961
Los Angeles Mirror
99
Syndicated columns 1962 typescripts
910
Syndicated columns 1963 typescripts
911
Syndicated columns 1964-65 typescripts
912
Syndicated columns index 1961-65
913
Completed energy columns and correspondence
914
Book reviews
915
Articles:
Service magazine
916
Articles:
Drilling magazine
917
Articles:
Ethyl magazine
918
Articles:
Frontier Times
magazine
919
Articles:
Houston Chronicle
newspaper
920
Articles:
Humble Way
921
Articles:
The Landman magazine
922
Articles:
New York Times
923
Articles:
Energy column
924
Articles:
Gladys City Museum
925
Articles:
Oil magazine
926
Articles:
Petroleum Today magazine
927
Articles:
Petroleum Week magazine
928
Articles:
Preview magazine
929
Articles:
The Quill magazine
930
Articles: Schlumberger Well Surveying Corp.
931
Wichita Eagle/Wichita
Beacon
932
Booklet: Texas Mid-Continent Oil & Gas
Assoc.
Series II: Speeches/Addresses
Series II includes drafts and published versions of
delivered speeches arranged chronologically.
Speeches, 1950s
933
Speech: Texas Oil Information Committee,
1-23-58
934
Speech: Association of Petroleum Landmen,
1959
935
Speech: Spring Branch Rotary Club, 4-28-59
936
Speech: Fifth World Petroleum Congress
937
Speech: Shreveport, LA Desk & Derrick Club,
6-16-59
Speeches, 1960s
938
Speech: Southeast TX Industrial Editors,
1962
939
Speech: Society of Petroleum Engineers, 9-59
940
Speech: Beaumont Lions Club, 1-14-60
941
Speech: Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME,
1-26-60
942
Speech: Baytown Rotary Club, 2-24-60
943
Speech: OIC Conference, 5-17-60
944
Speech: Houston Desk & Derrick Club,
6-9-60
945
Speech: Opelousas, LA Desk & Derrick Club,
8-21-60
946
Speech: Texas A&M Geology Club, 2-21-61
947
Speech: Houston Delphian Club, 9-8-61
948
Speech: Houston Personnel Association, 9-61
101
Speech: Independent Natural Gas Association of America,
9-18-61
102
Speech: American Petroleum Institute,
11-14-61
103
Speech: Petroleum Accountants Society of Houston,
1-11-62
104
Speech: Houston Association of Petroleum Landmen,
5-14-62
105
Speech: Texas A&M Geology Club, 5-15-62
106
Speech: LaPorte Rotary Club, 5-21-62
107
Speech: Texas Daily Newspaper Association,
8-13-62
108
Speech: Nomads of Houston, 10-8-62
109
Speech: Galveston, TX Kiwanis Club, 10-16-62
1010
Speech: University Area Rotary Club, 1-21-63
1011
Speech: Gulf Coast Machine & Supply Co.,
1-26-63
1012
Speech: Houston Chapter, American Society for Metals,
4-2-63
1013
Speech: American Association of Petroleum Landmen,
6-19/22-63
1014
Speech: American Petroleum Institute Marketing Cmte.,
10-10-63
1015
Speech: Beaumont, TX Rotary Club, 4-8-64
1016
Speech: Beaumont, TX Rotary Club, 1-13-65
1017
Speech: Beaumont, TX Desk & Derrick Club,
4-23-66
1018
Speech: Financial Executives Institute,
11-67
1019
Speech: Houston, TX Desk & Derrick Club,
10-10-68
Speeches, 1970s
1030
Speech material: Humor & Quote
1031
Speech material: Notable & Quotable
1032-33
Speech material: Misc.
1034
Speech notes: UH Executive Development Program, 3-19-71
1020
Speech: Corpus Christi, TX Desk & Derrick Club,
2-22-71
1021
Speech: POPS meeting, 2-19-73
1022
Speech: National Secretaries Association,
5-24-73
1023
Speech: Harris County, TX Historical Society,
6-3-73
1024
Speech: Rice University students, 11-6-74
1025
Speech: Houston, TX Desk & Derrick Club,
8-14-75
1026
Speech: PRSA, 9-12-75
1027
Lamar University, 1-10-78
Speeches: General & undated
1028
Speech material: “Let’s Go,” 2/60-12/63
1029
Speech material: “Let’s Go,” 1/64-7/67
1035
Addresses