Guide to the James A. Clark Papers, 1889-1974

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Descriptive Summary

Biographical Note

Scope and Contents

Restrictions

Index Terms

Administrative Information

Description of Series

Series I: Research/Publications

Series II: Speeches/Addresses

Guide to the James A. Clark Papers, 1889-1974


Descriptive Summary
	Creator:	Clark, James Anthony, 1908-1978
	Title	James A. Clark Papers
	Dates:	1889-1974
	Abstract:	Research materials related to the publications and unpublished works of author/historian and public relations consultant James A. Clark.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.
	ID	MS 277
	Extent	11 boxes (11 cubic feet )
	Language	English.
	Repository:	Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX

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.

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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.

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	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

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

This material is open for research but requires 24 hours retrieval time.

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.

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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

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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
box	folder
1	1		Manuscript
	2		Typescript, chapter 12
	3		Typescript carbon copy
	4		Corrected typescript
	5		Book layout and promotion
	6		Book outline and chronology
	7		Signed copy of book
	8		Book reviews, 1954
	9		Book orders, 1954
	10		Acknowledgements, special instructions
	11		Book inscriptions
	12		Financial statements
	13		Ernest O. Thompson chronology
	14		Judge Gaines interview notes
	15		Amarillo mayor information
	16		1937 World Petroleum Congress
	17		1939 shutdown, 1940 governor’s race
	18		WD mission, WWII, Great Demand, PAW
	19		Demand, flaring, imports, secondary recovery
	20		Hague trip, Anglo-American oil treaty, sum up
	21		NIRA federal control, Connally Act
	22		East Texas shutdown, injunctions, presidential orders
	23		FDR conference, IOCC, sales dinner
	24		Natural gas history, corzelius, expert
	25		Clippings, articles on Thompson
	26-27		Clark’s notes on Thompson
	28		Thompson corresp., 1952-53
	29		Thompson corresp., 1954
box	folder
2	1-2		Note cards for Thompson book
	3		Speeches by Thompson
	4		L.A. speech to API re: Thompson, 1936
	5		Speeches, testimony, etc. by Thompson and others
	6-9		PETRECO history
	10		Early PETRECO personnel
	11		Petrolite history
	12		The Electric Dehydrator (PETRECO), 1930-39
	13		Historical photos
	14		Barnickle biography and company history
	15		Opinions and briefs
	16		Photograph album
		Subseries B: The Tactful Texan
box	folder
3	1		Typescript with corrections
	2		Typescripts carbon with corrections, chapters 1-10
	3		Final typescript
	4		Final draft
	5		Correspondence with Random House, 1954 & 1958
	6		Reviews
	7		Research notes
		Subseries C: The Houston Post
box	folder
3	8		History
	9		William P. Hobby biographical
	10		William P. Hobby chronology
	11		Oveta Culp Hobby biographical
	12		Clark-Hobby correspondence
	13		Clark correspondence
		Subseries D: Hughes Tool Co.
box	folder
3	14		Research for chapter 1 (to 1900)
	15		Research for chapter 2 (1901-1907)
	16		Research for chapter 3 (1908-1915)
	17		Research for chapter 4 (1916-1924)
	18		Research for chapter 5 (1925-1939)
	19		Research for chapter 6 (1940-1959)
	20		Research for chapter 7 (1960-date)
	21		Notes, outlines, general info.
	22		History documentation inventory
	23		History documentation #1-50
	24		History documentation #51-100
	25		History documentation #101-134
	26		Hughes Tool Co. catalog 1965-66 (2 copies)
	27		Personnel
	28		Newsclips
	29		Hughes Aviation
		Subseries E: Pan American Sulfur Company
box	folder
4	1		PASCO book typescript
	2		PASCO book typescript with corrections
	3		PASCO galley proofs
	4		Interviews, biographies
	5		Financial, outline
	6		Annual reports
	7		Prospectus 1953, 1955
	8		1965 presentation
	9		Board minutes, 1947-53
	10		History
	11		Sulfur research
	12		Jaltipan, Vera Cruz info.
	13		Azufrera Panamericana, SA info.
	14		Notes, newsclips
	15		Photos
	-		Notecards
box	folder
5	1		Typescript corrected, chapters 1-6
	2		Typescript corrected, chapter 7
	3		Typescript copy
		Subseries F: Robert Welch biography
box	folder
5	4-7		Interviews
	8		Robert Welch story
	9		General information
	10		Fidelity Oil & Royalty Co.
	11		Ashbel Smith Co.
	12		Mound Co.
	13		Welch family relations
	14		Welch Foundation & Welch biography
	15		Biography correspondence
	16		Typescript biography
	17		Original typescript draft
	18		Typescript-introduction-chapter 4
	19		Typescript-chapters 5-9
	20		Typescript draft (carbon)
	21		Research for chapter 2
	22		Typescript draft chapter 3
	23		Typescript draft chapter 4
	24		Typescript draft chapter 5
	25		Typescript draft chapter 6
	26		Typescript draft chapter 7
	27		Typescript draft chapter 8
	28		Typescript draft chapter 9
	29		Original typescript draft
	30		Chapter 1 research: Boyhood-SC
	31		Chapter 2 research: Early days in Houston
	32		Page proof corrections
box	folder
6	1		Chapter 3 research: Early enterprises
	2		Chapter 4 research: 1920s
	3		Chapter 5 research: 1930s-40s, WWII
	4		Chapter 6 research: Last 7 years
	5		Chapter 7 research: Welch’s philosophy
	6		Chapter 8 research: Background of foundation
	7		Chapter 9 research: Foundation today
		Subseries G: Book of Oil
box	folder
6	8-9		Research, general
	10		Manuscript draft, chapter 2
	11		Manuscript draft, chapter 3
	12		Manuscript draft, chapter 4
	13		Manuscript draft, chapter 5
	14		Manuscript draft, chapter 6
	15		Manuscript draft, chapter 7
	16		Manuscript draft, chapter 8
	17		Manuscript draft, chapter 9
	18		Manuscript draft, misc.
	19		Carbons of typescripts
	20		Copies for rework
	21		Correspondence
	22		Chapter outlines
	23		Carbons of chapter typescripts
	24		Reviewers’ comments
	25		Appendix
	26		Visuals
	27		Chapter draft revisions
		Subseries H: Admiral J.J. Clark book
box	folder
7	1-2		Typescript carbon
	3		Corrected typescript
	4		Visuals
	5		Book correspondence
		Subseries I: Scurlock research
box	folder
7	6		Eddy Scurlock biographical information
	7		Scurlock, general
	8		Scurlock, general and interview
	9-13		Terrell research note cards
	14		Possible projects
		Subseries J: General research
box	folder
7	15		Research for Corsicana historical markers dedications, 1969
	16		L.W. Gonzaullas interview, 1970
	17		Patillo Higgins
	18		Spindletop
	19		Louisiana reference report
	20		Germany
	21		Copies of field notes, maps
box	folder
8	1		Publications, petroleum and engineering
	2		Report of Dr. I.C. White, WV
	3		Roumania
	4		France
	5		Company histories
	6		Houston photographs
	7		Pennsylvania oil fields stereoscope views
	8		Tidelands case
	9		Statements re: petroleum
	10		C.D. Lockwood, general
	11		National Resources Cmte. report
	12		Ledger pages
	13		Reports, reprints mainly regarding petroleum
		Subseries K: “Tales of the Oil Country” syndicated column
box	folder
8	14		Column index, typescript carbon, clips
	15		Column ideas, notes
	16		Typescript corrections
	17		Column typescripts, 1964-65
	18		Adcox Associates
	19		Correspondence
	20		TV proposal, 1964
	21		Syndication legalities
	22		Trademark
	23		Maps
	24		“Petroscope” column, Houston Chronicle, 1963-65 photocopies
	25		“Jim Clark’s Petroscope,” 1963-65 typescripts
	26		Column comments
	27		Column: Finkelstein
	28		Column reprints
box	folder
9	1		Column ideas: General
	2		Column ideas: Oil and the War
	3		Column correspondence
	5		Oil Almanac: “Lockwood’s Texas Oil Report”
	6		Syndicated columns 1960 typescripts
	7		Syndicated columns 1961 typescripts
	8		Syndicated columns 1961 Los Angeles Mirror
	9		Syndicated columns 1962 typescripts
	10		Syndicated columns 1963 typescripts
	11		Syndicated columns 1964-65 typescripts
	12		Syndicated columns index 1961-65
	13		Completed energy columns and correspondence
	14		Book reviews
	15		Articles: Service magazine
	16		Articles: Drilling magazine
	17		Articles: Ethyl magazine
	18		Articles: Frontier Times magazine
	19		Articles: Houston Chronicle newspaper
	20		Articles: Humble Way
	21		Articles: The Landman magazine
	22		Articles: New York Times
	23		Articles: Energy column
	24		Articles: Gladys City Museum
	25		Articles: Oil magazine
	26		Articles: Petroleum Today magazine
	27		Articles: Petroleum Week magazine
	28		Articles: Preview magazine
	29		Articles: The Quill magazine
	30		Articles: Schlumberger Well Surveying Corp.
	31		Wichita Eagle/Wichita Beacon
	32		Booklet: Texas Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Assoc.

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Series II: Speeches/Addresses
	Series II includes drafts and published versions of delivered speeches arranged chronologically.
		Speeches, 1950s
box	folder
9	33		Speech: Texas Oil Information Committee, 1-23-58
	34		Speech: Association of Petroleum Landmen, 1959
	35		Speech: Spring Branch Rotary Club, 4-28-59
	36		Speech: Fifth World Petroleum Congress
	37		Speech: Shreveport, LA Desk & Derrick Club, 6-16-59
		Speeches, 1960s
box	folder
9	38		Speech: Southeast TX Industrial Editors, 1962
	39		Speech: Society of Petroleum Engineers, 9-59
	40		Speech: Beaumont Lions Club, 1-14-60
	41		Speech: Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME, 1-26-60
	42		Speech: Baytown Rotary Club, 2-24-60
	43		Speech: OIC Conference, 5-17-60
	44		Speech: Houston Desk & Derrick Club, 6-9-60
	45		Speech: Opelousas, LA Desk & Derrick Club, 8-21-60
	46		Speech: Texas A&M Geology Club, 2-21-61
	47		Speech: Houston Delphian Club, 9-8-61
	48		Speech: Houston Personnel Association, 9-61
box	folder
10	1		Speech: Independent Natural Gas Association of America, 9-18-61
	2		Speech: American Petroleum Institute, 11-14-61
	3		Speech: Petroleum Accountants Society of Houston, 1-11-62
	4		Speech: Houston Association of Petroleum Landmen, 5-14-62
	5		Speech: Texas A&M Geology Club, 5-15-62
	6		Speech: LaPorte Rotary Club, 5-21-62
	7		Speech: Texas Daily Newspaper Association, 8-13-62
	8		Speech: Nomads of Houston, 10-8-62
	9		Speech: Galveston, TX Kiwanis Club, 10-16-62
	10		Speech: University Area Rotary Club, 1-21-63
	11		Speech: Gulf Coast Machine & Supply Co., 1-26-63
	12		Speech: Houston Chapter, American Society for Metals, 4-2-63
	13		Speech: American Association of Petroleum Landmen, 6-19/22-63
	14		Speech: American Petroleum Institute Marketing Cmte., 10-10-63
	15		Speech: Beaumont, TX Rotary Club, 4-8-64
	16		Speech: Beaumont, TX Rotary Club, 1-13-65
	17		Speech: Beaumont, TX Desk & Derrick Club, 4-23-66
	18		Speech: Financial Executives Institute, 11-67
	19		Speech: Houston, TX Desk & Derrick Club, 10-10-68
		Speeches, 1970s
box	folder
10	30		Speech material: Humor & Quote
	31		Speech material: Notable & Quotable
	32-33		Speech material: Misc.
	34		Speech notes: UH Executive Development Program, 3-19-71
	20		Speech: Corpus Christi, TX Desk & Derrick Club, 2-22-71
	21		Speech: POPS meeting, 2-19-73
	22		Speech: National Secretaries Association, 5-24-73
	23		Speech: Harris County, TX Historical Society, 6-3-73
	24		Speech: Rice University students, 11-6-74
	25		Speech: Houston, TX Desk & Derrick Club, 8-14-75
	26		Speech: PRSA, 9-12-75
	27		Lamar University, 1-10-78
		Speeches: General & undated
box	folder
10	28		Speech material: “Let’s Go,” 2/60-12/63
	29		Speech material: “Let’s Go,” 1/64-7/67
	35		Addresses

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Guide to the James A. Clark Papers, 1889-1974

Descriptive Summary

Biographical Note

Scope and Contents

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Use Restrictions

Index Terms

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Acquisition Information

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series I: Research/Publications

Series II: Speeches/Addresses