urn:taro:smu.00173 H. B. Clark ministerial papers A Guide to the Collection Finding aid prepared by Timothy S. G. Binkley, 2011. The Archives at Bridwell Library
Perkins School of Theology Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX
Finding aid encoded by Lara Corazalla, 2011. Finding aid written in English. Description based on DACS. Overview Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University Clark, H. B. H. B. Clark ministerial papers 1905-1946 2 boxes (1 linear foot) The H. B. Clark ministerial papers document the pastoral career of the Rev. H. B. Clark (1874-1956), a Methodist clergyman who served the Central Texas Conference from 1904 to 1946. The collection contains thirty-nine notebooks dating from 1905 to 1946. In these volumes, Rev. Clark recorded details about the charges he served and the ministries he rendered. BridArch 303.03 Material is in English Biographical Note

H. B. Clark was born on March 12, 1874 in Grandview, Texas to Mr. and Mrs. J. O. A. Clark, and spent his formative years in Stephenville, Texas. He married Mary Baker on December 21, 1896. They had two sons: Jim P. Clark (d.1961) and Claude C. Clark (d.1963).

Four of H. B. Clark’s brothers became Methodist ministers: Rev. W. W. Clark, Rev. J. W. Clark, Rev. C. A. Clark, and Rev. O. P. Clark. H. B. Clark entered the ministry in 1904, serving the Cisco Circuit as supply pastor. Beginning in 1905, Rev. Clark served forty-one continuous years as an itinerant preacher in the Central Texas Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (1905-1939) and the Methodist Church (1939-1946).

Ten years after retiring, H. B. Clark died in Arlington, Texas on April 7, 1956. Rev. Chet C. Henson eulogized Clark in the 1956 Central Texas Conference Journal with these words: "Everywhere H. B. Clark lived he was loved and appreciated. He was indeed a devoted and humble servant of the Lord; hence his labors of sacrifice and service shall not be in vain, but will brighten through all eternity."

Sources:

Henson, Chet C. "H. B. Clark." Central Texas Conference Journal, 1956, p. 140.

"Pioneer Methodist Minister, Rev. H. B. Clark, Dies at 82." Dallas Morning News, 8 April 1956, p. 14.

 Scope and Contents of the Collection

The H. B. Clark ministerial papers consist of thirty-nine pocket-size, pre-printed notebooks filled with Rev. Clark’s annotations detailing his forty-one year career as an itinerant Methodist minister, 1905-1946. Each pre-printed booklet offered space to record information such as lists of church officers and members, baptisms, funerals, marriages, sermons preached, prayer meetings held, and funds raised. A transcription of the 1924-1925 notebook (Box 1510A, file 20) can be viewed at the following website: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/freestone/churches/hbclark.txt. This collection offers researchers data about local church life in Texas during the first half of the twentieth century as well as evidence of the systematic recordkeeping expected of Methodist ministers.

 Arrangement of the Collection

The items in this collection comprise a single series: Pastoral Record Books, 1905-1946. The notebooks that constitute the series are arranged chronologically in group folders.

 Access to Collection:

The collection is open for research use. Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.

 Publication Rights:

Permission to publish materials must be obtained from the Director of the Bridwell Library.

 Copyright Statement:

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain copyright authorization.

 Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following terms in the Southern Methodist University Libraries' online catalog. Researchers desiring related materials may search the catalog using these terms.

Clark, H. B. Methodist Episcopal Church, South -- Texas -- Clergy. Methodist Church (U.S.) -- Texas -- Clergy. Circuit riders -- Texas. Texas -- Religious life and customs. Notebooks -- Texas -- 20th century. Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], H. B. Clark ministerial papers, Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

 Acquisition Information

Acquired prior to 1999.

 Processing Information

These records were arranged and described in 2011 by Timothy Binkley.

Encoded by

Lara Corazalla, 2011.

 Detailed Description of the Collection Series 1: Pastoral Record Books, 1905-1946

The documents in this lone series are arranged in chronological order, three Pastor’s Book notebooks per folder. Folder titles indicate the charges to which Rev. Clark was appointed. The notebooks are very fragile; extra care is needed in handling them.

 1510A1Rogers, Florence, and Holland 1905-1909 1510A2Bunyan 1909-1912 1510A3Comanche 1912-1915 1510A4DeLeon and Comanche 1915-1917 1510A5Morgan and Walnut Springs 1917-1920 1510A6Irene, Mertens, and Dawson 1920-1923 1510A7Dawson, Wortham, Troy, and Pendleton 1923-1926 1510A8Burleson, Crowley, Haslet, and Saginaw 1928-1931 1510B1Mansfield 1931-1934 1510B2North Corsicana, Pleasant Grove, and Corsicana 1934-1937 1510B3North Corsicana and Caddo 1937-1940 1510B4Desdemona and Weatherford 1940-1944 1510B5Aledo 1944-1946