H. B. Clark ministerial papers
A Guide to the Collection
Overview | ||
| Creator: | Clark, H. B. | |
| Title: | H. B. Clark ministerial papers | |
| Inclusive Dates: | 1905-1946 | |
| Abstract: | 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. | |
| Accession No: | BridArch 303.03 | |
| Extent: | 2 boxes (1 linear foot) | |
| Language: | Material is in English | |
| Repository | Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University | |
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. | ||
Restrictions
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. | ||
Administrative Information
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