DACS

]> cl1000-87 Guide to the Laban Clark Papers, 1794 - 1935 Processed by: Susanne Javorski; machine-readable finding aid created by: Valerie Gillispie &hdrsca;

Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: October 2007 Description is in English Finding aid was prepared using DACS Guide to the Laban Clark Papers, 1794 - 1935 Special Collections & ArchivesWesleyan University Middletown, CT, USA

Descriptive Summary Special Collections & Archives, Wesleyan University Clark, Laban, 1778-1868. Laban Clark Papers, 1794 - 1935 1000-87 Material in English 1 2 For current information on the location of these materials, please consult Special Collections & Archives staff. Laban Clark (1778-1868) worked as a missionary and an elder in the Methodist Church in New York state. He suggested Middletown, Connecticut as the site of a Methodist college, Wesleyan University, and served as the first president of Wesleyan's Board of Trustees. The Laban Clark Papers contain correspondence, sermons, lectures, and journals by Laban Clark, as well as papers about his life's history, the founding of Wesleyan University, and his finances. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Copyright for Official University records is held by Wesleyan University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Laban Clark Papers, Collection #1000-87, Special Collections & Archives, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Likely came to Wesleyan University at the time of Laban Clark's death in 1868.

Processing Information

Processed by Susanne Javorski, July 1978

Encoded by Valerie Gillispie, October 2007

Biographical Note

Laban Clark, D.D., father of Wesleyan University and first president of Wesleyan's Board of Trustees, was born in Haverhill, New Hampshire in 1778. He was twice married, first to Harriet Fairchild, daughter of Anson Fairchild and Orpha Spelman. Harriet died in 1836,leaving three children: Joseph, William P. and Marianne Clark (Howland). Clark remarried in April 1837 to Sarah Dorchester Hanks. She lived until 1866, two years before her husband. Laban Clark and his wives are buried in the Wesleyan cemetery on Foss Hill.

From 1801 to 1851, Laban Clark was engaged in the work of the ministry, New York and New York East Conferences, Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1803 he served as a missionary in Lower Canada. Laban Clark introduced the resolution to organize the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church in New York City in 1819. Clark took an active part in advocating Willbur Fisk's educational report in the General Conference in 1828. Both were in sympathy with the movement to establish a Methodist college.

It was while Clark was presiding elder of the New Haven District in 1829 that he became interested in acquiring the buildings and grounds of the American Literary, Military and Science Academy in Middletown, Connecticut. At the Troy Conference in May 1829 Clark made the proposal to buy the ALS&M Academy property. After other locations were studied as well, and the endowment funds raised, the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut granted a charter to the Wesleyan University on May 21, 1831. Laban Clark served as the president of the Board of Trustees from 1831 to 1868. In 1852, Clark was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from the University.

He died on November 28, 1868, in Middletown Connecticut.

Collection Overview

The Laban Clark Papers contain correspondence, sermons, lectures, and journals by Laban Clark, as well as papers about his life's history, the founding of Wesleyan University, and his finances.

Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

Clark, Laban, 1778-1868. Wesleyan University (Middletown, Conn.)--History. Methodist Episcopal Church--New York (State) Methodist Episcopal Church--Sermons. Related Material

Willbur Fisk Papers, Wesleyan University Special Collections & Archives

Letter seal, pen, spectacles belonging to Laban Clark, Wesleyan University Special Collections & Archives

Portrait of Laban Clark, first floor, Olin Library, Wesleyan University

Detailed Description of the Collection Biographical 11 Reverand Laban Clark, D.D., by Florence B. Dean, circa 1929 Laban Clark, notes by George M. Dutcher, undated Illustration: Rev. Laban Clark, D.D., Father of Wesleyan University, Wesleyan University Alumnus, Volume 15 No. 3, December 1930 Laban Clark portrait reproduction, taken from the Wesleyan University Bulletin, Vol. 16 No. 2, June 1922 Laban Clark Homestead, from Old Houses of Connecticut: Middletown, by Jessie M. Alsop, 1935 12 A Christmas piece, or the birth of Christ, an ode written in the year 1813 by Giles F. Yates Certificate of life membership, American Bible Society, October 8, 1847 Court of Common Council, Middletown, Connecticut, to Laban Clark, July 9, 1853, regarding new street Laban Clark funeral announcement, November 30, 1868 Miscellaneous Papers 1 Diary of the weather in the year 1797, possibly by Laban Clark Letter in part, December 24, 1850 Marriage certificate, May 7, 1838 Notes, undated The claim of divine right . . . undated The committee to whom was refered the subject of education . . . undated The general diffusion of the benefits of eduation . . ., undated Evidences of the authenticity of the Scriptures There Shall be a Council of Revision . . . Questions on Watson's Institutes The purpose of logic Financial Papers 13 Receipt book, for rental payments made by Laban Clark, New York and Bridgeport, 1824-1830 Household accounts, 1818-1845

1 volume. Includes receipt for Laban Clark from Joseph W. Barlow, Brooklyn, 1833.

Revd. Laban Clark's Book.

Account book, containing six pages of records of receipts over the period from June 15, 1850 to May 1851.

14 Pass book Fifteen receipts for money received by L. Clark for shares of capital stocks in the New York and Boston Railroad, May 30, 1855-June 8, 1855 Legal papers concerning the estate of Anson Fairchild, 1828-1829 Eleven miscellaneous financial pieces Wesleyan 15 Photocopy of Willbur Fisk document, December 3, 1829

Regarding the selection of Middletown, Connecticut for Wesleyan University; the endowment; the Board of Trustees and Visitors, etc.

On the founding of Wesleyan University, circa 1839

Written at the time of Fisk's death. Both original and typewritten copies.

Money collected by Laban Clark, money paid to the treasurer, 1832-1833 Laban Clark's scholarship for Elias Gilbert Merwin, April 27, 1838 Resolution entered on the record of the Joint Board of Trustees and Visitors, July 20, 1864

Regarding the gift of a portrait of Rev. Laban Clark to the Institution.

Lectures 1 Elements of Christian Theology by Revd. Laban Clark, D.D.

A collection of sixteen autograph lectures, with earlier version of lectures 1 and 2. The lectures were first given in 1833-1834 when Clark was in the New York East Circuit. He had formed a Bible class of about 10 who had applied for a license to preach. In the fall of 1852, at the request of President Smith, Clark revised and enlarged the lectures and delivered them to the students at the Wesleyan University chapel on Sunday mornings over a period of two years, circa 1852-1854. The design of these lectures is to assist the young students in theology by giving a condensed view of the most important doctrines of Christianity with the duty and qualifications of a Christian minister.

Journal, May 18, 1802-October 1810

Composed of 25 unbound signatures (sections).

2 May 18, 1802-January 1, 1803 January 1, 1803-June 29, 1803 July 1, 1803-January 18, 1804 January 19, 1804-April 23, 1804 April 24, 1804-August 9, 1804 August 10, 1804-October 27, 1804 October 27, 1804-Decemer 22, 1804 December 24, 1804-March 25, 1805 March 26, 1805-July 25, 1805 July 27, 1805-November 13, 1805 November 13, 1805-March 1806 March 8, 1806-August 23, 1806 August 24, 1806-November 22, 1806 November 28, 1806-February 20, 1807 February 21, 1807-July 18, 1807 July 19, 1807-December 1807 December 25, 1807-July 26, 1808 July 27, 1808-January 22, 1809 January 24, 1809-October 1, 1809 Expenses from June 3, 1809, collections received September 1809, November 1809 October 1, 1809-October 10, 1810 Record of towns preached in, miles traveled, passages in Bible used, and 1802 expenses A Book of Accounts containing the expenses and quartereges which is received by Laban Clark, Methodist preacher, August 18, 1802-February 1806 Includes Texts of scriptures to prove that the wicked will be damned and Texts to prove a possibility of falling from grace, undated Expenses, 1806-1807 A Skeleton Book by Laban Clark, outlines to sermons, undated Sermons 2 Sermons or briefs of sermons, possibly by Laban Clark, 1833-1834

1 volume.

Sermons (possibly by Laban Clark), Lyme 21 August 3, 1794 (no. 42) September 27, 1794 (no. 50) June 6, 1802 (repeated January 1826) April 1802 (repeated 1826) Sermon preached on the funeral occasion of Revd. William Dixon, 1849

2 drafts, and printed as Ministerial Toil Rewarded, 1850.

Sermon on Thessalonians 1:9, undated

Published as A Semi-Centennial Sermon, 1851.

Correspondence Letters from Laban Clark 22 Harriet Clark (his first wife), May 5, 1824 Mr. Agar Judson, October 11, 1830 William Capters, December 30, 1830

Appeal for money for the new university.

Stephen Olin, April 1839

Photocopy. Informing him of election to the presidency of Wesleyan University.

The President and faculty of Wesleyan University, August 1841

Recommends John W. Beach for admission.

Rev. William Martin, October 17, 1845 Sarah Clark, his second wife, 1848-1852

9 letters.

Letters to Laban Clark 23 Adams, Henry, December 16, 1832 Allen, Charles J., April 29, 1828 Bangs, H., February 7, 1867 Bartlett, Charles, June 8, 1846 Bonfield, Thomas, undated Broughton, W. W., August 15, 1844 Brown, S. D., June 9, 1856 Burch, Thomas, November 3, 1829 Burton, Henry, May 10, 1845 Campbell, L., December 19, 1843 Clark, Charles W. July 17, 1861 July 23, 1861 Clark, Horace, August 6, 1866 Clark, Joseph, undated Clark, Samuel, May 15, 1845 Clark, Sarah October 18, 1838 November 19, 1848 Clark, S. and S. W., January 20, 1838 Crowder, T. W., March 25, 1846 Curtiss, Saxton, A., November 26, 1835 24 Dando, Stephen, February 15, 1840 Day, Alan February 26, 1821 March 14, 1829 Dorchester, D., September 14, 1853 Drake, T.M.

Possible appointment of Drake to the Wesleyan faculty; suggestions for the establishment of Wesleyan University.

June 19, 1830 December 14, 1830 Fairchild, A. P., June 1832 Fairchild, Orpha, February 18, 1820 Gilbert, Elias, February 8, 1844 Gilbert E., October, 1, 1847 Gilbert, G., May 13, 1845 Griswold, E. E., July 16, 1847 25 Haonison, Myron, November 6, 1838 Hayter, Richard, June 5, 1838 Hill, Morris, May 17, 1838 Hill, T. R., undated Hotchkiss, Elisha, May 21, 1838 Howland, Marianne January 7, 1852 January 5, 1853 Howland, S. July 20, 1861 December 7, 1861 December 25, 1862 March 11, 1867 Hoyt, L., November 16, 1867 Hulbert, E., May 13, 1831 26 Johnson, Albert, November 20, 1843 Kellogg, N., May 23, 1846 Knight, Joseph February 25, 1863 March 10, 1863 Miller, Adam, July 3, 1848 Paige, J. S. July 7, 1828 April 17, 1834 February 2, 1835 Parker, John, November 11, 1844 Raymonds, Josiah, May 10, 1849 Seaman, S., May 21, 1850 Searles, John E., July 7, 1847 Sprague, W. B. 27 March 4, 1851 January 30, 1852 February 25, 1852 March 12, 1852 July 19, 1854 Septemer 14, 1854 March 12, 1858 April 28, 1858 January 19, 1860 January 24, 1860 February 13, 1860 February 24, 1860 March 3, 1860 March 23, 1860 October 9, 1860 October 22, 1860 Undated 28 Thorpe, T. B., February 20, 1845 Tibbals, N., undated VanPelt, Mr. and Mrs. A. H., March 2, 1863 Ware, George S., July 29, 1847 Welton, B. M., March 30, 1853 Willcox, John W., May 17, 1847 Winsor, S. A. June 4, 1862 [No last name], Trevie [Clark], February 18, 1868 Letters to Mrs. Laban Clark 29 Gildex, July 14, 1846 Kenney, Theda, August 22, 1841 Morley, George, January 20, 1849 Morley, John, July 24, 1848 Smith, William Francis, February 10, 1847 [No last name], Terviah [Clark], April 19, 1840