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cl1000-87
Guide to the Laban Clark Papers,
1794 - 1935
Processed by: Susanne Javorski; machine-readable finding aid created by: Valerie Gillispie
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© 2007 Wesleyan University. All Rights Reserved.
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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 & Archives
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT, USA
© 2007 Wesleyan University. All Rights Reserved.
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 Notice
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