Howard Kenneth Clark papers, 1896-1979

Creator:

Clark, Howard Kenneth, 1909-1979

Extent:

11.1 linear feet (5 manuscript boxes of papers, numbered 1-5; 6 record cartons of books, numbered 6 -11; 14 scrapbooks, numbered CMI 1-14)

Language:

English

Scope and content:

Correspondence, articles, photographs, clippings, and other ephemera about the career and writings of Robert William Chambers (1865-1933), collected by Clark. The collection includes six letters from Chambers, one letter from John Kendrick Bangs to Chambers, and 14 scrapbooks which also include printed materials about Richard Harding Davis (1864-1916) and George Barr McCutcheon (1866-1928). There are also some Clark family photographs and memorabilia.

Box 1: Index to scrapbooks - 4 card files, Photographs, Miscellaneous Box 2: Cataloged correspondence; Robert William Chambers, John Kenneth Bangs, Scrapbook Vols 1-30. Box 3: Scrapbook, 31 - 60 Box 4: Scrapbook, "R.W. Chambers Biography Vol. l", "R.W. Chambers Biography - Vol. 2", untitled volume Box 5: Scrapbook: "Chas. Dana Gibson", 2 untitled volumes

Biographical / historical:

Columbia University A.M., 1933.

Howard Kenneth Clark (1909–1979) was an archivist and administrator at the IBM Watson Laboratory at Columbia University.

Born in Wayne City, Illinois, Clark eloped to Terre Haute, Indiana, to marry Geneva May Drysdale on August 26, 1932. The couple had two children, Kenneth Drysdale Clark and Sydney Ann Menger. Clark earned a Bachelor of Science from Shurtleff College and completed his master's essay, The Story of the Insull Crash, at Columbia University in 1933. His Master of Arts from Columbia was conferred in 1933. He passed away at age 69 in Port Washington, New York.

Clark worked at IBM from 1933 to 1973. During his tenure, he spent more than 25 years collecting and preserving early manuals, photographs, and technical documents from the Watson Laboratory. This collection documents IBM's mid-century transition into digital computing.

In addition to his professional archives, Clark spent his life collecting materials related to artist and The King in Yellow, Robert William Chambers.

Catalog record:

View in CLIO

Local call number:

MS#0231

Processing information:

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 05/04/89.

Inventory of books created by Izetta Evans April 2026, GSAS 2026.

Finding aid created my Melissa Cabarcas and Vianca Victor, June 2026

Collection reprocessed. Box number rearranged, items de-framed and rehoused. By Melissa Cabarcas and Vianca Victor; July 2026.

Acquisition information:

Source of acquisition--Menger, Sydney Clark. Date of acquisition--1981. Accession number--M-81.

Custodial history:

Gift of Sydney Clark Menger, 1981.

Arrangement:

Selected materials cataloged; remainder arranged.

Accruals:

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Preferred citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Howard Kenneth Clark papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Location of this collection:: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

RBML Home Page
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
Before you visit:: Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.

Contact:: rbml@library.columbia.edu

Collection