Clark P. Hard papers, 1863 -- 1923

Summary Information

Abstract

Clark P. Hard was a Methodist Episcopal missionary in South India beginning in 1874. The collection contains correspondence, diaries, photographs, scrapbooks, and personal items relating to Hards life and missionary work.

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in five series: Series 1: Correspondence; Series 2: Photographs; Series 3: Addresses and Essays; Series 4: Journals and Scrapbooks; and Series 5: General.

• Series 1: Correspondence, 1914 -- 1923
• Series 2: Photographs, circa 1880 -- 1909
• Series 3: Addresses and Essays, circa 1871 -- 1923
• Series 4: Journals and Scrapbooks, 1869 -- 1923
• Series 5: General, 1863 -- 1923

Description

Scope and Contents

This collection contains Hard's correspondence, including letters discussing past and current events from India the death of Hard's wife Lydia, and Hard's birthday; photographs depicting people in India as well as buildings and landmarks; addresses and essays handwritten by Hard; journals and scrapbooks that document Hard's life while in India and including letters, newspaper clippings, images and other remembrances; as well as pamphlets and other printed ephemera, personal items, and diplomas and certificates recognizing Hard's work.

• Series 1: Correspondence, 1914 -- 1923

  This series contains letters written to people throughout the world when Clark Hard was in Illinois. All letters are addressed to C.P. Hard unless otherwise specified. Letters cover a variety of topics and locations, including discussing past and current events from India; thanking Hard for a monetary donation; and acknowledgment of the distribution of books which pertain to religious history. There are also sections of letters pertaining to specific topics, such as the death of Hard's wife Lydia, or regarding Hard's birthday. The letters show a dedication to India and missionary activities throughout his life

• Series 2: Photographs, circa 1880 -- 1909

  This series contains photographs depicting associates of Hard's, including Reverend Paul Singh, as well as group photographs of people in India. Buildings and landmarks are also depicted. The photographs are labeled.

• Series 3: Addresses and Essays, circa 1871 -- 1923

  This series contains addresses and essays handwritten by Hard from the mid-point of his life. Some items originate from before he went to India and others were written during his time as a missionary abroad.

• Series 4: Journals and Scrapbooks, 1869 -- 1923

  This series contains journals and scrapbooks that document the life of Clark Hard and his wife while in India. The few books called journals were deemed such by Hard himself. All of the books in this series contain a number of items including letters, newspaper clippings, images and other remembrances.

• Series 5: General, 1863 -- 1923

  This series is arranged roughly chronologically.

  This series contains pamphlets and other printed ephemera, as well as personal items including a number of diplomas and certificates recognizing Hard's work.

Burke Library record group:

Missionary Research Library Archives: MRL3, South Asia

Using the Collection

Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Onsite storage.

Conditions Governing Use

Some material in this collection may be protected by copyright and other rights. Information concerning copyright, fair use, and reproduction requests can be consulted at Columbia's Copyright Advisory Office.

Preferred Citation

Item description, MRL 3: Clark P. Hard Papers, series #, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Related Materials

William Hard Papers; Public Policy Papers, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library. MC145

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Formerly part of the independent Missionary Research Library (MRL), these records were accessioned by the Burke Library at the time of the MRL's closure in 1976.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary

Processing Information

Some material was cataloged by Lynn A. Grove on 1988-07-18. Metal clips and staples were removed from materials and folded items were flattened. Materials were placed in new acid-free folders and boxes. Acidic items were separated from one another by interleaving with acid-free paper as needed. Photographs were placed in Mylar envelopes and fragile books were wrapped in acid-free tissue and tied with cotton tying tape. The original numbering scheme by the Missionary Research Library is maintained and supplied by the numbers in brackets at the end of each line. The finding aid was created by Brigette C. Kamsler in 2011 with the support of the Henry Luce Foundation, and edited by Leah Edelman in 2022.

Revision Description

2022-10-26 PDF converted to EAD and description updated by Leah Edelman.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

Clark Pettingill Hard was born August 12, 1846 in Ogden, New York to Amos and Elizabeth Hard. He graduated first from Genesee College, now Syracuse University, in 1865 and again in 1868 with a master's degree; he also studied at Garrett Biblical Institute in 1867. During this time, Clark worked as a local preacher in the United States for ten years. Hard arrived in India on December 18, 1874 becoming presiding elder of the Madras District, South India Conference, until 1878, a role he assumed when William Taylor left Madras. Hard returned to New York to serve as a pastor from 1878 – 1882. In 1882, he resumed work in India and was pastor in Allahabad from 1882-1883 and then Bombay in 1883-1884. Clark became the presiding elder of the Central District, South India Conference in 1884. He was also the first secretary of the South India Conference from 1876-1877. Clark married Lydia Emilia Van Someren, who was born August 18, 1847 in India, in December 1877. Clark and Lydia had three children together: William Amos, born September 15, 1878; John Vincent, born August 31, 1881 and Gertrude Green, born December 30, 1889. Lydia died September 3, 1922. Clark P. Hard died December 12, 1925 in Benton, Illinois at the age of 79. He is buried in the Lake Mound Cemetery in Zion, Illinois.