Jean Vance Clarke Papers
Scope and Content
The Jean Vance Clarke Collection contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, programs, and other publicity materials for the committees and organizations with which she was involved. The collection also includes memorabilia and a small number of photographs.
Dates
- Creation: 1914-1934
Access
There are no known restrictions on the use of this collection.
Use
Permission to publish reproduce, distribute or use in any current or future manifestations must be obtained from the Rochester Public Library Local History and Genealogy Department.
Biographical Note
Jean Vance Clarke (1867-1934) was a well-known Rochester philanthropist. Mrs. Clarke served on a variety of committees and chaired a number of them, notably the Federation of Women’s Clubs, the Thrift Committee, the Poetry and Arts Committee, and the Monroe County chapter of the National Surgical Dressings Committee during World War I. Mrs. Clarke organized the first Rochester-area motor truck corps for women and was also involved in a number of welfare organizations and educational reforms including continuation school, home economics, educating foreign-born mothers, and establishment of asylums as well as education for the developmentally disabled. Mrs. Clarke was also a major player in raising and managing funds in the Rochester area to purchase and remodel Thomas Jefferson’s home and raise money for Theodore Roosevelt’s home.
Jean Vance Clarke enjoyed and collected art and contributed a number of the pieces that she amassed from her travels with her husband, Isaac Sherman Clarke and from local artists, to the Memorial Art Gallery and the Rochester Historical Society. Mr. and Mrs. Clarke never had any children. Mrs. Clarke is buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Extent
3.5 Cubic Feet (4 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Jean Vance Clarke collection represents the wide range of Jean Vance Clarke’s philanthropic contributions to both nationwide and Rochester-area organizations. The collection includes three cubic feet of correspondence, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, programs, and other publicity materials for the committees and organizations with which she was involved.
Arrangement
The collection has been divided into six series: Series 1: Federation of Women’s Clubs; Series 2: Federation of Women’s Clubs War Efforts; Series 3: Home economics work; Series 4: Political involvement; Series 5: Miscellaneous committees and papers; Series 6: Presidential organizations.
Custodial History
It is unknown when the collection was donated to the Rochester Public Library.
Processing Information
Processed by Aimee Pfeiffer in January 2014.
The following two catalogued scrapbooks assembled by Jean Vance Clarke were deleted from CARL and included in the Jean Vance Clarke papers. It is believed that the scrapbooks were originally part of the collection, and were separated at some point. They have been added back to the collection.
Rqr332.024 C598s National Thrift Week scrapbook compiled by Jean Vance Clarke.
Rrq332.6323 C598m Monroe County War Savings Committee, War Savings Stamps drive scrapbook compiled by Jean Vance Clarke.
- Title
- Guide to the Jean Vance Clarke Papers
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Aimee Pfeiffer
- Date
- 2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Local History & Genealogy Division Repository
115 South Ave.
Rochester 14604 USA
585-428-8370
585-428-8353 (Fax)
lochistref@libraryweb.org