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Donald F. Clark collection

Call Number

MS 118

Date

circa 1642-1920, inclusive

Creator

Clark, Donald F., -1980 (Role: Collector)

Extent

5.5 Linear feet in 6 boxes + oversize documents

Language of Materials

The documents in the collection are in English, except for one in French and in Dutch.

Abstract

The collection, which was assembled by historian Donald F. Clark (died 1980), includes account books, church records, commissions, military records, and many other documentary forms that reflect Clark's interest in Orange County, New York during the Revolutionary War period and the Federalist era, with some materials into the later nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It includes many pieces of correspondence to and from Governor George Clinton, as well as items written by or regarding notable figures including George Washington, Aaron Burr, the founders of Jamestown, Virginia, Nathaniel Woodhull, Richard Varick, John Hancock, Philip Schuyler, and many others.

Biographical Note

Donald F. Clark, an antiquarian, served as historian of Orange County, New York from 1969-1980 and chairman of the Orange County American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, circa 1974-1976.

BibliographySources:

"Orange County Historian." Orange County New York. Accessed August 20, 2015. http://www.orangecountygov.com/content/124/1338/10640/default.aspx.

"Clark Renamed Historian." The Evening News, January 20, 1970. Accessed August 8, 2015. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rYJGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zywNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3803,2933994.

"Marks Battle Date." The Evening News, October 8, 1974. Accessed August 20, 2015. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pFNRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qzMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6048,1440470.

Arrangement

The items in the collection are physically arranged by a sequential item designation (numbered 1-795) given to individual documents (or small sets of documents) at some point in time, either originally by Clark or by Michelle Figliomeni who inventoried the items in July 1980. Because that sequencing has no perceptible order, this finding aid lists the documents in chronological order, with undated items at the end. As of May 2022, Figliomeni's list of 795 items has not yet been fully transcribed for this on-line finding aid and so the list includes items only to number 634 and 742-744. Figliomeni's full hard-copy list is available in the Reading Room. For the present, the untranscribed items are summarized at the box level at the end of this container list.

Scope and Contents Note

The collection, which was assembled by Clark, includes account books; church records; commissions; correspondence; court records; muster rolls and other military records; receipts; currency; and a variety of printed materials. The items collected reflect Clark's interest in Orange County, New York during the Revolutionary War period and the Federalist era, with some materials into the later nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Includes many pieces of correspondence to and from Governor George Clinton, as well as items written by or regarding notable figures including George Washington, Aaron Burr, the founders of Jamestown, Virginia, Nathaniel Woodhull, Richard Varick, John Hancock, Philip Schuyler, and many others.

The container list in this finding aid includes a detailed inventory for most, though not all, of the collection, that is, about 635 of the 795 items. A full hard-copy, typescript list is available in the Reading Room.

Access Restrictions

For more information on making arrangements to consult the collection, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Use Restrictions

Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.

Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.

Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions

Location of Materials

For more information on making arrangements to consult the collection, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Bequest of Donald F. Clark, October 9th, 1980. Some items from the collection were returned to the Clark estate in 1983. These items are marked in the inventory with the phrase, "Original returned, photocopy only."

Separated Materials Note

Newspapers and broadsides from the collection were moved to the Library's General Collection and cataloged individually at an earlier date. To locate these items, search "Donald F. Clark" in the online catalog.

Existence and Location of Copies

Microfilm copy available.

Other Finding Aids

The original, complete item list of the collection (795 items) prepared by Michelle P. Figliomeni in July 1980 is available in the N-YHS Reading Room.

Collection processed by

Julia Lipkins.

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:49:13 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Description is written in: English, Latin script.

Processing Information

This collection was appraised, arranged and described by Michelle P. Figliomeni in July 1980. In 2015, Carol Reisner re-housed the collection; Ali Barr transcribed Figliomeni's inventory in part (that work remains to be completed); and Julia Lipkins assembled the finding aid.

Repository

New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024