Descriptive Summary
Title: William Harry Clarke Collection
Span Dates: 1935-1946
Bulk Dates: 1944-1946
ID No: Ms2021-207
Creator: William Harry Clarke, Jr. and Ruth Gilmore Clarke
Extent: 3 boxes and museum items
Language: English
Repository: West Virginia State Archives, Charleston, WV
Abstract: Abstract: This collection includes correspondence between Chaplain William Harry Clarke to his wife and son Ruth and William Harry Clarke III (Sonny). The correspondence occurred during World War II with Chaplain Clarke being stationed overseas in various places ranging from Paris to Berlin, while the family was in the United States. In addition, there are miscellaneous items, religious pamphlets, associated photographs, drawings by "Sonny," etc. The main components of this collection are:
Administrative Information
Donor: The entirety of this collection was donated by William Harry Clarke III, the son of Chaplain William Harry Clarke and Ruth Clarke. It was acquired by the West Virginia Archives and History in June of 2021.
Transfers: Items transferred to Museums: framed portraits of William Henry Clarke (1823-1911) and William Harry Clarke; swastika armband, upholstery from chair of Herman Goering, Berchtesgaden, June 1945; dogtags, patches, and military insignia; and chaplain's flag which flew from jeep in post-war Europe.
Preferred Citation: [item, collection number], William Harry Clarke Collection, West Virginia State Archives, Charleston, WV.
Processor: Megan Nielson
Biographical Note: William Harry Clarke, Jr. was born in Huntington, West Virginia, in March of 1913. He and his wife, Ruth Gilmore, born in 1914, met as teenagers at Temple Baptist Church, while attending high school together at Huntington High School. Both graduated from Marshall College.
A vast majority of these letters were written during the time of World War II when Clarke resigned from pastoring at the Highland Park Baptist Church to serve with the 9th Army in England, France, and Germany. William Harry Clarke, Jr. and Ruth Gilmore Clarke had a son named William Harry Clarke III also known as "Sonny." Ruth and Sonny visited the Chaplain during his schooling at Harvard until he was shipped overseas. As a result, they moved to Portsmouth, Virginia to be with Ruth's parents while Chaplain Clarke served out his time with the military. Some of the letters are written from Huntington.
Contents List:
BOX 1
1:1 Correspondence, William Harry Clarke to Ruth Gilmore, 1935
1:2 Correspondence, William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, 1937
1:3 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to William Harry Clarke, 1937
1:4 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, June 1944
1:5 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, July 1944
1:6 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, November 1944
1:7 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, December 1944
1:8 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, January 1945
1:9 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, February 1945
1:10 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, March 1945
1:11 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, April 1945
1:12 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, May 1945
1:13 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, June 1945
1:14 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, July 1945
1:15 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, August 1945
1:16 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, September 1945
1:17 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, October 1945
1:18 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, November 1945
1:19 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, December 1945
BOX 2
2:1 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, January 1946
2:2 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, February 1946
2:3 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, March 1946
2:4 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, April 1946
2:5 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, May 1946
2:6 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, June 1946
2:7 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, July 1946
2:8 Correspondence, Ruth Clarke to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, August 1946
2:9 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, June 1944
2:10 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, July 1944
2:11 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, November 1944
2:12 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, December 1944
2:13 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, January 1945
2:14 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, February 1945
2:15 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, March 1945
2:16 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, April 1945
2:17 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, May 1945
2:18 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, June 1945
2:19 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, July 1945
BOX 3
3:1 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, August 1945
3:2 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, September 1945
3:3 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, October 1945
3:4 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, November 1945
3:5 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, December 1945
3:6 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, January 1946
3:7 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, February 1946
3:8 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, March 1946
3:9 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, April 1946
3:10 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, May 1946
3:11 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, June 1946
3:12 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Ruth Clarke, July 1946
3:13 Correspondence to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, 1944-1946
3:14 Correspondence, Rene Robinson to Ruth Clarke, December 1944
3:15 Correspondence, telegrams from William Harry Clarke
3:16 Correspondence, regarding retrieval of historical paintings, St. Ulrich Lutheran Church, Augsburg, Germany, June 21, 1945
3:17 Correspondence to Ruth and Sonny Clarke (William Harry Clarke III
3:18 Correspondence, Grandmother to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, 1945
3:19 Correspondence, Mother to Chaplain William Harry Clarke, 1944-1946
3:20 Correspondence, Chaplain William Harry Clarke to Sonny Clarke (William Harry Clarke III), 1944-1946
3:21 Correspondence, miscellaneous V-Mail
3:22 Chaplain William Harry Clarke, Diary/Planner, 1945
3:23 Chaplain William Harry Clarke, Diary/Planner, 1946
3:24 Chaplain William Harry Clarke, Meal Card, Transatlantic Crossing, December 1944
3:25 Chaplain William Harry Clarke, Military Papers, 1944-1946
3:26 Documents, religious services, 1945-1946
3:27 Stars and Stripes, 1945
3:28 Newsletter, Lincoln Junior High School, Huntington, January 1929
3:29 William Harry Clarke, certificates of completion, training courses for Sunday School workers, April 22, 1938
3:30 Correspondence, William Harry Clarke and President Lyndon Johnson, 1964
3:31 Correspondence, Bill Moyers to Harry Clarke, September 24, 1966
3:32 Autobiographical information, William Harry Clarke, 1999
3:33 Clippings