VOLUME: 1.5 linear feet
Forms Part of Record Group No. 3, Records of the Office of President
ACCESS: This collection is open to the public upon request.
COPYRIGHT: Please consult the archivist for information about duplication or publishing of any materials from this collection.
Lucius C. Clark was born on June 4, 1869 in Grundy County, Iowa. In 1893 he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell College Iowa and was ordained a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. The following year he was married to Hattie E. Young of Hendrick Iowa.
From 1894 to 1913, Clark served as Pastor to various Methodist Churches in Iowa taking time to earn a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree at Boston University School of Theology in 1897. in addition he helped to organize the School of Religious Education at the State University of Iowa. In 1904 he was granted an honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Upper Iowa University. Clark studied in Glasgow, Scotland in 1910 and in 1911 under Doctor George Adams Smith, James Orr, and James Denny.
Dr. Clark came to Washington D.C. in 1913 as pastor of the Hamline Methodist Church. He served as Executive Secretary of the Washington Federation of Churches 1920-1922. On June 7, 1922 Lucius C. Clark was elected Chancellor by the Board of Trustees of the American University to succeed Bishop Hamilton. On September 23, 1925 the College of Liberal Arts opened and admitted the first undergraduate students to the school.
Lucius C. Clark resigned as Chancellor on December 31, 1932. He subsequently became Dean of the Graduate School and Director of the School of Political Science until June of 1934. On June 2, 1934 he was elected Chancellor Emeritus. Afterwards, he retired to Florida, where he lived until 1942 when he returned to Washington. He received a Doctor of Laws degree from the American University in 1943. Dr. Clark was a member of Phi Beta Kappa society, the Rotary Club and the Republican Party. He is author of the book The Worshipping Congregation which was published in 1893. He and Mrs. Clark never had children.
Dr Clark died of a heart ailment in his home at the age of 79 on March 27, 1949.
With only few exceptions this collection contains papers created during Clark’s term as Chancellor 1922-1932. They are primarily concerned with fundraising, university function and the day to day administration of the school.
Included are letters sent and received by Clark, as well as office copies of outgoing mail. There are constitutions, outlines, plans and committee minutes. Also to be found are leases, contracts, correspondence dealing with the construction, furnishing, and maintenance of the campus. Additionally, there are pamphlets and other printed matter dealing for the most part with religious or academic topics.
The folders are arranged within the boxes alphabetically by headings of the folder. Items within the folders are arranged chronologically, with undated items placed at the front of the folder.
Box 1
- General Correspondence (3 folders)
- Undated, 9/23-6/29
- Includes information concerning fundraising, faculty, and communications with other schools and institutions.
- Advance Program Committee (2 folders)
- Undated, 11/30-2/32
- Fundraising committee and Edward P. Colladay correspondence. Also organizational chart.
- Alumni
- Undated, 8/24-9/31
- 1925 Alumni list, Requests from Alumni asking AU to verify their graduation to others.
- Alumni Association
- Undated, 12-6/28
- Formation and operation of Alumni Association
- Athletics
- 4/26-9/31
- Tennis court repair and 1931 football schedule
- Battelle Memorial
- 10/23-5/27
- Battelle Memorial bequest, construction, and maintenance
- Board of Award
- 6/22 – 4/26
- Correspondence between Bureau of Education and AU
- Buildings, Grounds, and Facilities (3 folders)
- Undated, 6/21 – 4/32
- Primarily concerns construction, furnishing and maintenance of AU campus
- Chancellor’s House
- 2/25-5/26
- Construction, furnishing and maintenance of Chancellor’s house
- Church Duties (3 folders)
- Undated, 6/21-11/28
- Requests for sermons and dealings with Methodist Episcopal Church
- Clark/Corcoran Correspondence: Hodson University
- Undated, 10/27-6/28
- Fundraising and Hodson Estate; Proposed merger of George Washington and American Universities
Box 2
- Clark/OLP: American College Bureau
- 2/23-2/26
- Correspondence with Director faculty recruiting service
- Clark/Osborn
- Undated, 3/97-2/27
- Correspondence with AU’s first registrar
- Clark/Perry
- Undated, 10/26-3/28
- Donor recruitment
- Contracts and Leases
- Undated, 6/20-7/31
- Maintenance contracts and government leases
- Downtown Program and Salaries
- Undated, 1-8/32
- Program description and salary records
- Downtown Reports (3 folders)
- Undated, 10/26-10/27
- Records of student fees
- Mary Graydon Center
- Undated, 3/23-12/30
- Correspondence concerning building and Women’s House government constitution
- Gymnasium
- 5/25-2/32
- Primarily dealing with construction and maintenance of gymnasium
- John F. Hurst Estate (2 folders)
- 6/26-10/32
- Payment records of estate
- Invitations (2 folders)
- Knights Templar Educational Loan Fund
- McCabe Estate
- 10/24-4/27
- Correspondence concerning distribution of estate
- Prospective Students (3 folders)
- Undated, 8/21-9/26
- Letters of inquiry concerning courses offered and student eligibility
Box 3
- Reorganization 1932
- Undated, 5-12/32
- Proposals to reorganize AU’s structure
- Report of the Needs of the College of Liberal Arts (1928-1929)
- Student Scholarships
- 4/24-12/26
- Letters of inquiry as to availability of scholarships
- Survey of the College of Liberal Arts (1927-28 and 1928-29)
- 1927-11/33
- Figures on student enrollment and AU finances
- World Peace Foundation
- 1/31-9/31
- Invoices for books
- Printed Material (2 folders)
- undated 12/20-10/29
- Mainly pamphlets and other printed matter dealing with education, religion, or politics