^"V .^ A^' ■",. .-^'■^ .),\' ■^^. * .v^^"^ ^^^ %^^ "^.^^ •\' ,<^" c: ■P' ,' ■be;. aV^v^;/ ^„. :S,^-:."^-^;^''- •»«> ^ V"^ -#; ^*'-\Vm/--/% "-•,*^/ #'\' " :•■/% IW-" **'%V m \ u^^ ■V\^^L^ t * ■flu fIDemodain. 5ona6 (3ilman CLlarh. ^ '' o- ■ -»-•- VJi-v-^C^' (U-t..! Jl-VA^'i/i^ 0«-lv^ -p Born Jfebniaiv! 1st, 1815. ^)ie^ flDa^ 23^, 1900. * Yv-rVi . J Atlantic Publishing and Engraving Co. New York TTbese passing tributes are bere gatbere5 in affectionate remembrance of m? busbant), anb in lo?al recognition of more tban tbree«score ^ears of close companionsbip witb tbe bigb resolve anC* steadfast devotion to tbe acbievement wbicb crowneC* bis life«worl?. posterity is bis beir, an& bis most ensuring memorial tbe far=reacbing influence of tbe Tllniversits be bas foun5e&. Susan Mrigbt Glarl?. IKIorccstcr, iDaseacbusctte, November Ut, 1000. JSiograpbical , /IftaB 24tb, 1900. Jonas Gilman Clark, whose death occurred at his home on Elm Street last evening, will always be remembered as the founder of the great university that bears his name. His death will be as sincerely mourned in every educational centre of the world as in the community where he has passed the best and brightest years of his life — best in that here he conceived and executed the great purpose of his life, and brightest in that he lived to see its blessings spread around the world. Mr. Clark was a rare type of New England manhood, self- made, the master of circumstances, and the sole architect of his own fortunes. From his boyhood in Hubbardston through his youth and young manhood, while acquiring and working at his trade of carriage builder, his main characteristic was thorough- ness and a determination to excel in whatever he attempted. In later years he was fond of mildly boasting that he could make any part of a carriage as well or better than any workman he could find. While not a vain man, he believed in himself, in his own purpose, his convictions and his methods. With a masterly grasp of detail, he united a capacity to think broadly alono- all lines in which he was interested, and was an apt learner from the failures and successes of others. Of simple habits, untiring energy, and devotion to business, private and public, and commanding the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact by his firm honesty and uprightness, it was inevitable that he should amass a fortune in comparatively a few years. Childless and with a keen responsibility attaching to his wealth, it was natural that his thoughts should turn back to Worcester County, his early home. It is well known by those who were near to him that he first planned to build a college in Worcester where Worcester County boys could acquire a col- lege training at less cost and with fewer temptations to the sin of extravagance than in the older and larger institutions of New England. His later travel and study of foreign institutions, especially universities of Germany, coupled with the strenuous advice of his friends, Andrew D. White of Columbia, President Eliot of Harvard, G. Stanley Hall, and other leaders of thought and education, persuaded him to change his plans and to laj' the foundation of a university that should make a post-graduate course in higher education and original research possible without the expense of time and money in foreign lands. Without dwelling upon the great achievements already accom- plished by the university which bears his name and to which five of the foremost representatives of the leading universities of Europe gave their remarkable testimony by their presence at the decennial celebration, last July, it is a matter for rejoicing that, although not able to take part in the decennial exercises, he watched and noted from his sick-room in Princeton, with growing pleasure and satisfaction, the local recognition of the occasion and the grateful testimony of the press and the foreign visitors, of the record made and the great future promise of the institution he alone had founded and endowed so munificently. It was his lot to bear with wonderful fortitude great physical suffering during the last months of his life. There is neither time nor place here for eulogy. The fitting words to close his earthly career yet remain to be spoken by those who shared his thoughts and joined with him in the realization of the purpose to which he so generously and nobly consecrated not only his wealth, but almost his every thought for more than a decade, since the first announcement was made that Jonas G. Clark had given to Worcester a university des- tined to rival in its own peculiar field the best the world has ever known. Jfrom tbc Morcester jevenino (Basette, /Iftas 24tb, 1900. Mr. Clark's achievements are truly remarkable. The accumu- lation of a great fortune was not of itself so wonderful, for many Americans of his generation were able to rise to equal heights from fully as small beginnings. But the ideals conceived by the man were so lofty as to astound one who realized their origin. He conceived of a university without a parallel in this coun- try, whose scope and aims were to be wider and higher than it would seem possible for an unprofessional man to comprehend. He gave his heart and soul, body and mind to the fulfilment of that ideal. He travelled and studied until he had so thorough a grasp of the subject that he astonished the eminent educators with whom he consulted. He realized every detail of the needs of such an institution as he desired to establish. This thoroughness and energy resulted in the founding of a university which, in the short space of ten years, and hampered by many trying conditions, has taken a position at the forefront of the world's great educational establishments. Its scope is confined to the most recondite study and work. Only a limited number will ever be drawn by its attractions. But such work as it makes possible is essential to the possession of the greatest amount of knowledge, and the presence in America of such an institution is a constant stimulus to the best intellectual endeavor. With greater resources the importance of this work can be greatly increased, and with the passing of the years Clark Uni- versity should move from among the best to the very head of its class. That is what Jonas G. Clark accomplished; a result not sur- passed by any American. Worcester was honored to a great degree in being chosen as the place in which to carry out such a noble plan. The people of Worcester should not forget this, and should always hold in high reverence the memory of the man who did so much and who suffered so much. jfroni tbc Morcester ©ailv' ^eleoram, ^afi 24tb, 1900. Worcester owes its greatest educational institution to Jonas G. Clarl<. Clark University is his creation. Mr. Clark had been look- ing about for a long time to find the best use for his great wealth. The university appealed to him as a great source of good to humanity. So he studied universities. He went to all modern universi- ties and examined into their methods. He went to the ancient seats of learning, and studied their methods and scope so far as he could, and their libraries. He took deep interest in the books of the ancients and of the scholars of the middle ages. Many such are in his house on Elm Street or stored in safe- deposit vaults. He hit upon the highest possible courses of study and research as the most valuable, and determined the university he was to create should be on the highest plane. It was the result of his visits to Thebes, Heliopolis, Memphis, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Constantinople, and Athens. Ten years had passed by last year, and the results of the $2,000,000 invested by Mr. Clark in the University were sub- stantial dividends in the form of work accomplished for the advancement of science and the sending out into the world of bright and trained men to continue the good work of higher education. The presence of distinguished savants from European universities marked the decennial celebration. IVIr. Clark could not himself be present, for his age had already brought with it failing health, and he was physically unable to attend the exer- cises and see with. his own eyes and hear with his own ears what had been accomplished and in what appreciation his good work is held b)' the men who know best the real fruits of such an educational tree. jfrom tbe Morcester jEveniUG ipost, /IftaB 24tb, 1900. Jonas G. Clark, who died at his palatial residence on Elm Street last evening, aged 85 years, was a genuine type of the American self-made man. By untiring energy and shrewd business capacity he accumu- lated a large fortune. Part of this he donated for public pur- poses prior to his death. To his native Hubbardston he gave a town hall and public library, which he has endowed. It is to Worcester, however, that Mr. Clark gave his biggest gift. To this city he has been a generous benefactor. Clark University will perpetuate his name, and future generations of Worcester people will remember him gratefully as the founder of an educational institution that is known the world over. Mr. Clark possessed the strong New England character, which, combined with his native thrift and shrewdness, gave him a breadth of view and ability to achieve and execute, and made him a power and a leader among men. Of great modesty, he was the urbane Christian gentlemen and scholar. His love of learn- ing was a marked characteristic of his nature, and free from all cant, hypocrisy, or religious prejudice, he believed in the good of mankind. His wish was to elevate and uplift man, and to disseminate human knowledge and make his fellow men happier and wiser, as his wealth directed. To his broad philanthropy and generosity of heart, Clark University is a monument which will make his name revered for all time, and held in affectionate esteem by the city of Worcester, which has so richly profited by his benefactions. jfvoni 2)r. ^5. Stanlev^ Iball, pieelScnt of Clarh lIliilveisitB. The following interview with Dr. Hall appeared in the Worcester Spy on the morning following Mr. Clark's death :- — I have been fearing and anticipating this sad event for several weeks, and it is a source of gi-eat personal regret. Our associa- tions have been extremely close. Until his illness caused him gradually to withdraw, his interest in the University was keen and earnest. For more than six months before and during the building of the University I lived at his house. I never saw a man whose whole soul went deeper into an enterprise, or one who showed more self-sacrifice and devotion. He had incubated in private this university scheme, and" it was years before he made it known. He planned to make it the chief work of his declining years. His great mastery of practical details was both an educa- tion and an inspiration to me. For years hardly a day passed that he did not visit the institution intent upon some improve- ment in building, grounds, plans, or work. He selected with rare sagacity his board of trustees, and these gentlemen have ably and devotedly stood by the University in all its vicissitudes. They have had, perhaps it is not improper for me to say, as their leading object the carrying out of his purposes. In general, Mr. Clark showed singular sagacity in leaving to expert knowledge the educational policy of the University. Highly as he was respected in Worcester, I have always had the feeling that his best and highest qualities were not as well known as they should be. I am sure that widely as his name and University are known, both will grow and brighten through the coming years. The University, its plan, material equipment, personnel, pros- pects, success, lay close to his heart and were carried on his mind incessantly ; almost literally I might say day and night. He was exquisitely sensitive to every breath of critical praise or blame from far and near. He read or heard read probably every word that the Worcester press has printed about the University. Even the voluminous reports of the Summer School lectures had for him the liveliest interest. He strove, too, to know somethino- of the contents of the bio- book that we issued in connection with the decennial celebration last summer. I have heard men of other States who were personally ac- quainted with Mr. Clark speak of him in the highest terms when discussing his business, charitable, and social relations. I never heard a breath directly or indirectly that did not imply the highest business honor and integrity. It was natural that a son of Worcester County, after making his fortune, should make this city the home of his last years, and that he should select it as the location of his great university. I am certain that the grief of the city he sought to honor will not only be general and deep and worthily expressed, but that his name will be cherished here with lasting honor. X178 \- >•?> <*:,. ', ■ ^ ^- ; s<^ '^^ '%l^^ ° ^ ~ . 1^^ '. ■so'-'*- ^ .V ° ■"00' A x" AV' "^- ^ / ^. V- - ^^ V.' ./; ^■^. IN ^°^- V -,"-:-/; /^. "Vf. '% 4 ,<' ,00, %. ■>V ^k'^ -b •■'*/..•^'^V'•■-\„<.-^/'./"•■:/..-.X■■••;/-,•■;^>/"^