GREGORY CLARK FONDS R8258

Transcription

1 Canadian Archives Branch Direction des archives canadienne GREGORY CLARK FONDS R8258 Finding Aid No / Instrument de recherche no 2265 Prepared in 2002 by Robert Fisher of the Social and Cultural Archives Préparé en 2002 par Robert Fisher des Archives sociales et culturelles

2 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION... iii DIARIES SERIES...1 FISHING DIARIES & COTTAGE MATERIAL...2 WARTIME SERVICE SERIES...2 CORRESPONDENCE SERIES...3, 6 WRITINGS AND RESEARCH MATERIAL SERIES...4, 5 AWARDS, HONOURS AND MEMORABILIA SERIES...4, 6 JOSEPH T. CLARK SERIES...5

3 iii Gregory Clark fonds , predominant [multiple media]. 72 cm of textual records. 20 photographs. 5 sketches. 1 map. 1 audio disc. Biographical Sketch Gregory Clark was born 25 September 1892 in Toronto, the son of Joseph Thomas Clark and Sarah Louisa Greig. He attended Harbord Collegiate Institute and did two years at the University of Toronto but did not graduate. In 1912, he began working as a reporter for the Toronto Daily Star where his father was the editor. Clark joined the Canadian Army in 1916 as an officer and married Helen Scott Murray on 15 August 1916, just days before his departure overseas for active service. He took part in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, 9-12 April 1917, with the 4 th Canadian Mounted Rifles, D company. Though a junior lieutenant, by the end of the battle he had assumed command of the company because of the heavy casualties among its officers. He received the Military Cross for his part in the battle. Clark returned from overseas in October 1918 with the rank of major but was not discharged until February 1919 when he resumed work with the Toronto Star. He gave up daily reporting, however, to write for the Star Weekly. At his instigation, Jimmie Frise joined the Star Weekly shortly afterward as a cartoonist and illustrator, beginning a collaboration that lasted almost thirty years. As the only full-time writer for the Weekly, often writing much of the issue, Clark consciously decided to develop his own personal style telling human interest stories from a gentle, humorous perspective and writing pieces which featured his own interests in nature, fishing and outdoors life. Circulation of the Weekly rose from 68,000 to over 100,000 within a few years and established the Clark-Frise team in Canadian journalism. During the early 1920s Clark met Ernest Hemingway with whom he shared common interests in fishing and hunting, and helped him get started writing for the Toronto Star. The publication in the 1930s of the first two of many books of his stories and columns, Which We Did (Toronto: Reginald Saunders, 1936) and So What? (Toronto: Reginald Saunders, 1937), further established Clark s reputation as a storyteller. The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 saw his services again in demand by the Daily Star as a war correspondent. He covered the disembarkation of Canadian troops at the end of

4 iv that year for England, and went overseas to cover the evacuation of Dunkirk, the Canadian Army in England, and the invasion of Italy. For this work, he received the Order of the British Empire in After suffering the loss of their eldest son James Murray Clark during the war, Clark felt he needed to spend more time with his wife and family and more independence in his work. He left the Star in September 1945 to do radio broadcasting but continued to write the weekly Jim-Greg features for the Star Weekly. He completed the break with the Toronto Star at the end of 1946 when he and Jimmie Frise accepted an offer from the Montreal Standard. Frise died in 1948 ending their memorable collaboration but Clark continued to write for the Standard until 1951 when he became an associate editor of Weekend Magazine. He continued to write features for Weekend Magazine into the 1970s that, along with his syndicated daily column the Packsack, which appeared in twenty newspapers nationwide, cemented his reputation as one of Canada s best-loved storytellers. In addition to collections of his columns, he also published books on fishing and short stories. Many awards and honours came to him in his later years. He won the Leacock Medal for Humour in 1965; was the first inductee to the Canadian Newspaper Hall of Fame in 1965; was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1967; and was elected to the Canadian Fishing Hall of Fame in The University of Toronto and the University of Western Ontario bestowed honourary doctorates upon him. Gregory Clark died 4 February Diaries Series (32 cm of textual records, 2 photographs, 4 drawings; Vols. 1-3; ). The series consists of Gregory Clark s personal diaries kept at irregular intervals between 1907 and They are most complete for the years between 1907 and 1927 and are largely absent for the years 1928 to 1952 (for those years consult the fishing diaries series). His diaries provide a record of his thoughts, feelings, and experiences from the age of fifteen to the last years of his life. He discusses his neglected ambition to write fiction, thoughts on church attendance and religion, living with his father-in-law, reading and other pastimes, career aspirations, and the internal workings of the Toronto Star and Star Weekly. Two diaries cover his experiences overseas in the First World War from 1916 to 1918 and a third diary for 1920 includes his recollections or memoirs of the war. In addition, the series holds two colour photographs of Clark receiving honorary doctorates and four sketches by Clark of characters at the Star.

5 v Fishing Diaries and Cottage Material Series (15 cm of textual records, 1 photograph; Vols. 3-4; 1907, ). This series consists of Gregory Clark s fishing diaries, lists of his library of outdoors and angling books, casual record book from the cottage at Go Home Bay on Georgian Bay, and other material related to the cottage or outdoors life. The fishing diaries record his experiences fishing and hunting in a variety of locations from 1929 to 1953, the years for which he did not keep a personal diary. They also contain extensive entries referring to bird sightings at feeders and in the field, collecting books on angling and wildlife, and collecting and caring for hunting rifles. There are also lengthy digressions on Clark and Murray family history, the formation of the Toronto Anglers Association in 1925 (in the diary for 1941), and other subjects of interest to Clark. The casual record book for Go Home Bay is a kind of continuation of the fishing diaries for the years 1955 to The diary of Wilfred France for 1907 is an unusual item in this series. More of an agenda than diary, he was a caretaker of cottages in the Georgian Bay- Penetanguishene area including Go Home Bay, and it records France s work making deliveries by boat, painting cottages, and doing odd jobs for cottagers over the four seasons. Wartime Service Series (10 cm of textual records, 1 map; Vol. 4; 1917, ) The series consists of records relating to Gregory Clark s involvement in the two World Wars as an army officer in the First World War and a war correspondent in the Second World War. It holds his map and field message book from the Battle of Vimy Ridge, April 1917, and his letter home to his father on the eve of the battle. For the Second World War, the series includes his war correspondent license, regulations for press representatives with the Canadian Army, handbook for war correspondents with the Canadian Army in the field, notebooks (mostly just the names and address of contacts), cables, and memorabilia. There is also a newspaper clipping of his 30 September 1943 article describing atrocities committed by fleeing Axis soldiers in the Italian village of Rionero. Correspondence Series (7 cm of textual records, 5 photographs; Vols. 4-5, 7; ) The series consists of the personal and professional correspondence of Gregory Clark. The personal correspondence is primarily with his wife Helen Clark, including one letter on the eve of his departure overseas for the war in 1916 and another about the grave of their son Murray who had died in the Second World War. Correspondence with Mackenzie King refers to the writing of King s memoirs, the possibility of Clark contesting a Toronto seat for the Liberals, and Clark s response to the booing of King s speech by the Canadian troops at Aldershot. Some of his other political correspondents include Lester Pearson, John Diefenbaker, Leslie Frost, George Vanier, and Sir William Mulock. Correspondence with journalists includes letters from Gillis Purcell, Bruce West, Gordon Sinclair, George Bain, Peter Worthington, Drew Middleton, and H. C. Hindmarsh. There are also letters relating to hunting and fishing from G. A. Warburton, John

6 vi Alden Knight, Elizabeth Greig, and Roderick Haig-Brown (with photographs). Finally, there is a file of material relating to his friendship with Ernest Hemingway from their days at the Toronto Star, including articles written by others and one letter from Hemingway in Cuba, dated 16 November 1950, and a postcard photograph from Hemingway showing him in the bullfight ring, possibly at Pamplona. Writings and Research Material (3 cm of textual records, 1 audio disc; Vols. 5-6; [ca ]). The series consists of Gregory Clark s writings, rough notes and research material. It holds clippings of several of his articles for the Star Weekly and Toronto Star; speaking notes on cadets, W. W. Hudson, and humour; a radio review of his first book Which We Did; a draft of The Gold Strike his last story with Jimmie Frise; his obituary of Frise; notes on the history of the Toronto Star; letters to the editor by Clark; and quotes and rough notes for his Packsacks and other columns. There is also an audio disc with sound recordings of his address to the meeting of the Managing Editors Association in Toronto in 1957 about his reporting of the papal coronation in 1939, and his broadcast on the CBC in January 1940 describing the embarkation of Canadian soldiers for overseas. Awards, Honours and Memorabilia (3 cm of textual records; Vols. 5-6; ) The series consists of records relating to Gregory Clark s honourary doctorate from the University of Toronto, his Order of the British Empire, other honours, the biography by Jock Carroll, historical documents on Toronto local history, and documents, clippings and notes relating to his family history. Joseph T. Clark Material Series (2 cm of textual records, 1 photograph; Vol. 5; 1907-[ca. 1937]). The series consists of Gregory Clark s footnotes about his father Joseph T. Clark, and the latter s personal and professional correspondence. The footnotes are short reminiscences of his father s career as editor of the Toronto Star and some of the colourful personalities with whom he worked. Some of Joseph T. Clark s notable correspondents included Goldwin Smith (five letters), Hamar Greenwood (with photograph), William Jennings Bryan, A. Beverley Baxter, and J. F. MacKay.

7 vii Graphic Material Series (11 photographs, 1 drawing; ) The series consists of portraits of Gregory Clark, primarily photographs but also containing one sketch of Clark in 1958 by John Vanderhorst. There is one photo showing him with his brother Joe Clark in their army uniforms from the First World War. Some of the photographs show him in a natural setting, working on a canoe or sitting by the lake at Go Home Bay.

8 GREGORY CLARK FONDS R8258 Container File File Title Date DIARIES SERIES 1 1 Diary - January to December Diary - January 1908 to April Diary - April 1909 to November Diary - January to December Diary - January to December Sketches Diary - January to October Diary - October 1913 to December Diary - January to December Diary - January to July Diary - January to June Diary - First World War (France) [ ] 2 2 Diary - January to October Diary and Memoir - Diary December 1919 to December 1920, includes recollections of First World War experiences, (written ) Diary - January to September Diary - August 1921 to October 1927 (1 of 2) Diary - August 1921 to October 1927 (2 of 2) Diary to

9 2 GREGORY CLARK FONDS R8258 Container File File Title Date 2 8 Diary to Diary to 1976 (First belonged to his son James Murray Clark) 1942, Diary to Loose items FISHING DIARIES & COTTAGE MATERIAL 3 3 Fishing Diary - Vol. 1, Fishing Diary - Vol. 2, Fishing Diary - Vol. 3, Fishing Diary - Vol. 3, Loose item Fishing Diary - Vol. 4, Fishing Diary - Vol. 4, Loose items Partial List of Gregory Clark s Outdoor and Angling Books Partial Inventory of the Angling and Outdoors Library of Gregory Clark Go Home Cottage Casual Record Book Go Home Cottage Casual Record Book - Loose item Diary of Wilfred France (Caretaker of cottages in the Penetang- Georgian Bay Area, including Go Home Bay, deliveries made by boat, odd jobs, etc.) 1907 WARTIME SERVICE SERIES 4 4 Vimy Ridge Field Message Book - April Letter to his father from Vimy Ridge, 6 April

10 R8258 GREGORY CLARK FONDS 3 Container File File Title Date 4 6 War Correspondent Memorabilia War Correspondent Cables War Correspondent Licence War Correspondent - Regulations for Press Representatives with the Canadian Army 4 10 Handbook for War Correspondents with the Canadian Army in the Field 4 11 Clippings of Gregory Clark s Account of Atrocities in an Italian Village War Correspondent Notebooks (1 of 6) [ ] 4 13 War Correspondent Notebooks (2 of 6) [ ] 4 14 War Correspondent Notebooks (3 of 6) [ ] 4 15 War Correspondent Notebooks (4 of 6) [ ] 4 16 War Correspondent Notebooks (5 of 6) [ ] 4 17 War Correspondent Notebooks (6 of 6) [ ] 4 18 War Correspondent Agenda 1944 CORRESPONDENCE SERIES 4 19 Letters from Gregory Clark to his wife Helen Clark (nee Murray) [1916] Personal and Family Correspondence [1934] Mackenzie King Correspondence Political Correspondence , Journalism Correspondence Ernest Hemingway Correspondence & Articles [ca. 1923]- 1977

11 4 GREGORY CLARK FONDS R8258 Container File File Title Date 5 4 Fishing, Hunting & Outdoors Correspondence, Clippings & Other Material Reader Mail [ ] WRITINGS AND RESEARCH MATERIAL SERIES 5 6 Speaking Notes on Cadets, Humour and W.W. Hudson [ca ] 5 7 J.F. Macdonald, Radio Broadcast, Review of Gregory Clark s Which We Did Jimmie Frise - Obiturary & Clipping The Gold Strike - Draft of the Last Story in Collaboration with Jimmie Frise (unpublished) [ca ] 5 10 Notes on the History of the Toronto Star Letters to the Editor by Gregory Clark Quotes and Notes [ca ] 5 13 Notes for Shorty or the Pack Sack (1 of 2) [ca ] 5 14 Notes for Shorty or the Pack Sack (2 of 2) [ca ] AWARDS, HONOURS AND MEMORABILIA SERIES 5 15 University of Toronto Correspondence and Program - Doctor of Letters Awards and Honours Correspondence and Notes Relating to the Biography by Jock Carroll [ca. 1976] The Harbord Review (June 1908) Vol. IV, No

12 R8258 GREGORY CLARK FONDS 5 Container File File Title Date 5 19 Resolution of the City Council of Toronto on the Death of Abraham Lincoln 5 20 Rules for the Guidance of Proceedings of the Court of Common Council, Pamphlet, (Toronto: J.W. Coates, 1839) Family History Notes, Documents & Clippings 1873-[ca. 1970] 5 22 Memorabilia & Notes ca JOSEPH T. CLARK SERIES 5 23 Joseph T. Clark - Goldwin Smith Correspondence Joseph T. Clark - Correspondence Footnotes on Joseph T. Clark by Gregory Clark [ca. 1937] WRITINGS AND RESEARCH MATERIAL SERIES (Oversize) 6 1 Clipping of Gregory Clark s Front Page Article on Roosevelt s Victory, Toronto Daily Star, 4 Nov Cover of Weekend Magazine with Gregory Clark and Susanna - Rough Final Proof 6 3 Clipping of Gregory Clark, Haggis Is a Haggis for A That, The Star Weekly, 26 Jan [1960s] Clippings of Articles by Gregory Clark Gregory Clark, Hogg s Hollow in Pioneer Press (May 1961), Vol. 2, No AWARDS, HONOURS AND MEMORABILIA SERIES (Oversize) 6 6 Order of the British Empire 1946

13 6 GREGORY CLARK FONDS R8258 Container File File Title Date CORRESPONDENCE SERIES (Non-Circulating Item) 7 1 Ernest Hemingway letter, removed from file 5-3 and replaced with a photocopy 1950