William Harry Clarke Collection, 1935-1946

Access and use

Location of collection:
West Virginia Archives and History
Archives and History Library
The Culture Center, Building 9
1900 Kanawha Boulevard E.
Charleston, WV 25305-0300
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Chuck Ocheltree, Archives Reference Desk
Phone: (304) 558-0230

Summary

Extent:
3 boxes
Creator:
William Harry Clarke, Jr and Ruth Gilmore Clarke
Language:
Materials in this collection are in English .

Background

Scope and content:

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:

  • Correspondence between Chaplain William Harry Clarke and Ruth Clarke, his wife (1935-1946).
  • Correspondence between Chaplain William Harry Clarke and William Harry Clarke III (Sonny), his son.
  • Miscellaneous correspondence sent to Chaplain William Harry Clarke.
  • Photographs of his wife and son, and military exploits while in the service and overseas.
  • Miscellaneous newspaper clippings.
  • Scenes from post-war Germany (or Europe).

Biographical / historical:

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.