Jonas Gilman Clark
Encyclopedia
Jonas Gilman Clark was an American businessman, and the founder of Clark University
. He started his business career in Massachusetts
, before moving to California
in the 1850s. He had a successful entrepreneurial career. He moved to Worcester
in 1878, and founded Clark University in that city in 1887.
. He was a son of a farmer, and received a common school education. He became a carriage-maker at the age of sixteen, and opened his own carriage shop after five years. He extended his business to the manufacturing and marketing of chairs. He entered the tinware industry after discovering the greater profitability in this business around 1845. He was also a manager of retail stores in Hubbardston, Milford
and Lowell
.
Clark married Susan Wright (1816–1904) in 1836; Susan was his childhood friend and neighbor. The couple were active supporters of the anti-slavery movement.
. His first business venture in California was not successful because he lost his money because of the ineptitude of his partner. He formed a second partnership, and in 1853 went to San Francisco to run his business. He achieved success in the furniture business.
In 1860 Clark liquidated his businesses because of the medical reasons. He reinvested his fortunes in the San Francisco area, particularly in real estate.
When the American Civil War
began, Clark supported the Union
cause; he was active in multiple Union causes.
In 1868 he purchased a mansion on Fifth Avenue in New York City
. He started collecting rare books and art works, and also invested in securities and real estate.
He made trips to Europe. He developed a deep interest in higher education; he visited and collected information about the universities in Europe.
Clark and his wife, Susan, shifted to Worcester
in 1878. He started to liquidate his California and New York area holdings in the early 1880s. He started collecting a compact plot of land in the growing South End of Worcester in 1881. He had acquired most of a block that bordered Main Street by the fall of 1885.
Clark founded Clark University
in 1887. He was probably inspired by his friend Leland Stanford
to establish his own university. In January 1887, Clark secured from the Legislature, for himself and his associates of his choice, an act of incorporation under the name of Clark University. On March 31, the legislation was passed and signed. On May 4, at the first regular meeting of the Board of Trustees, Clark disclosed his educational and financial plans for the new university. Clark University was to incorporate the best features of the continental European and American universities such as Cornell University
and Johns Hopkins University
.
Clark started the university with a million dollars, and later added another million dollars to the university fund because he feared the university may face lack of fund someday.
G. Stanley Hall
became the first president of Clark University; he was hired by Clark, and other trustees. Hall wanted to start the graduate school and library first, and he persuaded Clark and other trustees that the undergraduate college would be started after few years. The university was opened on October 2, 1889 as the first all-graduate university in the United States. It opened with graduate departments in physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and psychology.
Hall made multiple promises to the faculty of Clark University, but was unable to fulfill them. He blamed Jonas Clark or the trustees for his unfulfilled promises, and also misled Clark about the financial aspects of Clark University. Jonas Clark wanted the undergraduate college, but Hall didn't want it. As a result of these conflicts, Clark didn't trust Hall.
Clark University suffered from financial problems. Jonas Clark expressed his disappointment towards the affluent trustees, and to some extent towards the Worcester community, for not coming forward to support the university to Hall and the trustees, before leaving for Europe in 1891; he warned to reduce expenses if the public didn't give more support to the university. He resigned as treasurer, but remained president of the board of trustees. From this point forward, Clark talked with Hall and the board particularly through letter; he also didn't spent much time in Worcester.
The trustees didn't build the undergraduate college, something that Clark wanted, but they continued to appeal to him to financially support the university.
In 1892 Clark and multiple trustees held various discussions on how to salvage the remaining assets of Clark University. Clark wanted an undergraduate college, but Hall rejected his wish. Clark wanted the university to be a traditional undergraduate institution, while Hall wanted it to be a graduate institution. Hall and the trustees wanted to keep Clark happy until his death; after Clark's death they could use his money according to their wishes.
Clark gave money to the university for the academic year 1892–93, but gave no more financial support to the university from this point forward. He realized that Hall and the trustees would not start the undergraduate college. His will
, drafted in New York City, was kept secret from Hall and the trustees.
Clark died on May 23, 1900 at his home in Worcester. After his death, when the conditions of his will became known, the trustees discovered that they would have to establish an undergraduate college or else they would lose the remainder of Clark's fortune. The college was established, and it merged with the university in 1920 after Hall's retirement.
Clark University
Clark University is a private research university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts.Founded in 1887, it is the oldest educational institution founded as an all-graduate university. Clark now also educates undergraduates...
. He started his business career in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, before moving to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the 1850s. He had a successful entrepreneurial career. He moved to Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
in 1878, and founded Clark University in that city in 1887.
Early life
Clark was born in Hubbardston, MassachusettsHubbardston, Massachusetts
Hubbardston is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the town population was 4,382.- History :...
. He was a son of a farmer, and received a common school education. He became a carriage-maker at the age of sixteen, and opened his own carriage shop after five years. He extended his business to the manufacturing and marketing of chairs. He entered the tinware industry after discovering the greater profitability in this business around 1845. He was also a manager of retail stores in Hubbardston, Milford
Milford, Massachusetts
Milford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It had a population of 27,999 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Milford, constituting the center of the town, please see the article Milford ,...
and Lowell
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
.
Clark married Susan Wright (1816–1904) in 1836; Susan was his childhood friend and neighbor. The couple were active supporters of the anti-slavery movement.
Life in California, New York City, and Worcester
Clark sold his hardware business to his brothers, and moved his capital to business in CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. His first business venture in California was not successful because he lost his money because of the ineptitude of his partner. He formed a second partnership, and in 1853 went to San Francisco to run his business. He achieved success in the furniture business.
In 1860 Clark liquidated his businesses because of the medical reasons. He reinvested his fortunes in the San Francisco area, particularly in real estate.
When the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
began, Clark supported the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
cause; he was active in multiple Union causes.
In 1868 he purchased a mansion on Fifth Avenue in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He started collecting rare books and art works, and also invested in securities and real estate.
He made trips to Europe. He developed a deep interest in higher education; he visited and collected information about the universities in Europe.
Clark and his wife, Susan, shifted to Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
in 1878. He started to liquidate his California and New York area holdings in the early 1880s. He started collecting a compact plot of land in the growing South End of Worcester in 1881. He had acquired most of a block that bordered Main Street by the fall of 1885.
Clark University
Clark University
Clark University is a private research university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts.Founded in 1887, it is the oldest educational institution founded as an all-graduate university. Clark now also educates undergraduates...
in 1887. He was probably inspired by his friend Leland Stanford
Leland Stanford
Amasa Leland Stanford was an American tycoon, industrialist, robber baron, politician and founder of Stanford University.-Early years:...
to establish his own university. In January 1887, Clark secured from the Legislature, for himself and his associates of his choice, an act of incorporation under the name of Clark University. On March 31, the legislation was passed and signed. On May 4, at the first regular meeting of the Board of Trustees, Clark disclosed his educational and financial plans for the new university. Clark University was to incorporate the best features of the continental European and American universities such as Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
and Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
.
Clark started the university with a million dollars, and later added another million dollars to the university fund because he feared the university may face lack of fund someday.
G. Stanley Hall
G. Stanley Hall
Granville Stanley Hall was a pioneering American psychologist and educator. His interests focused on childhood development and evolutionary theory...
became the first president of Clark University; he was hired by Clark, and other trustees. Hall wanted to start the graduate school and library first, and he persuaded Clark and other trustees that the undergraduate college would be started after few years. The university was opened on October 2, 1889 as the first all-graduate university in the United States. It opened with graduate departments in physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and psychology.
Hall made multiple promises to the faculty of Clark University, but was unable to fulfill them. He blamed Jonas Clark or the trustees for his unfulfilled promises, and also misled Clark about the financial aspects of Clark University. Jonas Clark wanted the undergraduate college, but Hall didn't want it. As a result of these conflicts, Clark didn't trust Hall.
Clark University suffered from financial problems. Jonas Clark expressed his disappointment towards the affluent trustees, and to some extent towards the Worcester community, for not coming forward to support the university to Hall and the trustees, before leaving for Europe in 1891; he warned to reduce expenses if the public didn't give more support to the university. He resigned as treasurer, but remained president of the board of trustees. From this point forward, Clark talked with Hall and the board particularly through letter; he also didn't spent much time in Worcester.
The trustees didn't build the undergraduate college, something that Clark wanted, but they continued to appeal to him to financially support the university.
In 1892 Clark and multiple trustees held various discussions on how to salvage the remaining assets of Clark University. Clark wanted an undergraduate college, but Hall rejected his wish. Clark wanted the university to be a traditional undergraduate institution, while Hall wanted it to be a graduate institution. Hall and the trustees wanted to keep Clark happy until his death; after Clark's death they could use his money according to their wishes.
Clark gave money to the university for the academic year 1892–93, but gave no more financial support to the university from this point forward. He realized that Hall and the trustees would not start the undergraduate college. His will
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
, drafted in New York City, was kept secret from Hall and the trustees.
Clark died on May 23, 1900 at his home in Worcester. After his death, when the conditions of his will became known, the trustees discovered that they would have to establish an undergraduate college or else they would lose the remainder of Clark's fortune. The college was established, and it merged with the university in 1920 after Hall's retirement.