J. Russell Clark Collection
Scope and Content
The J. Russell Clark Collection is composed of thirty-five linear feet of documents, which are housed in seventy-eight archival boxes. The approximate inclusive dates range from the 1920’s, when Clark was studying engineering at MIT, to 1986, the year of his death.
The three main subject headings used in arranging the material relate to Clark’s activities in government, in industry, and in the private sector. Subheadings are utilized to provide more specific access. Because of the large volume of material under the Vought subheading, many subseries were needed. Under most subheadings, documents were arranged chronologically.
Much of the material in the J. Russell Clark Collection was generated by Clark or by his associates during the course of conducting business in the aerospace companies for which Clark worked. It includes both administrative records and documentation of specific projects. Other records were gathered by Clark for his personal reference collection on aerospace topics of particular interest to him; these are mainly in the form of clippings, publications, and reports.
The J. Russell Clark Collection can be used as a source of information for many aspects of the history of the aerospace industry from the 1920’s to the 1980’s, particularly with regard to military aircraft. The collection documents the development of both broad trends and specific innovations with unique, primary source documents.
The collection arrived in good condition and was initially processed with only a container list as description. Due to a change of the content management system, further description proved to be necessary.
Dates
- 1920 - 1986
- Majority of material found within 1930 - 1970
Creator
- Clark, J. Russell, Mr. (John Russell), 1908-1986 (Engineer, Person)
Language of Materials
Collection is in English.
Access Restrictions
Materials in this collection are open for research.
Literary Rights Statement
Permission to publish material from this collection in any form, current or future, must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas.
Biographical Sketch
John Russell Clark was born in Rockport, Massachusetts on September 21, 1908. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and graduated in 1929 with a B.S. degree in Aeronautical Engineering. His long and distinguished professional career in the field of aviation began in 1929, with his employment as a structural design and test engineer at Berliner-Joyce Aircraft. In 1930, Clark married Dorothy Virginia Auger of Weymouth, MA. The couple had three children: John Russell; Mary A. (Mrs. Richard Ryder, Jr.); and Dorothy A. (Mrs. Allan E. Kemp).
In 1935, Clark joined United Aircraft Corporation where he worked on flying boats as a project engineer and designer for the Sikorsky Aircraft Division. He worked closely with Igor Sikorsky as Chief Project Engineer in developing the first successful helicopter, the VS-300, in 1939. After moving to the Chance Vought Aircraft Division of United, Clark became Chief Project Engineer for the famous F4U Corsair fighter. Other important projects he developed for Vought include the F8U Crusader, the A-7 Corsair II, the XC-142, and the Scout Missile.
Clark was not only a gifted designer and engineer, but also an effective executive who served Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) in many capacities: as head of the Vought Astronautics Division; as head of the Vought Aeronautics Division; as Senior Vice President-Technical; as a private consultant; and as a member of the board of directors. Clark’s expertise also was recognized and utilized through his service on numerous committees for the United States government, such as the U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and the Committee on Major Acquisitions for the U.S. Commission for Government Procurement.
For over fifty years, John Russell Clark dedicated his many and varied talents to the advancement of the field of aviation. He received well-deserved recognition for his many significant contributions. He was an elected fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics as well as a life member of the Navy League. Clark was honored by the National Aeronautic Association with their Elder Statesmen of Aviation Award and by the U.S. Air Force with the Meritorious Civilian Service Award. He was internationally known in the aerospace community for his expertise as a multi-talented aircraft designer and executive.
John Russell Clark passed away in 1986.
Extent
35.0 Linear Feet (Seventy-six manuscript boxes and two non-standard boxes (25x20.5x1.5).)
Abstract
For over fifty years, John Russell Clark dedicated his many and varied talents to the advancement of the field of aviation. He received well-deserved recognition for his many significant contributions.
Series Description
The three main subject headings used in arranging the material relate to Clark’s activities in government, in industry, and in the private sector. Subheadings are utilized to provide more specific access. Because of the large volume of material under the Vought subheading, many subseries were needed. Under most subheadings, documents were arranged chronologically.
The archivist kept the original organization intact without any further arrangement.
Provenance Statement
The J. Russell Clark Collection was donated to the History of Aviation Archives, Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas, by Dorothy V. Clark on 1991-05-10.
Books/Magazines
Books and magazines were pulled and cataloged to be included into the HAC monograph and magazine collection.
Image ID
It is the researcher's responsibility to secure permission from copyright holders of materials to which this institution does not own copyright.
Images in this collection are identified by a unique number that provides information about the format, record group, collection, series, box, folder, and image numbers. Please use this number when ordering reproductions of images from this collection.
Record Group Code
1 = CAT/Air American Archives
2 = Doolittle Archives
3 = Lighter than Air Archives
4 = George H. Williams, Jr., World War I Aviation Library
5 = History of Aviation Archives
6 = University Archives
7 = HAC Stacks
8 = WPRL Stacks
9 = Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Collection
10 = Belsterling Collection
11 = Closed Stacks
12 = Unidentified
13 = Chance Vought Archives
14 = Twirly Birds Archives
Image Format Code
P = Photograph/Postcard
S = Slide
N = Negative
T = Positive Transparency
B = Black and White
C = Color
Example: 13JRC-1-1-PC1
13 = Chance Vought Archives
JRC = J. Russell Clark Collection
= Series Number
1 = Box Number
1 = Folder Number
P = Photograph/Postcard
C = Color
1 = Image Number
Images archived in plastic image holders may also have a location code in the format: 1/TL. In this example, the number is the sheet number and the letters indicate the top left position on the sheet. Position indicators are T = top, L = left, R = right, M = middle, and B = bottom. Position indicators may be combined to describe the position on the sheet, as shown in this example.
Note to the Researcher
Most of the monographs and periodicals in the J. Russell Clark Collection were removed and processed with materials of like format in order to provide researchers better access to them.
- Aeronautical engineers Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Antiaircraft missiles. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Chance Vought Archives Subject Source: Local sources
- Corsair (Fighter plane) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Corsair II (Jet attack plane) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Ling-Temco-Vought. Research Center, Dallas Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Research institutes -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Seaplanes Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Sikorsky Aviation Corporation Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Sikorsky helicopters. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Sikorsky, Igor Ivan, 1889-1972 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United Aircraft Corporation Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States. Air Force Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Guide to the J. Russell Clark Collection, 1908-1986
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- 2018-06-12
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English (eng)
- Edition statement
- First revision by Madeline Hoff, 2018-06-12.
Revision Statements
- 2018-06-12: 1st revision was a migration to ArchivesSpace by Madeline Hoff.
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives Division, History of Aviation Archives. Repository
3020 Waterview Pkwy
SP2
Suite 11.206
Richardson Texas 75080 US
972-883-2570
LIBSPCO@utdallas.edu.