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Evert B. Clark Papers

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-1989-022

Scope and Contents

The Evert B. Clark Papers contain many of Clark's notes, files, and much of his correspondence, for stories and research projects from throughout his career.

Dates

  • 1949 - 1988

Creator

Language of Materials

The materials in the collection are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Biographical Note

Evert B. Clark was born in Gainesville, Georgia on October 15, 1926. He served in the U. S. Navy from 1944 to 1946 and graduated from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in June 1947, with an A. B. in journalism and naval science and tactics. From June 1947 to October 1948 Clark worked as a reporter, state editor, and features editor for the Durham, North Carolina Morning Herald. In November 1948 he became a reporter for the Washington, D. C. Daily News, working also as assistant city editor and aviation editor for that newspaper through December 1955.

In January 1956 Clark began working at Aviation Week Magazine, serving at various times as its Washington bureau chief, space techinlogy editor (the first space editor in the magazine's history), and military editor. He joined the Washington bureau of the New York Times in September 1963 as a science correspondent, specializing in aviation and space stories. In June 1968 he joined Newsweek magazine in its Washington bureau as a science correspondent (again specializing in aviation and space). He also covered the Watergate scandal for Newsweek from its inception to its conclusion. From April 1978 until his death, Clark was a technical editor for Business Week and other magazines connected with the McGraw-Hill World News Bureau in Washington. He died on July 7, 1988.

Clark received many awards for his writing, including the National Space Club's journalism prize in 1969, in which Clark was cited for his "penetrating, consistently informed and lucid writing on all phases of the national space program: sometimes critical, always objective and thorough, resulting in outstanding reporting to the world at large." The National Press Foundation has established an award in Clark's memory. The Evert Clark Award, presented annually to a journalist 30 or younger, is intended to encourage young science writers by recognizing outstanding reporting in the science area. The award was first presented in 1990.

Extent

15 Cubic Feet (15 boxes)

Abstract

This collection includes the papers of aviation, science, and space journalist Evert B. Clark, including correspondence, memoranda, research notes; and drafts and published copies of articles.

Arrangement

Boxes 1-9 contain subject files and correspondence, arranged by date. Boxes 10-13 contain clippings of articles Clark wrote for the Washington Daily News, Aviation Week, the New York Times, Newsweek and Business Week, as well as his drafts for articles for Newsweek. Part of Box 13 and all of Box 14 contain Clark's research files for the book Contrabandista!, which he and and Nicholas Horrock published in 1973, as well as Clark's research files for a projected book on space weapons, never published. (A third book project on the Glomar Explorer and underseas espionage, referred to as "Project Jennifer," is represented by files in the main body of the collection.) Box 15 contains oversize materials; their existence is also noted where they would have fit chronologically in the main body of the collection.

Physical Access

Please note:This collection is located in off-site storage and may require 2-3 days notice for retrieval. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Source of Acquisition

The Evert B. Clark Papers were donated to Special Collections in 1989.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Evert B. Clark Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).

Processing Information

Processing of the Evert B. Clark Papers was completed in December 1990 by Elizabeth A. Paradine and Glenn L. McMullen.

Title
A Guide to the Evert B. Clark Papers, 1949-1988
Status
Completed
Author
John M. Jackson
Date
2007 (CC0 1.0)
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308