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Reverend Donald M. Clark Papers (MS-00158)

Abstract

The Reverend Donald M. Clark Papers (1953-1976) contain correspondence, meeting minutes, organizational plans, newspaper clippings, and personal memorabilia related Clark's work with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Economic Opportunity Board (EOB) in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Finding Aid PDF

Date

1953-1976

Extent

0.92 Cubic Feet (2 boxes)
0.83 Linear Feet

Related People/Corporations

Scope and Contents Note

The Reverend Donald M. Clark Papers (1953-1976) contain correspondence, meeting minutes, organizational plans, newspaper clippings, and personal memorabilia related Clark's work with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Economic Opportunity Board (EOB) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The NAACP files contain documents relating to local, regional, and national issues and include meeting minutes, bylaws, and correspondence. Community newsletters and newspaper clippings document the black experience in Las Vegas during the 1950s and 1960s. The collection also contains various documents that pertain to civil rights in Las Vegas, police brutality, and other community issues. Reverend Clark’s records of the EOB document the variety of projects started under this non-profit group, including the Operation Independence which offered day care, a head start program for toddlers, and legal aid to families in need.

Access Note

Collection is open for research. Portions of this collection are digital and available online at UNLV Libraries Digital Collections.

Publication Rights

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See Reproductions and Use on the UNLV Special Collections and Archives website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged by subject.

Biographical / Historical Note

In 1952, after serving in the Army, Reverend Donald M. Clark moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where he became an assistant pastor and began working towards integration and improving the lives of the black community. His firm stance on equal rights led him to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), where he worked with James McMillan and Charles West to lobby Nevada Governor Grant Sawyer and other public figures to initiate integration in Las Vegas.

Reverend Clark was elected president of the local branch of the NAACP in 1961and also became part of the Economic Opportunity Board (EOB) of Clark County. He worked with other members in these organizations to continue the integration effort, particularly in education. In 1967, he was appointed Chairman of Operation Independence, a program that provided free legal aid, day care, transportation, a head start preschool, job placement, and professional training.

Donald M. Clark passed away in 2017.

"Rev. Donald Clark, civil rights activist in Las Vegas, dies at 84." Las Vegas Sun. October 10, 2017. Accessed April 5, 2019. https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/oct/10/rev-donald-clark-civil-rights-activist-las-vegas/

Preferred Citation

Reverend Donald M. Clark Papers, 1953-1976. MS-00158. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Acquisition Note

Materials were donated in 1978 by Louise Clark; accession number 1979-147.

Processing Note

Material was processed by Carol Remter, Su Kim Chung, and Crystal Aubuchon-Mendoz. In 2018, Joyce Moore revised the collection description to bring it into compliance with current professional standards.

Resource Type

Papers

Collection Type

EAD ID

US::NvLN::MS00158

Separated Materials

Some of the photographs in the acquisition were removed from the collection and placed in:

Reverend Donald M. Clark Photograph Collection, approximately 1965-1978. PH-00087. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Finding Aid Description Rules

Describing Archives: A Content Standard
English