Clarke Historical Library History
Founding
On February 2, 1954 Dr. Norman E. Clarke Sr. signed an agreement giving his extensive collection of books and manuscripts to his alma mater, Central Michigan College. His gift founded the library that bears his name. Dr. Clarke's original gift consisted of over 1,800 volumes, ninety newspaper or magazine titles, approximately 130 maps, seventy-one manuscript collections, and more than 380 visual images.
Dr. Clarke, a pioneering cardiologist in the Detroit area, was a collector all of his life. After he began to practice medicine, Dr. Clarke's interest in the books written by Mark Twain led him to collect first-edition Twain books. As Dr. Clarke collected more and more Twain material it became more difficult to locate new volumes to add to the collection. As this occurred, his long-standing love of history led Clarke to focus on books about the history of the Great Lakes and the Old Northwest Territory. It was this Michigan and the Old Northwest Territory material that became the core of his gift to CMU.
Dr. Clarke's goal in donating the material was to establish at Central a major resource library, modelled largely on the University of Michigan's William L. Clements Library. Dr. Clarke's collecting interests were broad, but united by a single focus. As he himself noted,
"My purpose has been to preserve not only rare books but even the commonplace because both help portray the life, the thoughts, and the culture of the pioneer people to whom we owe so much."
Dr. Clarke's goal, to comprehensively document life through both rare and common sources remains an important library goal.
Development
To transform Dr. Clarke's 1954 gift from a personal collection into a public research library, the library's Board of Governors, established in 1958, and the library staff sought to accomplish three things. First, to expand the collection to be truly comprehensive. Secondly, to publicize the library's existance. And, thirdly, to establish a high standard for reference service.
Collection development became the library's first objective. Particularly under the directorship of John Cumming, a gifted collector of historical material, the library's holdings rapidly expanded in both quantity and quality.
Publicity about the library took a number of forms. Very early in the library's history the staff began to mount exhibits, which featured significant items for the library's collection. The library staff continues to mount exhibits on a regular basis as a way to promote better knowledge of the resources available through the library. The library also sought to reach out to the public through publications. Beginning in 1961, the library published eleven hardbound books and one original softbound publication. Although the publication of scholarly monographs ceased in 1989, the library continues to contribute to scholarly knowledge about Michigan through its work on the Michigan Historical Review. Begun in 1986, the Review's office is located in the Clarke Library. From the inception of the journal the Clarke has served a critical role in championing the journal and arranging for it's financing. Beginning in 1971-1972 the library staff began to issue a published annual report, a tradition that continues to this day. The library's staff also has written and published three bibliographic publications.