Stephen Bedell Clark Papers
Scope and Contents
This collections contains research notes, writings and photographs that document the history of Lake View Township, with a focus on the Lake View community area.
Dates
- 1885-1985, undated
Creator
- Clark, Stephen Bedell, 1890-1977 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions
Conditions Governing Use
Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection
Biographical / Historical
Stephen Bedell Clark was born February 4, 1890 in Buffalo, New York to Mr. And Mrs. Martin and Cora Clark. He was the fourth of six children. He grew up in Buffalo, New York and moved to Chicago around 1916. He married Mary A. Geraghty in Chicago on April 13, 1918. They had 2 daughters.
Clark was an active member of the Lake View business and social community for many years. He worked at Lake View Trust and Savings bank from 1947 until his retirement in 1970. During his time there, he held many positions including the Head of the Advertising and Public Relations Department and was elected the bank's vice-president in 1959. Mr. Clark was also active in community organizations such as the Lincoln-Belmont YMCA where he served as its director. He was a member of the Lake View Kiwanis Club, and served as an honorary member of the Board of Directors of the Ravenswood-Lake View Historical Association (RLVHA).
He is best known as the author of the Lake View Saga, a book about the history of Lake View Township. His research was sponsored by Lake View Trust and Savings Bank. He initially published his research as series of articles in the Lerner published Lincoln-Belmont Booster and Sunday Booster newspaper in 1973. The Lake View Saga was published in 1974. In 1976 he received a special citation from the RLVHA for his contributions to the preservation of local history.
Mr. Clark died in Denver, Colorado on December 6, 1977.
Extent
1.25 Linear Feet (in 2 boxes, including 93 photographs)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Stephen Bedell Clark was the author of the Lake View Saga. He worked for many years at Lake View Trust and Savings Bank and was active in many community organizations in Lake View. The Stephen Bedell Clark Papers contain typewritten chapters of Clark's book, Lake View Saga; the text of a speech on Lake View Township; research notes from Clark's work on Lake View Saga; and photographs, most of which are reproductions. The photographs include many images of Lake View Trust and Savings Bank, Clark's employer, as well as images used in Lake View Saga.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in 3 series:
Series 1: Writings, circa 1973-1985, undated.
This series contains type-written chapters of the book Lake View Saga, copyrighted in 1974. Also included is a speech he presented at a local community meeting titled, "Lake View Township, 1836-1889." This series is arranged chronologically, with undated material at the end.
Series 2: Research Notes, undated.
The research notations made by Mr. Clark maintain their notebook format. There are two notebooks and one folder of research data.
Series 3: Photographs, 1885-1970, undated.
This series contains 93 photographs that appeared in the Lake View Saga. It contains the following six subseries. Each subseries is arranged alphabetically and then chronologically.
Subseries A: Businesses, 1885-1970, undated.
The majority of the photos in this subseries are of the Lake View Savings and Trust Bank.
Subseries B: Clubs and Organizations, 1901, 1928.
The two organizations represented in this subseries are the Lincoln-Belmont YMCA and the Social Turners.
Subseries C: Municipal Agencies, undated.
The two photos in this subseries are of a Lake View Police Department building and a group photo of Lake View firefighters.
Subseries D: Portraits, undated.
This subseries contains one portrait of Berth Eich of Eich Brothers Dairy and her son.
Subseries E: Residences, circa 1960s, undated.
Of the five images in this subseries, two are from the community area of West Ridge, one is from Edgewater, one is from Lake View, and one is from Lincoln Square.
Subseries F: Street Scenes, circa 1906 – 1955.
The street scenes featured in this area are mainly of the intersection of the Lincoln, Belmont, and Ashland avenues.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Stephen Bedell Clark in 1975
- Lake View (Cook County, Ill. : Township) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Lakeview (Chicago, Ill.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Neighborhoods -- Illinois -- Chicago Subject Source: Local sources
Creator
- Clark, Stephen Bedell, 1890-1977 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Stephen Bedell Clark Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Originally processed and made available in Spring 1982 as part of a Local History grant received from the Scholl Foundation. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Julie Lynch, 2021.
- Date
- 1982
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2021 August: Edited by Julie Lynch for compliance with DACS
Repository Details
Part of the Northside Neighborhood History Collection Repository
Sulzer Regional Library
Chicago Public Library
4455 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago IL 60625 United States
(312) 742-4455
northsidehistory@chipublib.org