Clark University was founded by Jonas G. Clark who actively purchased 8 acres of land on Main Street across from the previously established University Park (although not called that at the time). The petition for charter was granted by the Legislature on January 18, 1887. The cornerstone of the first building was laid on October 22, 1887. The first president was established in 1888 as G. Stanley Hall, who was a professor at John Hopkins University at the time.

On June 21, 1905, President Roosevelt arrived in Worcester and was escorted from Union Station to Clark University by a large military parade. After addressing the gathering, he had dinner at the home of Rockwood Hoar, the son of Senator Hoar, at 16 Hammond St. President Roosevelt was in the city for a total of 5 hours.

What is referred to as the Library in the above picture is actually Atwood Hall and the Jefferson Academic Building. The library, named in honor of Dr. Robert Goddard, is said to look like a pile of stacked books when looked at from the air.

The library does look like books actually, I was fortunate to have flown over the campus when flying into Worcester Regional a few months ago. The buildings are pretty easy to identify against the otherwise dreary Main South. These days the campus looks rather different. The original campus was all contained within the large building with the clock (now known as Jonas Clark Hall), the building called the library above (which is now Atwood Hall, Jefferson Hall, and the Geography Building), was presumably built later, and the other buildings on campus are clearly more modern. The pictures above are interesting, most of the apparently older ones show the green as an open field, today it is filled in with trees. Clark is possibly best known as a psychology school (though the geography program is well-renowned as well), Sigmund Freud made his only appearance at a US university at Clark in (I believe) 1910 (correct me if I'm wrong). A statue of Freud now stands in the green in from of Jonas Clark Hall. Clark's first president, G. Stanley Hall was a rather well-known psychologist as well. I'd be interested to find out when the library was converted to Atwood, Jefferson & the Geography Building, (if it was indeed the library), and when the Goddard Library was built. Ted Blackler

Mr. Keefe is correct in that the current library is not shown on this page - in reality it looks somewhat like a spacecraft. Other points of distinction: Clark U. was the only US university visited by Sigmund Freud; Dr. Goddard (as mentioned by Mr. Keefe) is also known as the father of rocketry; and members of the faculty were apparantly involved in the discovery of 'the pill'.

Sorry Andrew, but that is the picture of the old Clark Library before the new "stack of books library" was built. Atwood Hall is up the street between the old library and the new one. Corner of Downing and Woodland Streets.

I'm from the Clark Class of 1973. Goddard Library was built in the mid-1960s, and was still fairly new when I arrived in 1971. The old library building was then simply called the "Old Library", since the old Jefferson Commons stood across from Jonas Clark Hall on the other side of Red Square.

The building that currently serves as library at Clark is a funny reinforced concrete thing. I imagine it was built late 50s or 60s. It is amusing that all the campuses in the red-brick tradition (Harvard on down) are now playgrounds for modern-style buildings, which often age terribly and are usually somewhat less than functional.

What I remember most about Clark U. is Atwood hall and the many great rock concerts there during late 60's. Also the site of my first Grateful dead show, 4/20/69. Rock on!

The first pressurized space suits where invented in Worcester, and they were tested in Clark's swimming pool. Since I am a lifeguard at the pool, I was told this by a current campus police who was there at the time. There are pictures of this, however I do not know where they are located, still very cool!!

In 2004, I spent many hours in the library and archives researching the local Swedish-American community for my MA degree. Without a doubt, one of the best resource libraries around! All the librarians, and especially Mott Linn of Special Collections were extremely helpful in my research--thanks to them all!

I remember going to see The Clash at Clark U...with Gang of Four and Gangreen as back ups....

saw jimi hendrix at clark with wayne dufault and tony galatti.