1829-1899.

Robert Clarke was a native of Annan, Dumfreeshire, Scotland, where he was born May 1st, 1829. He came with his parents to Cincinnati in 1840 and was educated in the public schools of Cincinnati and at Woodward College. For a short time he was bookkeeper for William Hanna and then followed his bent by becoming interested in a little second-hand book-store near the corner of 6th and Walnut streets.

The story of his subsequent life is the history of the famous Robert Clarke Company of which he was the founder. The origin of this firm dates back to the 50's when books were of less importance in the western community than were lumber, flat-boats and pork. Its birth-place was in the little second-hand book-store in Sixth street above mentioned, where Mr. Robert Clarke was one of the proprietors, and where he began his education in "Americana" that early made the firm an accepted authority on any question pertaining to American publications. In 1858 Robert Clarke & Co. assumed its firm name and succeeded H. W. Derby & Co. as book-sellers. From book selling to book publishing was and easy and natural step, and for nearly half a century the publication of books of the better class in all departments of literature has been carried on by this firm. In 1894 the partnership was incorporated as The Robert Clarke Company, with a board of directors composed of Robert Clark, R. D. Barney, John W. Daley, Howard Barney and Alexander Hill. The directors of this company were all members of the old firm.

The wonderful collection of American publications issued by this firm caused Justin Winsor in his "Narrative and Critical History" of America to say; "The most important American lists at present issued by American dealers are those of the Robert Clarke Company of Cincinnati."

Mr. Clarke was a constant reader and hard student all his life, not only of the contents of books, but a connoisseur of their form and exterior. He was not merely a successful bibliophile, but he was a veritable living cyclopedia on bibliography. It is doubtful

if any man in the United States was more thoroughly versed in the historical and bibliographical literature of this country. He edited Col. George Rogers Clark's "Campaign in Illinois, in -778-9." James McBride's "Pioneer Biographies," 1869, and Captain James Smith's "Captivity with the Indians," 1870. He was the author of a pamphlet on the Pre-historic remains which were found on the site of the City of Cincinnati, with a vindication of the Cincinnati Tablet," printed privately in 1876.

He had accumulated during his life time a carefully chosen library of 7,000 volumes of Americana; perhaps the largest and best private collection of the kind in the United States. This library a year or two ago was purchased by Mr. William A. Proctor, who presented it to the University of Cincinnati. Mr. Clarke was a typical representative of the book devotee, spending all the time which he could spare from his business interests, in the acquisition of and the reading of books on American subjects.

He was never married, and it may be truly said of him that his only love was the books among which he so fondly dwelt.

He was a man genial and gentle in disposition; quiet, modest and unassuming in manner. His acquaintances and friends were innumerable but his intimates were few. He cared not for position, political honors or wealth. His tastes and delights were intellectual. In the midst of a busy world of affairs and of progress he lived the disciple of books. His "library was dukedom large enough" for him. He held with the poet;

Are a substantial world both pure, and good;

Read these; with tendrils, strong as flesh and blood,

Our pastimes and our happiness will grow."

Mr. Robert Clarke was one of the first life members of the Ohio State Archæological and Historical Society and from the date of his membership took a deep interest in its work and welfare. Its pursuits were along the lines that especially attracted and held his attention. He was elected a trustee at the annual meeting in February 1899. Only two days before his death in an extended conversation with Secretary Randall Mr. Clarke outlined some of the purposes he hoped to assist the Society in accomplishing. He died suddenly in the library at his home on August 27, 1899.