By Jackie Couture
Collection Overview
Title: Clarence Gifford Correspondence, 1953-1977
Creator: Gifford, Clarence (1889-1977)
Extent: 0.07 Cubic Feet
Arrangement: Chronological
Date Acquired: 02/27/2002
Languages: English [eng]
Scope and Contents of the Materials
This collection consists of correspondence between Clarence Gifford, Eastern alumni and the Eastern Alumni Office regarding alumni reunions. He also kept in touch with other members of the Class of 1909 and many letters discuss the lives of those alumni. Gifford also kept copies of his correspondence so the researcher gets both sides of the discussion.
Biographical Note
Clarence Gifford was a member of the first graduating class of Eastern Kentucky State Normal School in 1909. He began his career in education as a teacher and principal at Ewing, Hanson and Guthrie, KY and he was superintendent of the Elizabethtown KY schools before embarking on a career in finance and real estate which eventually led to his own mortgage company, C.H. Gifford, Company, later the Clard Corporation in Katonah, NY. He was a long-time supporter of the arts and the Gifford Theatre in the Campbell Building was named in his honor. Gifford was also a major supporter of the Meditation Chapel and the Century Fund Drive that helped endow the position of University Chaplain. He died August 11, 1977 at his home in Katonah, New York.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Source:
Wolfe, Ron
Box and Folder Listing
- Folder 1: Clarence Gifford Correspondence, 1953-1977
- Correspondence between Clarence Gifford and other members of the Eastern community. He corresponded primarily with alumni C. Sherman Dale and Edgar Richardson, but there are also letters from W.M. Caudill, H.L. Davis, Alma Bascom, Jennie Ashby and others. Gifford also corresponded with Mary Francis McKinney, Jonathan Truman Dorris, William F. O'Donnell, and Ron Wolfe. The last item in the file is a typescript of his obituary.
- Barcode: 31234013928393