George Frederick Clarke

1883-1974

Dr. George Frederick Clarke (author, historian, dentist, amateur archaeologist) was born in Woodstock, NB, in 29 December 1883. By the age of eight he had begun writing and at age twelve he wrote short stories and cliff-hangers for a boys’ story club. Clarke’s body of work includes thirteen novels, dozens of short stories, scholarly articles, and several books for young readers. His best-known books are Six Salmon Rivers and Another (1960), Song of the Reel (1963), and The Ghost of Nackawick Portage (2015). To begin his career, Clarke worked as an assistant to local dentist Dr. Kirkpatrick. When Dr. Kirkpatrick sold his practice to Clarke, the younger man finally had the opportunity to attend a dental college in Philadelphia. Clarke retired from dentistry in 1953 to focus solely on writing. Another of Clarke’s interests included archaeology. In his lifetime, he amassed a collection of approximately 2,700 archaeological artifacts, the majority coming from west-central New Brunswick. Recognizing his contributions to the province’s archaeology and history, University of New Brunswick awarded Clarke an honorary doctorate in 1968. In 2007, the Clarke family donated the collection to UNB and it is today known as The George Frederick Clarke Artifact Collection. The university also established the George Frederick Clarke Archaeological Teaching Laboratory in 2011. Clarke passed away in Woodstock on 23 October 1974 after suffering a stroke. He is buried in the Woodstock Anglican Cemetery.

 

Predominant New Brunswick Residences:

Woodstock

Archival Material

• George Frederick Clarke fonds
  ⌄
  Location

  University of New Brunswick Archives & Special Collections

  Website/Catalogue Record

  View Archival Record

  Retrieval Number

  MG L 47

  Date Range of Material

  1829, 1888-1974

  Extent

  3 m textual records and other material

  Scope and Content Note

  The fonds consists largely of records documenting Clarke's literary career and provides glimpses into his life as a dentist, archaeologist, and writer. Much of the material consists of correspondence, manuscripts, and typescripts. The records reflect Clarke’s interest in the Maliseet [Wolastoqey] and Mi’kmaq communities of New Brunswick, his research into New Brunswick Acadian community, and his love for the geography of the province. Also present are records documenting his personal life, such as certificates of achievement and his involvement in many groups across the province. Also included are photographs of himself and members of his family, maps of various regions, research material on many topics including First Nations in New Brunswick and fluoridation, and financial records.