# Arthur Bridgman Clark

Arthur Bridgman Clark (1866–1948) an American architect, printmaker, author, and professor, as well as the first mayor of Mayfield, California (1855–1925), and first head of Art and Architecture Department at Stanford University. He taught classes at Stanford University from 1893 until 1931.

## About

Clark was born August 11, 1866, in Syracuse, New York.
He studied at Syracuse University and earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1886, and a Master of Arts degree in 1891. The same year, in 1891 he married Hanna Grace Birge of Hector, New York. From 1888–1889, he was the Director of State Schools and an instructor of trade school at Elmira Reformatory. He taught Architecture courses at Syracuse University between 1889–c.1892.
Clark and his wife studied painting with William Merritt Chase in Art Students League of New York in 1898 and with John Henry Twachtman and James Whistler in Paris.
Clark moved to California in 1892, settling in the College Terrace neighborhood of Palo Alto. He joined Stanford University 1893, during the early days of the school. He taught graphic design and art classes at Stanford University from 1893 until 1931, when he retired. Students of Clark included artist Jennie V. Cannon.
During the summers when Stanford University classes were out of session, Clark would work as a freelance architect in the Palo Alto-area designing private residencies.
In 1903, Clark spearheaded a movement to incorporate the town of Mayfield, California and was named the town's first mayor. Mayfield was a town that bordered Stanford University and at the time was a popular destination for rowdy bars. While serving as Mayor, Clark banned bars from the town, which has been credited with allowing the town to flourish and grow. He later served as the chairman of the Planning Commission. The town of Mayfield became part of Palo Alto on July 6, 1925.
Clark was a founder and a member of the Pacific Arts Association, and a member of the American Committee for the International Congress of Art Education, the Palo Alto Art Club (now known as Pacific Art League), and California Teachers Association.
Clark died May 15, 1948, in Palo Alto, California, and he is buried at Alta Mesa Memorial Park.

## Notable buildings by Arthur Bridgman Clark

| Year built | Name | City | Style | Notes |
| 1893 | Palo Alto Presbyterian Church (now demolished) | Palo Alto, California | | This was the first church building in Palo Alto, and was located on Hamilton Avenue between Bryant and Waverley Streets. |
| 1894 | 553 Mayfield | Mayfield, California (now Palo Alto) | | This house was moved in 1973, previously located on Salvatierra. |
| 1896 | 356 Lincoln Avenue | Palo Alto, California | American Craftsman bungalow | Single family house, designed for Stanford University mechanical engineering professor, Guido Hugo Marx. |
| 1904 | Durand-Kirkman House, 623 Cabrillo Street | Stanford, California | First Bay Tradition | |
| 1909 | 618 Mirada Ave | Stanford, California | | Single family house, designed for the Arthur B. Clark family. Previously located at 767 Santa Ynez Street). |
| 1910 | 774 Santa Ynez Street | Stanford, California | | |
| 1913 | Old bookstore (now Career Planning and Placement Center) | Stanford, California | | |
| 1914 | MacFarland House, 775 Santa Ynez Street | Stanford, California | American Craftsman with Classical Revival features | |
| 1919 | Lou Henry Hoover House, 623 Miranda Avenue | Stanford, California | International style house | This house was designed by Lou Hoover, with supervision by Clark and his son, Birge Clark. |
| 1921 | 661 Cabrillo Avenue | Stanford, California | | Single family house, designed for Stanford University astronomy professor, Sidney Dean Townley. Previously located at 613 Salvatierra. |

## Publications

* Clark, Arthur Bridgman (1936). Perspective: a textbook and manual for artists, architects and students. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN 9780598889010.
* Clark, Arthur Bridgman (1921). Art Principles in House, Furniture, and Village Building: an exposition of designing principles which every house builder, furniture user, and village dweller should know. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
* Clark, Arthur Bridgman (1915). Significant Paintings at the Panama-Pacific Exposition: how to find them and how to enjoy them. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
* Clark, Arthur Bridgman (1915). Design: A Text-book for Students and Craftsworkers. San Francisco, California: Sunset Publishing.