This oral history collection focuses on the life and career of Robert Clark, one of the most influential African American politicians in 20th Century Mississippi Politics, the first African American elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives since Reconstruction in 1967, and the long-time Speaker Pro-Tempore of the House. Along with interviews with Clark himself and with those people who were close to him, the collection contains papers, documents, and campaign items.
Curated By
Garrad Lee
Contributing Institution
Jackson State University
About This Record
The HCAC public history focused digital archive cataloging is an ongoing process, and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. We welcome your comments and feedback if you have more information to share about an item featured on the site, please contact us at: HCAC-DigiTeam@si.edu
Ed Perry served as a Democrat in the Mississippi Legislature from 1968-2000, later serving as House Clerk for 4 years. In this interview Mr. Perry discusses his educational background and how he landed in the Mississippi government and his experiences working with Robert Clark.
Fred Banks Jr. served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1976-1985 and Circuit Judge for the 7th Circuit District from 1985-1991. He details his experiences in the state legislature and his journey running for office. He also describes the early beginnings of the Mississippi Black Caucus and his mentorship under Robert Clark.
Georgia Ross was an educator in Mississippi for 29 years, beginning her career in 1971 when schools were still segregated. In this interview, Ms. Ross talks about the influence Robert Clark, as a state representative, had on education, saying that he was very forward thinking for a Mississippi legislator and probably ahead of his time.
Johnny Palmer was appointed in 1980 as the first Black sergeant at arms at the Mississippi State Capitol. He had worked at the House as a maintenance and inventory supervisor since 1959. He details the challenges that Robert Clark faced and also talks about the dynamics that the presidents of the major Black colleges had with the House.
Collection of campaign materials from Robert Clark's 1984 campaign for the United States House of Representatives, 2nd Congressional District of Mississippi. This collection consists of letters, mailers, fliers, and more.
Mayor Phillip Curtis West returned to Mississippi from Chicago in 1964 to become involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Becoming involved with the NAACP at Alcorn State University led him to eventually end up in Mississippi politics, being elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1997 and Mayor of Natchez, Mississippi in 2004.
Sen. Alyce Griffin Clarke served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1984-2004. She talks about her work in education before running for office in 1984. She also discusses Robert Clark’s passion for education, the different committees she is involved in, the Institute of Higher Learning, and more.
Rep. Charles Young Sr. served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1980 until his death in 2009. He explains how Robert Clark was a mentor for him and those elected before him. While detailing his own campaign strategy for 1980, he talks about the calculated and aggressive nature of Robert Clark’s campaign and the effect it had on him.
Rep. David Gibbs served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1992 until his death in 2013. In this interview, Gibbs discusses how he became involved in Mississippi politics. Heavily influenced by his military service, Gibbs explains his campaign strategies and his work with other notable politicians such as Robert Clark and Aaron Henry.
Rep. Leonard Morris served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1993 until his death in 2007. He was head of the House Medicaid Committee. In this interview, Rep. Morris explains the nature of the Black Caucus and his time working with Henry Kirksey, Robert Clark, Ed Blackmon, and other notable Black Mississippi politicians.
Rep. Mary Stevens served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1981-2012 and was the mayor of West, Mississippi, for eight years. She has close ties to Robert Clark and speaks on her experiences in the Mississippi Legislature, serving on several committees such as Public Health and Appropriations.
Rep. Thomas Lamar Woods served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1988–2012. Robert Clark eventually appointed him to the Ways and Means committee. Rep. Woods discusses his district’s makeup, bills he supported with Robert Clark, and Clark’s famous fox hunts.
Rev. Horace L. Buckley was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1975 to a four year term. In the interview, he reflects on his time in politics and working with Robert Clark. He also discusses what made him run for a representative seat as a pastor, and the connections he made within the church community and the legislature.
Rep. Robert G. Clark served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1968 to 2004. In this interview, Rep. Clark talks about his childhood, his time at Jackson State College, and his time as a teacher. He talks about threats his campaign received but also the support he got from the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.
Rep. Robert G. Clark served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1968 to 2004. In this interview, Rep. Clark talks about his childhood, his experiences in school up to 8th grade, and his membership at Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church. He also talks about interactions he had with white people when he was teenager.
Rep. Robert G. Clark served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1968 to 2004. In this interview, Rep. Clark talks about his vocational education in agriculture he began after graduating the 8th grade. He also talks about playing basketball in high school and college even though his eyesight had begun to fail him.
Rep. Robert G. Clark served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1968 to 2004. He was the first African-American member of the Mississippi Legislature since 1894. In this interview, Rep. Clark summarizes in detail his time at Jackson State College.
Rep. Robert G. Clark served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1968 to 2004. In this interview, Rep. Clarks talks about his eyesight issues keeping him out of the U.S. military, even though he did want to serve. He also discusses his teaching career out of college and his decision to enter politics in the mid-1960's.
Rep. Robert G. Clark served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1968 to 2004. Rep. Clark talks about his legislative career and the racism he faced. He also talks about the impact the Civil Rights Movement had on him winning the election and his introduction of bills to create holidays for Martin Luther King, Jr., and Medgar Evers.
Rep. Robert G. Clark served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1968 to 2004. In this interview, Rep. Clark fills in some holes from the previous interviews, including: the difficulty in starting a family and maintaining a business while being involved in politics and some pushback his campaign and election received.
Rep. Robert G. Clark served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1968 to 2004. In the final interview of the series, Rep. Clark talks about isolated incidents and experiences he had as a legislator, including being appointed to the commission to handle the aftermath of Hurricane Camille and his decision to run for re-election in 1971.
Collection of materials leading up to Robert Clark speaking on campus at Jackson State University for the 1983 Afro-American History Month Celebration. There are letters of invitation from Dr. Alferdteen Harrison as well as a biography of Robert Clark and the event program.
Sen. Alice Varnado Harden served in the Mississippi State Senate from 1988 until her death in 2012. She talks about her work with Robert Clark and the Mississippi Black Caucus. She also discusses the many issues she lobbied for as an elected official and her relationships with other members in the state legislature.
Senator David L. Jordan began serving on the Mississippi State Senate in 1993 and has been serving for 31 years. He recounts growing up on a plantation in Greenwood, Mississippi. The interview focuses on the work he did with Robert Clark in the Mississippi Legislature to support and obtain funds for Historically Black Colleges.
Sen. Johnnie Walls Jr. served on the Mississippi State Senate from 1993-2010. He details the strides made in the Senate for the HBCUs and other institutions in the state. He points to key situations and circumstances that show Robert Clark’s integrity and his influence and thanks him for his leadership of the Black Caucus and his mentorship.
Sen. Willie Simmons served in the Mississippi Senate from 1993 to 2020. He details the opposition and challenges he faced while fighting for education reform and better treatment of the Black colleges in Mississippi. He looks at his career retrospectively and ponders over how he would like to be remembered.
Douglas Anderson served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1976-1980 and the state Senate from 1980-1992. He was one the first four African Americans elected to the Mississippi Legislature in the 20th century, after Robert Clark in 1967. He details his experiences while on various committees and working with Robert Clark.
Attorney Walter Brown served in the Mississippi State Legislature from 1968-1990, serving Adams County, where Natchez is the county seat and only city. Rep. Brown talks about the Robert Clark era in Mississippi politics, including when they first met, some of the first bills Rep. Clark introduced, and his gradual rise to power in the legislature.
