Ruth and Eric Clarke were both children of missionaries in China, and the Clarkes lived in China through the 1940s. Ruth Clarke was a passionate collector of Chinese art and the collection is largely focused on her collection and sales records, but there are also many files of correspondence, genealogical records, and over ten boxes of photographs.

The daughter of Dr. Charles Fletcher Johnson and Agnes Elliott Johnson, Ruth Clarke was born on April 2, 1890 in Wei Hsien, Shantung, China where she quickly mastered Mandarin Chinese. She was educated at Miss Jewell's School in Shanghai which was also attended by Miss Pearl Buck. After visiting her uncle Hosmer Johnson in Washington D.C., Ruth entered and graduated from Wilson College (Chambersburg, Pa.) in 1912. She then returned to Shanghai to accept a teaching position at Miss Jewell's.

20 Linear Feet (36 boxes)

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