Florence Anderson Clark

Florence Anderson Clark (; June 10, 1835 – March 19, 1918) was an American author, newspaper editor, librarian, and university administrator. She served for 14 years as assistant librarian at the University of Texas (UT), and in honor for her service to the university, she was first woman to have her portrait hung in the university's Main Tower. Clark was affiliated with several organizations, including the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R), Colonial Dames of America, and United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Early life and education Florence Anderson was born in Virginia, June 10, 1835. She was descended from colonial patriots. Her parents were John B. Anderson, a Virginian, and Elizabeth Ann Smith Anderson,

Clark's great-grandmother, Thankful Hubbard, was a Mayflower Puritan, and one of the women who aided in the struggle for the country's liberty. Clark was the granddaughter of Capt. Joseph Smith of Baltimore, Maryland, who served in the Maryland and Virginia line during the American Revolutionary War. He was the younger brother of Major Elnathan Smith of Connecticut (the grandfather of Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith, C.S.A.). Captain Smith was the son of Joseph Smith of Farmington, Connecticut and Thankful Hubbard, his wife, a mother of patriots, who had four soldier sons; Gideon, killed in the French and Indian War; Gordon, a soldier of the Revolution, also killed; Elnathan and Joseph, Jr. Mrs. Thankful Hubbard Smith was the daughter of George Hubbard of Middleton, Connecticut (1680), granddaughter of Samuel Hubbard (1648) and Sarah Kirby his wife and great-great-granddaughter of George Hubbard, who came from Massachusetts to Hartford, Connecticut in 1639, and his wife, Elizabeth Watts of Hartford.

At a young age, the family removed to Kentucky. She was educated by her father, who served as a teacher at a boys' college in Paris, Kentucky. Before the age of twelve, she had read Virgil and Horace.

Career Kentucky Clark became a teacher at the same Paris, Kentucky boys' college where her father worked. Mrs. Clark's contributions, both prose and poetry, were a marked feature of the paper and she also published a novel. According to Raymond (Southland Writers: Biographical and Critical Sketches of the Living Female Writers of the South; with Extracts from Their Writings, 1870):—

Texas After the Clarks removed to Texas, they lived in Bonham, for six years. During that time, in the years 1883–85, the husband (known as "Judge Clark" because of his legal training) became a Regent of the UT.

The poem, "Shakespeare", written by Clark dedicated to William Preston Johnston, president of Tulane University, New Orleans, was written while she attended the World Cotton Centennial in that city, and it was read by her at the celebration of Chautauqua memorial day, to commemorate the birthday of William Shakespeare, April 23, 1885, in the music hall of the World's exposition.

In 1886, they removed to Austin where Judge Clark served as the university's first proctor, For fourteen years, Mrs. Clark served as the university's assistant librarian. She also served as historian of the Thankful Hubbard Chapter.

Clark was a charter member of the Colonial Dames in Texas, and a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She was one of the organizers and a member of the University Ladies' Club, as well as of the Shakespeare Club.

Death and legacy Clark died March 19, 1918, and was buried in Austin's Oakwood Cemetery. At the same time, was appropriated by the D.A.R. for a memorial to be placed in the university in Clark's honor.

In 1925, Clark's portrait, painted by Kaherine Carothers, was presented to the university on behalf of the Texas state DAR.

Publications Zenaida, a Romance (Lippincott & Co., 1858)