Clark-Strater-Hill Family Papers, 1675-2011
Held by The Filson Historical Society
Creator: Clark-Strater-Hill Family
Title: Papers, 1675-2011
Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Collections Department.
Size of Collection: 10 cu. ft. and 1 ovsz. box
Location Number: Mss. A C595a
Biographical Note
The Clark, Strater and Watson families were located in Ontario, Canada, and Louisville and Henderson, Ky. The Clark line originally hailed from Scotland, with William Clark emigrating from Scotland to Scarboro, Ontario, Canada in 1838.
William Clark’s son, James Charles Clark (1830-1902) was born in Scotland and immigrated to Canada with his parents in 1838. In 1850, he relocated to Louisville, Kentucky. James Charles Clark and his wife, Jessie LaNauze Clark (1837-1908), had seven children including Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson (1868-1954).
Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson married William Edward Strater (1866-1908) in 1893. Together they had a son, Edward LaNauze Strater (1894-1966). Following William Edward Strater’s death in 1909, Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater married Major Alexander “Sandy” MacKenzie Watson (1883-1957) in 1913.
Edward LaNauze Strater served in World War I as a volunteer ambulance driver in the American Field Service. He received in the Croix de Guerre by the French government. He married Barbara Milton Watkins (1898-1971), a stage actress from Louisville, Kentucky. Together they had two children, Sylvia Barret Strater Hill (1928-2015) and Edward Pendleton “Pen” Strater (1924-2004).
Sylvia Barret Strater Hill married James Brents Hill Jr. in 1950 and together had three children.
Scope and Content Note
The collection consists of correspondence, memory books, diaries, plays, short stories, and ephemera from several generations of the related Clark, Strater and Hill families, but primarily from Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, her husband William Edward Strater, their child Edward LaNauze Strater and his wife Barbara Milton Strater (née Watkins).
The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence among several generations of the family, and memory books and diaries written by Barbara Milton Strater which relate to her career in theatre, family life, and travels abroad.
Related Collections:
Clark-Strater-Hill photograph collection (021PC35)
Clark- Strater-Hill Museum collection
Clark-Strater-Watson manuscript collection Mss. A C595
Folder List
Box I
Folder 1: Correspondence from William Clark to Robert Clark, 1852
Folder 2: Correspondence from William Clark to James Clark, 1852- 1864
Folder 3: Correspondence from Robert Stevenson to James Clark, 1863-1866
Folder 4: Correspondence from nephews to James Clark, 1863-1896
Folder 5: Correspondence from David and Georgie Clark to James Clark, 1865
Folder 6: Correspondence from Isabella to James Clark, 1865
Folder 7: Correspondence from James Clark to unidentified “Mr. Clark,” 1866
Folder 8: Correspondence from James Clark to William Clark, 1866- 1870
Folder 9: Correspondence from various senders to Jessie LaNauze Clark, 1872-1908
Folder 10: Correspondence from James Clark to Jessie LaNauze Clark, 1877- 1898
Folder 11: Correspondence from Jessie LaNauze Clark to James Clark, 1880, 1892
Folder 12: Correspondence from Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson to James Clark, 1883
Folder 13: Correspondence from James Clark (son) to James Clark, 1887
Folder 14: Correspondence from Charles Strater to William Edward Strater, 1889-1890
Folder 15: Correspondence from Frank Chapman to Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, 1889-1893
Folder 16: Various correspondence to and from Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater, 1889-1932
Folder 17: Correspondence from Jessie LaNauze Clark to her grandson Edward LaNauze Strater, 1892-1908
Folder 18: Correspondence from William Edward Strater to Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, 1893-1897
Folder 19: Correspondence from William Edward Strater to Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, 1893-1900
Folder 20: Correspondence from Jessie LaNauze Clark to daughter Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, 1895-1908
Folder 21: Correspondence from Augusta Strater to William Edward Strater, after 1893
Folder 22: Correspondence from George McNair (cousin) to Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, 1894
Folder 23: Correspondence from Sue Barret Milton Watkins to Florence Marie Clark Milton, 1895
Folder 24: Correspondence from Annie and Augusta Strater to William Edward Strater, Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, and Edward LaNauze Strater, 1902
Folder 25: Correspondence between Barbara M. W. Strater and various Middle Bass Island friends photographs and real photo postcards, 1903-1935
Folder 26: Correspondence from James Clark Jr. to William Edward Strater, 1907
Folder 27: Correspondence to and from William Agnew Milton, 1907-1911
Folder 28: Correspondence from Jessie LaNauze Clark to her children including Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, 1908
Folder 29: Correspondence from Edward LaNauze Strater to grandmother (likely Jessie LaNauze Clark), 1908
Folder 30: Correspondence from Edward LaNauze Strater to Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson and Major Alexander M. Watson, 1909-1914
Folder 31: Correspondence from Jessie LaNause Clark Strater Watson to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1909-1915
Folder 32: Correspondence to Edward LaNauze Strater from Charles Strater, 1910-1928
Folder 33: Correspondence between Frank Chapman and Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, 1913-1931
Folder 34: Correspondence between Frank Chapman and Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, 1934-1963
Folder 35: Correspondence from Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1915
Folder 36: Correspondence from Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1915
Folder 37: Correspondence from Isabel Clark Courtenay to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1916
Folder 38: Correspondence from Sarah Collins to Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, 1916
Folder 39: Correspondence from Jessie Clark Strater Watson and Mackenzie Watson to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1916
Folder 40: Correspondence from Jessie Clark Strater Watson and Mackenzie Watson to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1916-1917
Folder 41: Correspondence from various senders to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1916-1932
Folder 42: Correspondence from unidentified senders to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1917
Folder 43: Correspondence from Edward LaNauze Strater to Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, 1917
Folder 44: Correspondence from Edward LaNauze Strater to Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, 1917-1918
Folder 45: Correspondence from Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1917-1939
Folder 46: Correspondence from Edward LaNauze Strater to Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, 1917-1939
Folder 47: Correspondence from Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson to Isabel Clark Courtenay, 1918
Folder 48: Correspondence from Anne Ford Milton Haldeman to Florence M. Haldeman Price and Barbara Milton Watkins Strater, 1918-1942
Folder 49: Correspondence from Edward LaNauze Strater to Barbara Milton Watkins Strater, 1920
Folder 50: Correspondence from Barbara Watkins Milton Strater to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1920-1921
Folder 51: Correspondence from Barbara Watkins Milton Strater to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1921
Folder 52: Correspondence from Sue Barret Milton Watkins to Barbara W. Milton Strater, 1921-1924
Box 2
Folder 52a: Correspondence from Barbara Watkins to Walter Haldeman, 1922
Folder 53: Correspondence from Barbara Watkins Strater to Sue Barrie Milton Watkin, 1922
Folder 54: Correspondence from Barbara Watkins Strater to Sue Barrie Milton Watkin, 1922-1923
Folder 55: Correspondence from Barbara Milton Watkins Strater to Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, 1922-1932
Folder 56: Correspondence from Barbara Milton Watkin Strater to William Agnew Milton, 1923
Folder 57: Correspondence from Barbara Watkins Strater to Sue Barrie Milton Watkin, 1923
Folder 58: Correspondence from Sue Barret Milton Watkins to Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, and Ann Milton Haldeman, 1924
Folder 59: Correspondence from Barbara Watkins Strater to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1924-1927
Folder 60: Correspondence from Antoinette Smith to Barbara Watkins Strater, 1926
Folder 61: Correspondence from Barbara Watkins Strater to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1927
Folder 62: Correspondence from Barbara Watkins Strater to Isabel Clark Courtenay, 1929-1930
Folder 63: Correspondence to and from Major Alexander “Sandy” Watson and Edward LaNauze Strater, Sylvia Barret Strater Hill, 1930-1931
Folder 64: Correspondence from Barbara Watkins Strater to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1931-1934
Folder 65: Correspondence from Jessie Clark to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1936
Folder 66: Correspondence from Barbara Watkins Strater to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1936-1937
Folder 67: Correspondence from Sylvia Barret Strater Hill to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1937-1945
Folder 68: Correspondence from Barbara Watkins Strater to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1938
Folder 69: Correspondence from Edward LaNauze Strater to Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, 1938-1953
Folder 70: Correspondence from Barbara Watkins Strater to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1939-1942
Folder 71: Correspondence from Barbara M. W. Strater to Sylvia Barret Strater Hill, 1944
Folder 72: Correspondence from Edward L. Strater to Sylvia B. Strater Hill, 1944-1949
Folder 73: Correspondence from Barbara Watkins Strater to Major Alexander “Sandy” M. Watson, 1945
Folder 74: Correspondence from Barbara Watkins Strater to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1945-1953
Folder 75: Correspondence from Barbara M. W. Strater to Sylvia B. Strater Hill, 1946-1949
Box 3
Folder 76: Correspondence from Barbara M. W. Strater to Sylvia B. Strater Hill, 1946-1949
Folder 77: Correspondence from various senders to Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, 1947-1950
Folder 78: Correspondence from Lissie and Estelle Hill and Sylvia B. Strater Hill, 1948-1967
Folder 79: Correspondence from Barbara M. W. Strater to Mrs. Van Winkle, 1950
Folder 80: Correspondence from Babara M. W. Strater to Sylvia B. S. Hill, 1951-1959
Folder 81: Correspondence from Edward LaNauze Strater to Sylvia B. S. Hill, 1951-1966
Folder 82: Correspondence from Julia Courtenay George to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1953
Folder 83: Correspondence from Edward LaNauze Strater to Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson, 1953
Folder 84: Correspondence from Barbara Watkins Strater to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1955-1958
Folder 85: Correspondence from Edward LaNauze Strater to Barbara Watkins Strater, 1959-1961
Folder 86: Correspondence from Barbara M. W. Strater to Sylvia B. S. Hill, 1959-1969
Folder 87: Correspondence from Sylvia Barret Strater Hill to Barbara M. Watkins Strater, 1962
Folder 88: Correspondence and real photo postcard from Francoise Couzin to Edward LaNauze Strater, 1965
Folder 89: Correspondence from Barbara Watkins Milton Strater to Estelle Clark Castle, 1965
Folder 90: Letters of sympathy from various senders to Sylvia Barret Strater Hill, 1966
Folder 90a: Correspondence from Barbara M. W. Strater to the Courier-Journal, 1969
Folder 91: Correspondence from Paul Marrs to Barbara M. Watkins Strater, 1970
Folder 92: Various letters of sympathy to Sylvia B. S. Hill, 1971
Folder 93: Various letters of sympathy to Sylvia B. S. Hill, 1971
Folder 94: Correspondence and clippings to Estelle Hill from Sylvia Barret Strater Hill, undated
Box 4
Volume 95: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater memory book, 1910
Volume 96: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater memory book, 1911-1914
Volume 97: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater memory book, 1914-1916
Volume 98: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater memory book, 1916
Volume 99: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater memory book, 1916
Box 5
Volume 100: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater memory book, 1916-1917
Volume 101: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater memory book, 1917-1918
Volume 102: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater memory book, 1918
Volume 103: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater memory book,1918-1920
Box 6
Volume 104: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater memory book, 1920-1921
Volume 105: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater memory book, 1921
Volume 106: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater memory book, 1922-1923
Volume 107: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater memory book, 1922-1923
Box 7
Volume 108: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater memory book, 1924-1941
Volume 109: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater and Edward LaNauze Strater memory book, c.1935
Volume 110: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater Christmas journals, 1951-1954
Volume 111: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater Christmas journals, 1955-1958
Volume 112: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater Christmas journals, 1959-1961
Volume 113: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater Christmas journals, 1962-1966
Volume 114: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater Christmas journals,1967-1969
Volume 115: Edward LaNauze Strater diary, 1904
Volume 116: Edward LaNauze Strater diary, 1913
Volume 117: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater daily diary, 1914
Volume 118: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater daily diary, 1957
Volume 119: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater daily diary, 1958
Volume 120: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater daily diary, 1959
Volume 121: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater daily diary, 1960
Volume 122: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater daily diary, 1961-1962
Volume 123: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater daily diary, 1963
Volume 124: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater daily diary, 1964
Volume 125: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater daily diary, 1965
Volume 126: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater daily diary, 1966
Volume 127: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater daily diary, 1967
Volume 128: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater daily diary, 1968
Volume 129: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater daily diary, 1969
Volume 130: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater daily diary, 1969
Volume 131: Barbara Milton Watkins Strater daily diary, 1970
Volume 132: Sylvia Barret Strater Hill travel diary, 1957
Volume 133: Sue Barret Milton Watkins and Edward J. Watkins scrapbook, c.1910-1930
Box 8
Folder 134: Edward LaNauze Strater passports, 1917-1933
Folder 135: American Field Service in France volunteer roster, correspondence, and Croix de Guerre certificate and other material, 1915-1918
Folder 136: World War I maps, c. 1915
Folder 137: Various newspapers, 1918
Folder 138: Notes on astrology by Edward LaNauze Strater, undated
Folder 139: “The Horoscope of Edward LaNauze Strater and It’s Interpretation by Wynn,” booklet, undated
Folder 140: American Federation of Astrologers 1958 convention program, correspondence, and notes on astrology by Edward LaNauze Strater, 1948-2011
Folder 141: The Altar Steps a play in three acts by Edward LaNauze Strater, undated
His Sister and Another, The Mysteries of the East and other plays by Edward LaNauze Strater, undated
Folder 142: “Carefully Considered Conduct,” “Deux Boulevardiers,” and other short stories by Edward L. Strater, undated
Folder 142a: “His Sister and Another,” “Mysteries of the East,” and other plays by Edward LaNauze Strater, undated
Folder 143: Untitled short stories by Edward LaNauze Strater and clippings, undated
Folder 144: Untitled poetry by Edward LaNauze Strater, undated
Folder 145: Illustrations and paintings by Edward LaNauze Strater, 1911-1916
Folder 146: Edward LaNauze Strater short story scrapbook, 1923-1925
Folder 147: Clippings of Edward LaNauze Strater’s work in Scribner’s Magazine and certificates of copyright, 1925-1940
Folder 148: “A Short History of Middle Bass Club,” by Edward LaNauze Strater, c. 1965
Folder 149: “Musical Chairs,” “Midnight Bound,” “Let’s Get Together,” and other musical compositions with lyrics by Edward LaNauze Strater, undated
Folder 150: “In the Dark,” “Against My Judgement,” “Want Ad,” and other musical compositions with lyrics by Edward LaNauze Strater, undated
Folder 150a: “Steeple,” “Same Day,” “Road to Past,” and other musical compositions with lyrics by Edward LaNauze Strater, undated
Folder 151: “Always” signed sheet music by Irving Berlin, undated
Box 9
Folder 152: Bicycle trip sketchbook, 1919
Folder 153: “Little Jane” short stories by Sue Barret Milton Watkins, undated
Folder 154: Cookbook by Barbara Milton Watkins Strater, undated
Folder 155: Poetry by Barbara Watson Strater, undated
Folder 156: Courier-Journal newspapers, 1922
Folder 157: Clippings re: Frank Chapman, c. 1930-1945
Folder 158: Composition notebook with poetry, undated
Folder 159: Clippings and ephemera related to theatre, undated
Folder 160: Maude Adams scrapbook, undated
Folder 161: Clark family genealogical charts, correspondence, and clippings, 1866-1963
Folder 162: Jessie LaNauze Clark Strater Watson last will and testament, 1954
Folder 163: Isabel Stevenson and William Howard Courtenay wedding invitations, undated
Folder 164: Clark family in Scotland genealogical material, clippings, and correspondence, c. 1920
Folder 165: Extracts of Clark family birth and marriage entries from the General Registry Office Edinburgh, Scotland, 1677-1703
Folder 166: Extracts of Clark family birth and marriage entries from the General Registry Office Edinburgh, Scotland, 1718-1762
Folder 167: Extracts of Clark family birth, marriage, and death entries from the General Registry Office Edinburgh, Scotland, 1734-1877
Folder 168: Notes on Clark family history by James Clark, 1862
Folder 169: James Clark naturalization papers, personal, family, and business materials, 1852- 1898
Folder 170: The Ohio Valley Telephone Company contract and correspondence, 1890-1926
Folder 171: James Clark and Jessie LaNauze Clark marriage certificate, 1865
Folder 172: Pendennis Club articles of incorporation, by-laws and other material, 1882-1912
Folder 173: Prentice Club articles of incorporation and by-laws, 1878
Folder 174: “For Louisville’s Tomorrow” booklet by First National Bank, Kentucky Title Trust Company, and Kentucky Title Company, 1927
Folder 175: Stevenson family of Shutterflat, Scotland land transfer legal documents (sasines) and genealogical information, 1728-1837
Folder 176: Cochrane family genealogy, birth, marriage and land transfer legal documents (sasines), 1675-1928
Folder 177: Clark family of Shutterflat, Scotland land transfer legal documents (sasines), 1700-1845
Folder 178: Notes, correspondence and photocopies related to Shutterflat, Scotland, 1866-1942
Folder 179: Genealogical information and correspondence related to the Agun, Claypoole and Kuykendall families, 1804-1973
Folder 180: Genealogical information and correspondence related to the Barbour and Pendleton families, 1898-1975
Folder 181: Genealogical information and correspondence related to the McCalla and Nalle families, undated
Box 10
Folder 182: Clark family genealogical material, 1832-1987
Folder 183: Genealogical information and correspondence related to the Milton family, c.1900-1950
Folder 184: William Agnew Milton Civil War journal, correspondence, certificate for Confederate Association of Kentucky, 1863-1927
Folder 185: Genealogical information and correspondence related to the Taylor and Bushrod families, 1816-1921
Folder 186: Watkins family genealogical information and correspondence, 1802-1982
Folder 187: Strater family genealogical information and correspondence, 1831-2010
Folder 188: Verhoeff family genealogical information and correspondence, 1931-1965
Folder 189: William Edward Strater last will and testament and material related to the sale of Strater Bros. Tobacco Company, 1909-1912
Folder 190: Edward LaNauze Strater biographical information, correspondence, clippings and other material, c. 1910-1965
Folder 191: Edward LaNauze Strater business material related to the Majestic Theater Co. and Kentucky Desk Company, 1935-1969
Folder 192: Hill family genealogical material, c. 1940-1990
Folder 193: Cooper family genealogical material, undated
Folder 194: James Brents Hill biographical material, clippings, correspondence, and other material, c. 1920-1950
Folder 195: Grace Cooper Hill biographical material, clippings, correspondence, and other material, 1957-1970
Folder 195a: Barbara Milton Strater notebook with quotes and addresses, 1917-1921
Oversized box
Folder 196: Strater family scrapbook, c. 1910-1965
Folder 197: “That Little Something,” musical composition with lyrics by Edward LaNauze Strater, 1915
Folder 198: The Taming of the Shrew poster for Louisville Girls High School at Macauley’s Theater, 1916
Folder 199: Edward LaNauze Strater school diplomas and material related to service in World War I, 1913-1917
Item 200: Jessie LaNauze Clark family tree, undated
Item 201: Robert Nicol/Christian Erskine pedigree, undated
Subject Headings
American Federation of Astrologers.
American Field Service.
American Museum of Natural History.
Astrology.
Brown, John, 1800-1859.
Chapman, Frank M. (Frank Michler), 1864-1945.
Clark, James Charles, 1830-1902.
Clark, Jessie LaNauze, 1837-1908.
Confederate States of America.
Harpers Ferry Armory (U.S.)
Kentucky Derby
Louisville Girls’ High School.
Macauley’s Theatre (Louisville, Ky.)
Majestic Theater Company (Louisville, Ky.)
Middle Bass (Ohio)
Milton, William Agnew, 1844-1928.
Pendennis Club.
Prentice Club (Louisville, Ky.)
Scotland.
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
Strater, Barbara Milton, 1898-1971.
Strater Brothers Tobacco Company (Louisville, Ky.)
Strater, Edward LaNauze, 1894-1966.
Strater Watson, Jessie LaNauze, 1868-1954.
Strater, William Edward, 1866-1908.
Theater.
Ohio Valley Telephone Company (Louisville, Ky.)
United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865.
Watkins, Sue Barrett, 1870-1924.
World War, 1914-1918.
