Professor J.T. Clark Documents

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This is the telegram that Princess Beatrice sent to her sons the day that Professor Clark (Jack) died, April 14, 1918.  She had a premonition that he was seriously ill and went to him in Montreal.  Professor Clark was generally weakened from bilharzias which he contracted in South Africa during the Boer War.

In November of 1898, Private John Clark was charged with being drunk and disorderly but he got them to drop the disorderly. 

Charges and specifications preferred against Private John T. Clark of Company B, Texas Volunteers

Charges;  Disrespectful toward his commanding officer- violation of the 20^th Article of War

Specifications:  In that Private John T. Clark , 1^st Texas Volunteers did use abusive language and behave with great disrespect toward his commanding officer.  Later the abusive language charge would be dropped because the commanding officer was required to repeat the exact language used but he couldn’t remember them.  All he could say was that  they were the “vilest” of words.

 …while being confined by Corporal Davis, … did strike said corporal several times…. on the night of December 9, 1898

 Private John Clark …did escape from sentinel while under charge of sentinel..this was on Dec 11, 1898

 Professor Clark apparently demonstrated inadequate respect for authority.

By March of 1899, Private Clark had managed to get lost physically and administratively in the military paperwork and never did go to trial.  He was discharged and gone before they realized he was missing.

These are addresses that were written in Professor Clark’s testimonial book.   

Alfred South obtained a patent for a tattoo machine in England in 1899.

 Professor Charles Wagner began tattooing in the Bowery in 1910 and also patented a tattoo machine in 1904.

 George Burchett was a very famous British tattoo artist who tattooed many prominent people and some royalty including King George V.  In the flash section there is a dragon from Professor Clark’s collection stating that it is the design tattooed on HRH George V, who was reported as having a Japanese dragon tattooed on his arm. 

 If you can give information about any of the other names, please contact me.

This is the front page of the Galveston News on September 9, 1900, the day after the Storm.  Handwritten by Bertha Ritchie’s (Princess Beatrice) husband is:

“I found five bodies bury them right where we find them.  Wed morning.  Have to out to work will let you more later.  Terrible fun to have.” 

Removal of the Storm dead was a serious problem and all able-bodied men were compelled to assist.  For more information on The Storm of 1900, the natural disaster with the highest mortality in the history of the United States, please see the links section.

The front of Professor Clark’s business card.  He was the official tattooer of the South African Whippet  League.  No, they were not dogs on the vanguard of coolness, he tattooed their identification numbers for racing identification. 

He also offered some permanent cosmetic work:

“Pale cheeks tinted.  Painless, natural, lasting effect.”

The back of Professor Clark’s business card.  His studio was in Rissik Street, a colorful, bawdy section of Johannesburg in the early 1900s.  I think there is a bank at that address now.

Here is a handwritten note for Professor Clark.  He claims to be the only man in the world with a tattooed scalp.  He states that he was in the Ringling Brother’s Circus in 1914, the first season in “this country”

Here is a design for a Bichromate battery with flexible wire cords and a foot pedal.  “Place your foot here.” 

 Below is a diagram of an early “Tattooing Instrument” that shows how the flexible wire cords from the Bichromate battery connect to it.

 This is pasted in the front cover of Professor Clark’s testimonial ledger book.  He sold tattooing outfits.  Perhaps this is one of them.

Text here "Flyer"

A postcard in Professor Clark’s collection with mini portraits of the Boer leaders of the Kroonstad Commando 1899-1902.

This portrait of Paul Kruger on the top of Professor Clark’s head was done by George Burchett in 1913.  Paul Kruger was a Boer leader and Professor Clark fought on the side of the British.  It is a testimony to the popularity of Paul Kruger who died in 1904.  To learn more about the Boer War, please see the links section.

Professor Clark with his son, Francis, outside of his shop in London in 1914.  This was Professor Clark’s last trip to England to work and see his family in North Yorkshire, England.

Genealogy Info - Click here for the Thompson Family UK Census 1901