This collection consists primarily of papers of historical interest collected by Orlando E. Clark. Some relate to the 1860 Democratic conventions marked by the secession of the Southern members. Included are papers relating to the Baltimore ward delegate election meetings in February 1860; lists of delegates by states, credentials, and a draft of the report of the committee on permanent organization for the convention at Charleston in April 1860; the report of the committee on credentials, papers relating to contested delegations, and ballots for the National Democratic Convention at Baltimore in June 1860; proceedings of the Wisconsin State Democratic Convention, February, 1860; and papers, mostly clippings, relating to the Illinois State Democratic Convention in January, 1860.
Other collected materials include several sermons of the Rev. Peter Stair of Warren, Connecticut, dated 1767-1795.
The collection also includes some miscellaneous genealogical material pertaining to the Clark family of Saybrook, Connecticut; a diary, 1899-1904, kept by Clark; a lengthy reminiscense written at various times up to 1918, accompanied by genealogical information compiled by Clark on his wife's family, the Ballard family; and a resolution of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents (of which Clark was a member) on the occasion of his death.
A sketch summary of part of the papers is in the Wisconsin Magazine of History, III, 122.
