Clarkson Hall.
Built in 1961-62, the engineering science building was dedicated to Robert
Livingston Clarkson on October 13, 1962. Currently it houses the Department of Electrical
Engineering, the Graduate School, and the Division of Research.
Robert Livingston Clarkson Hall carries the name of an honorary president of the
Clarkson Board of Trustees. A descendant of Rev. David Clarkson, a rector of the Church of
England, whose son, Matthew, landed in New York on January 28, 1691, and later became
secretary of His Majesty's province.
His descendant, Robert Livingston Clarkson, was born on July 26, 1892, the son of
Robert Goodhue Clarkson. He was educated at the Horace Mann School and Trinity School in
New York City. He married Cora Shields in 1923 who bore him two sons, Robert Livingston,
Jr., and Bayard Delafield. He began his career as a bookkeeper, and then moved to the Chase
Securities Corporation in 1919, serving as vice president in 1921-25, vice chairman of the
executive committee in 1925, and president in 1931.
He had a long list of executive accomplishments, including chairmanship of Amerex
Holding Corporation; chairman of the board and a member of the executive and finance
committees of the American Express Company since 1935; president and director of Rexport
Corporation; chairman of the board of the American Express of Argentina and of Brazil; and
chairman of the board of Kirkpatrick Company, Inc.
Among numerous directorships he held were ones with American Express Field
Warehousing, Wells Fargo, Express S.A.S.M., Wells Fargo of Cuba, Wells Fargo Armored Car
Service, American Sumatra Tobacco, Republic Aviation, G. Schirmer, Underwood, National
Aviation, Sinclair Oil, Continental Baking, General Precision Instrument, 20th Century Fox
Film, National Distillers Products, and others. He was a member of the National Foreign Trade
Council and the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York. Other organizations of
which he was a member include the Colonial Lords of Manors, Descendants of the Signers of
the Declaration of Independence; the Military Order of World War; the American Legion; and
the Society of Cincinnati.
Religious Groups.
Five different student groups demonstrated the Clarkson and State students'
interest in religion.
The Canterbury Club hosted an evensong service every Sunday evening in Trinity
Episcopal Church followed by a modest dinner and discussion. In the fall, Trinity played host to
students from five northern colleges in the largest student conference in the history of the
diocese.
The Lutheran Student Society held meetings weekly at Lewis House for discussions of
such topics as the relationship between the church and student life. This group provided
transportation weekly to Massena to attend St. Paul's Church.
The Wesleyan Fellowship held meetings every Sunday evening at 6:30 in the Methodist
Church on Main Street for lecture, discussion, and fellowship. The Rev. Hulse centered several
programs around sin, love, and marriage.
The Jewish Fellowship opened its academic year's activities with an outdoor picnic at
Postwood Park followed by a talk by Prof. Hilbert Van N. Schenck on scientists, artists, and
critics. The annual delicatessen supper on October 22 was attended by 140 students and a
number of townspeople.
The Newman Club's year was highlighted by a course in ethics. Lectures and discussion
groups focused on the subject as a science delving into an ethical approach to marriage, study,
