Repository

Heinz History Center

Title

D. L. Clark Company Papers and Photographs

Creator

D. L. Clark Candy Company (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Collection Number

MSS 0640

Extent

.75 linear feet (2 boxes)

Date

1923-1992

Abstract

Founded in 1886, the D. L. Clark Company was an internationally renowned candy manufacturer. Located in Pittsburgh's North Side, the Clark Company is particularly remembered for its production and sale of chocolate bars, including the Clark Bar and the Zagnut Bar. The D. L. Clark Company Records and Photographs consist of photographs, postcards, newspaper clippings, advertisements, correspondence, annual reports, and newsletters related to the D. L. Clark Company.

Language

The material in this collection is in English.

Author

The guide to this collection was written by Sierra Green.

Sponsor

This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.

Publisher

Heinz History Center

Address

1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History

The D. L. Clark Company traces its roots to Pittsburgh's North Side in 1886 when David L. Clark, an Irish immigrant, first began selling candies out of a horse-drawn wagon. In 1911, the Clark Company considerably expanded their business by acquiring a candy and cracker company in the North Side. During these years of development, the Clark Company quickly became renowned for their innovations in candy production. In particular, the company is known for its addition of mint, peanut butter and coconut to chocolate candies. By 1920, the Clark Company was producing close to 150 different kinds of candy. The Clark Company also ventured into the market of chewing gum production at this time. The most enduring evidence of this venture is the company's production of Teaberry gum. Over the next ten years, D. L. Clark recognized the growing market for candy bars and subsequently decided to concentrate production on five-cent chocolate bars. Consequently, the company became internationally renowned for its production and sale of chocolate bars, including the Clark Bar and the Zagnut Bar. All throughout these years of production, the Clark Company remained at the North Side location it acquired in 1911. As a result, the oversized Clark sign atop the factory became a longstanding Pittsburgh landmark. In 1983, the confectioner company, Leaf, Inc. acquired the D.L. Clark Company. Although Leaf, Inc. closed the North Side factory in the spring of 1986, it chose to sustain Clark candy manufacturing in the Pittsburgh area by relocating production to a plant in O'Hara Township. Leaf, Inc. then sold the rights to the Clark Bar to Pittsburgh Food and Beverage Company. After years of financial instability, this company reconstituted itself under the name of Clark Bar America in June of 1995. In May of 1999, this company was purchased by the New England Confectionary Company (NECCO). Clark Company candy continues to be manufactured by NECCO today.

Scope and Content Notes

The D. L. Clark Company Records and Photographs consist of photographs, postcards, newspaper clippings, advertisements, correspondence, annual reports, stock exchange documents, and newsletters related to the D. L. Clark Company. Photographs, advertisements, and promotional literature document the various candy products manufactured by the Clark Company, such as Zagnut Bars, Peanut Butter Logs, Yogurt Delights and Clark Bars. A VHS tape contains recordings of Clark candy commercials. Numerous photographs capture Clark candy window and aisle displays, including a 1959 Clark Bar Halloween window display at Pittsburgh's Dollar Savings Bank. Other photographs record Clark candy cameos in films such as Poltergeist, Wiz Kid, and Open All Night. Annual reports, correspondence, by-laws, stock exchange documents, and a spring 1977 issue of Sweet Talk, the Clark Company's employee newsletter, shed light on Clark Company business practices. Annual reports from 1929 to 1953 document the major financial transactions of the company. The correspondence in this collection dates to 1926 and revolves around the sampling stage of Teaberry gum production development. Another material worthy of note is a 1967 Formulations and Procedures Manual that contains detailed information regarding the composition and production of various Clark candies. Clippings taken from Pittsburgh newspapers document both the debates surrounding the closing of the North Side Clark Company Factory and the plans surrounding the factory relocation to O'Hara Township.

Conditions Governing Access

None.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift from Frank Jansen in 2010. Jansen served as an executive of the D. L. Clark Company and continued to work for the company after it was acquired by Leaf, Inc.

Archives accession # 2010.0059

Gift from Robert Novakovic in 2010. Novakovic served as a controller for the D. L. Clark Company.

Archives accession # 2010.0190

Preferred Citation

D. L. Clark Company Papers and Photographs, 1923-1992, MSS 0640, Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Sierra Green on 11/02/2011.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.

Related Materials

Clark Candy Company Collection, 1918-1945, 1997.0271.

Ruth Hans Collection, 1953-1970, 2002.0160.

Clark Candy Company Oversized Photograph, 2003.0009.

Separated Materials

Artifacts including Clark candy wrappers and candy boxes are in the Heinz History Center Museum Collection.

Subjects

Corporate Names

• D. L. Clark Candy Company (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Geographic Names

• North Side (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Other Subjects

• Candy industry and trade--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
• Advertisements--Candy

Container List