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1887, June 30
J. Calvitt Clarke born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1970), descended from
a family once prominent in Mississippi and Louisiana.
1913, Dec. 8
Clarke marries Helen Caroline Mattson (1894-1967), native of Irwin, Pennsylvania;
after the marriage Mrs. Clarke, who becomes a virtual co-founder and co-director
of CCF, continues her education at the University of Pittsburgh.
1918, April
Clarke graduates from Western Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, and sails
to Europe on a YMCA mission to assist displaced Russians in Eastern Europe.
1919
Clarke joins Near East Relief (until 1931) and locates in Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, where he raises funds and collects goods and clothing for
distressed peoples in the Middle East.
1924
Clarke visits Armenia for Near East Relief and witnesses starving children.
He soon becomes Regional Director for southern U.S. and relocates to Richmond,
Virginia (1927).
1931
Reverend Verent J. Mills (1913-1996), third Executive Director of CCF
(1970-1981) begins his first missionary assignment in China.
1932
Clarke, Dr. J. Stewart Nagle, and Dr. John Voris co-found Save the Children
Federation, Clarke serving as Southern Director from 1934 to 1937.
1937
Sino-Japanese War begins in Asia as Japan invades China, displacing millions
of families and children.
1938, Aug.
Clarke and Dr. Nagle meet by chance in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, where
they discuss conditions in China and where Clarke is inspired to create
a new relief fund for China's children.
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Rev. Mills arrives in
China
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CCF Background