Jane Forbes Clark, Clark Family Honored with Steward Award

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Jane Forbes Clark and the Clark Family of Cooperstown have been named the recipient of the 2023 Historic Hotels of America Steward of History and Historic Preservation Award by Historic Hotels of America®. Historic Hotels of America is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and celebrating the finest historic hotels in the U.S. This award recognizes the achievements of Jane Forbes Clark and the Clark Family. It is presented to the stewards of The Otesaga Resort Hotel, an historic resort established in 1909, and honors their tradition of cultural, historic, and community works in Cooperstown.

The 2023 Historic Hotels of America Steward of History and Historic Preservation Award was presented to Jane Forbes Clark at the 2023 Historic Hotels Awards of Excellence Ceremony and Gala on Thursday, October 12 at The Wigwam, an historic resort in Litchfield Park, Arizona, and attended by owners, general managers, and other senior decision-makers representing many of the finest historic hotels in the U.S. and around the world. Clark was unable to attend the event, but accepted the award through a video shown during the awards gala.

Clark’s dedication to historic preservation ensures that future generations of travelers can experience The Otesaga Resort Hotel, an iconic American destination. This award recognizes and honors her passion and dedication to the preservation of a legendary historic hotel and guarantees that travelers can continue to enjoy this special place well into the future.

For more than 150 years, members of the Clark Family have been stewards of history and historic preservation in Cooperstown. Cooperstown was founded in 1786 by Judge William Cooper, father of famed novelist James Fenimore Cooper. According to a release from Historic Hotels of America, “Each generation of the Clark Family, since the first Edward Clark arrived in the iconic American town with a zeal for land conservation, has possessed a strong sense of civic responsibility, and their efforts have made Cooperstown the desirable destination it is today.”

In 1909, the third generation of the Clark family—brothers Edward S. Clark and Stephen C. Clark —used their family’s wealth from their stake in the Singer sewing machine company to build a fine resort for Cooperstown. At the time, The Otesaga Resort Hotel was praised for its sumptuous appointments and modern engineering. They directed the design and creation of the Leatherstocking Golf Course, now rated by “Golfweek” magazine as one of the two finest golf courses in New York State. Later, Edward S. Clark went on to build the Alfred Corning Clark Gymnasium, create the Bassett Medical Center, now associated with Columbia University, to serve the region, and in 1931 Stephen C. founded The Clark Foundation, one of the largest charitable foundations in New York State. He had the idea to bring the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum to Cooperstown. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum opened in 1939 with Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth, and Honus Wagner as its first class of inductees. In Cooperstown today, The Clark Foundation supports the institutions Stephen Clark helped establish in his lifetime, including Fenimore Art Museum and The Farmers’ Museum created on the site of the original family homestead, and, later, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Since 1992, Stephen C. Clark’s granddaughter, Jane Forbes Clark, has carried on the Clark Family legacy as president of the Clark Foundation, chairman of Bassett Medical Center, chairman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, and more. She is the fifth generation of her family to work on behalf of the village to ensure that it remains an idyllic and culturally meaningful place for residents and visitors alike.

“I am very honored that the Historic Hotels of America are recognizing my family’s vision and work for The Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown, New York, with their extremely prestigious Steward of History and Historic Preservation Award,” said Clark. “The Clark family’s legacy is one of preservation and conservation, focusing on the need to protect and preserve the rich culture and deep history of the village, while ensuring its relevancy in the years going forward. I am deeply grateful to Historic Hotels of America and its leadership for this esteemed honor.”

“Historic Hotels of America and the National Trust for Historic Preservation are pleased to honor the exceptional contributions in Cooperstown, New York, by Jane Forbes Clark and the Clark Family, and their exemplary record of historic preservation and stewardship at The Otesaga Hotel,” said Lawrence Horwitz, executive vice president at Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. “Since the mid-19th Century, the Clark family has made a personal commitment to preserving the past while enhancing the future for the Cooperstown community. At the same time, they have ensured travelers will be able to create their own long-lasting memories at the resort and at the iconic [village’s] main attractions, like the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. We are honored to recognize Jane Forbes Clark for her decades of stewardship.”