Santa Fe Living Treasures – Elder Stories

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Willard Clark

Willard F. 
Clark

ENGRAVED IN THE HEART OF SANTA FE

Honored November 1992

Willard F. Clark

"I've been a painter ever since I can remember," said ark. "The engravings came about because I needed for my print shop. I needed to make some money.

Born in 1910 to Willard and Lena Clark in Somerville, Massachusetts, Willard spent his childhood in Buenos Aires. His father was president of General Motors of Argentina.

When twelve year old Willard was sent from Argentina to school in the US, he began his formal training in art at the Central School in New York City.

Willard was nineteen, and on his way to California in 1928, topped in Santa Fe to visit friends. Willard, who spoke Spanish fluently, fell in love with the people, the culture, and the land, which reminded him of Argentina. He met Bertha Berchtol at a country club dance and married her in 1930. Together they built a home and established a print shop on Sosoya Lane in 1931. "The house was built by me because I didn't have any money, and it was the only way knew to get a house," Willard said. "It started out as a place to work, and then I turned it into a place to live." The Clarks raised two daughters, Doris and Bertha.