TULSA, Okla. — The Church Studio announced that Barbara Clark, wife of country music legend Roy Clark for more than 60 years, has donated his extensive personal and professional archives to the historic Tulsa recording studio and music museum, establishing a permanent home for his life’s work and legacy.
Carefully preserved by Barbara and her team, the Roy Clark Archive will now have its first permanent institutional home in Tulsa, the city Roy and Barbara called home.
The archive includes photographs, awards, concert posters, personal and professional papers, stage and television wardrobe, memorabilia and an extensive array of stringed instruments reflecting the breadth of Clark’s musicianship and life.
Clark was a virtuoso guitarist, banjo player, mandolinist, and fiddler, as well as a singer, actor, comedian, television host, and recording artist. Through his recordings, live performances, and television appearances, he introduced country music to millions of people across the United States and around the world.
Music was only part of Clark’s remarkable story. He was also a licensed pilot, motorcyclist, drag racer, philanthropist, Thoroughbred owner and breeder, and passionate baseball fan. In 1977, Clark and Tulsa businessman Bill Rollings brought the Tulsa Drillers franchise to the city, helping preserve professional baseball in Tulsa.
In 1974, Roy and Barbara moved their family to Tulsa and made Oklahoma their permanent home. Clark became deeply involved in the community, supporting children’s causes, education, health care and civic initiatives. Roy Clark Elementary School in the Union Public Schools district was named in his honor and dedicated in 1978. He visited the school frequently and continued to support its students and programs.
“Roy loved music, but just as much, he loved being around other musicians. He was happiest when he was playing, sharing stories, and enjoying the company of people who loved music as much as he did,” said Barbara Clark. “That is what feels so right about The Church Studio. It is a place where music is still being made every day.
“Our family wanted Roy’s collection to remain together, to be cared for with love and to be shared with people who truly understand what music meant to him. I believe Roy would be very happy knowing that his instruments, memories and life’s work will have a permanent home there, surrounded by musicians and music.”
Among his many honors, Clark was named Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year in 1973 and received seven CMA Awards during his career. He won a Grammy Award for his instrumental performance of “Alabama Jubilee,” was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1982, and entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009.
For The Church Studio, accepting the archive carries both historical significance and personal meaning.
“Barbara and I have developed a friendship that I truly treasure, and I have such admiration for the devotion and care she has given Roy’s legacy,” said Teresa Knox, founder and CEO of The Church Studio. “Roy’s generosity also touched my own family. Through his support of Tulsa’s Children’s Medical Center, children with disabilities received life-changing care, including my brother Stevie, who has cerebral palsy and learned to walk with the help of programs Roy’s philanthropy helped make possible. For me, welcoming Roy’s collection to The Church Studio is very personal.
“There will never be another Roy Clark. His musicianship was unmatched, but so were his warmth, curiosity, and generosity. Musicians and guests come through our doors from around the world, and this collection will give the public an extraordinary opportunity to study his instruments, career, and approach to his craft. Roy loved being around other musicians, and his collection will live here among music makers, where it can continue to teach and inspire. We are deeply honored to preserve and share his remarkable legacy for generations to come.”
The Church Studio will announce a separate press conference and media event to unveil selected pieces from the Roy Clark Archive and share additional details about its documentation, preservation, and future exhibition.
- Celebrated multi-instrumentalist on guitar, banjo, mandolin and fiddle
- Co-hosted Hee Haw beginning in 1969, becoming one of country music’s most recognizable television personalities
- Played recurring characters on The Beverly Hillbillies
- Frequently guest-hosted The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
- Became one of the first American country artists to tour the Soviet Union
- Became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1987
- Received three CMA Instrumentalist of the Year honors
- Raised more than $1 million for Tulsa’s Children’s Medical Center through the Roy Clark Celebrity Golf Tournament
- Pursued lifelong interests in aviation, motorcycles, drag racing and baseball