Person

Clarke, Frank Randall, 1882-1955

1882-1955

Frank Clarke, a well known writer, and a pioneer in aptitude testing and in the field of vocational and industrial psychology, was born in 1882 in London, England. He left school at the age of twelve, and started to work as an office boy in the Editorial Department of the London Daily Mail receiving a good grounding in newspaper work. In 1908 he came to Montreal, where he was employed as a reporter and press photographer for the Montreal Star, then city editor, salesman and copy writer for the Montreal Witness. From 1915 to 1924 he worked as a life insurance salesman. He studied psychology in Dr. W.D. Tait’s Extension courses between 1926 and 1928, and he continued an informal association with both McGill and Dr. Tait. In 1944 and 1945 he gave a series of lectures in McGill’s Extension Program in Time and Motion Study. He also lectured Industrial Psychology at the University of Montreal. In 1953 he assisted Dr. Heinz Lehman and Dr. Herbert Dorken, Jr., in establishing norms for older people for the Verdun Projective Battery. He was also associated with Dr. Edward C. Webster and Dr. Bois between 1945 and 1950. Frank Clarke was a pioneer in informing the public, especially business men of the benefits to be gained through the use of psychology in the work place. He wrote many articles for newspapers and magazines on subjects such as vocational guidance and job analysis. His articles appeared regularly in Canadian Business and other professional and business magazines published in Canada, United States and Great Britain. He was an active member of professional associations, sponsored research at the Protestant Employment Bureau and was in demand as a public speaker. Frank Clarke reflected the spirit of service in his social and voluntary work. From 1914 to 1923 he was a social worker in the Canadian Patriotic Fund. In 1924 he also organized the Emergency Unemployment Relief Committee for the assistance of unemployed ex-soldiers and their families. In 1925 Clarke established the Protestant Employment Bureau in Montreal of which he was a manager until the Federal Unemployment Insurance started its employment service. In 1946 he conducted job analysis and job evaluation for R.C.A. Company Limited. In 1948 he opened his own office as employment counsel in industrial psychology. Randall Clarke died in 1955.