Clarence Augustus Manning (April 1, 1893 – October 4, 1972)^[1][2] was an American slavicist.^[1] He worked for 43 years at the Columbia University in New York,^[2] eventually being appointed chairman of the Department of Slavic Studies.^[1] He published a number of studies on Slavic languages, countries and people, as well as translations of important Slavic works of literature, and was a pioneer in opening the field of study of Slavic peoples in the U.S. beyond the dominance of Russian studies of the times.^[1]

Clarence received his bachelor's degree at the Columbia University in 1912 and master's in 1913.^[2] During First World War, he worked in the intelligence police corps of the translation section of the Military Intelligence Division, having rank of sergeant.^[2] In 1915 he received his PhD,^[2] then became a lecturer in Slavic languages in 1917 and an instructor in 1921.^[2]

In 1922, he became acting head of the department of Slavic languages in absence of John Dyneley Prince,^[3] and later that year spent three months travelling through Eastern Europe, visiting Slavic countries and Greece.^[4]

In 1924 he received the rank of assistant professor,^[2] in 1935 became assistant professor of European languages,^[2] and in 1947 assistant professor of Slavic languages.^[2] In 1948, he received an honorary PhD from the Ukrainian Free University in Munich.^[2] He was also a member of the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (which today forms part of University College London), Shevchenko Scientific Society and Slavonic Institute of Prague.^[2]

In 1952 he became associate professor of Slavic languages.^[2] He retired in 1958,^[2] but continued publishing until his death in 1972. He was married to Louise Marshall, and had one daughter, Alice Vail.^[2]