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Woodcock (Arthur C.) Collection
MSS-2022-07-21
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Arthur C. Woodcock Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MSS-2022-07-21
Physical Description:
1 Box
(.33 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1934-1935
The collection includes 20 copies of the weekly newsletter, "Camp Refugio News," printed for F-115 Company 562 of the CCC
(Civilian Conservation Corps) and 50 photos of various areas in California that Company 562 visited. Also included is a 1935
"Tournament of Roses Golden Legends" parade program, and a CD-ROM containing PDFs of the newsletters and photos.
Collection was arranged alphabetically.
In March of 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was established as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal
legislation. The creation of the CCC provided jobs to unemployed men between the ages of 18 and 25 to address the high rate
of unemployment that took place during the Great Depression.
Like many of the young men of the depression years, Arthur C. Woodcock decided to join the CCC as soon as he was eligible.
When Arthur turned 18 on January 10, 1934, he followed behind an older brother and became a member of the CCC. Arthur was
eager for the opportunity to support his family, to see parts of the country he had only dreamt of, and to possibly learn
a better way of life for himself. The $25 a month he sent home was crucial in supporting his mother, a younger brother, and
three younger sisters during the Great Depression.
Although unclear how Arthur ended up on the west coast while part of CCC Company 562, he and the men he worked alongside might
have been responsible for building Camp Hayden Creek near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and Camp Nowhere, Idaho. Company 562 was also
responsible for building at least one bridge and interconnecting roads in Idaho. During his travels, Arthur made stops at
Camp Gardena, Idaho and Camp Beulah, Oregon before helping build Camp Refugio which was located in Solvang, California.
Living in parts of the country far from his home helped expand Arthur's world view. His travels gave him the opportunity to
see and fish in the Pacific Ocean. He was able to observe Navy ships which included the USS Arizona, USS Nevada, and the USS
Oklahoma. The highlight of his experiences with the CCC was when he watched the 1935 Rose Bowl Parade.
When Arthur returned to Indiana, he continued his CCC experience with Company 556 at Camp Pokagon which was located north
of Angola, Indiana.
Some of the above biographical information was provided by Arthur's son Charles Woodcock.
Collection is open for research.
Copyright has not been assigned to the San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for
permission to publish or quote manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the Special Collections & Archives as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Copyright restrictions
also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files from or derived from these collections
is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Arthur C. Woodcock Collection, MSS-2022-07-21, San José State University, Special Collections & Archives.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.) -- California
Travel photography
Newsletters