Description
The Wesley R. Wooden Papers document the life of a Central Valley sheep rancher
and long-time resident of Davis, California. The collection spans the years 1900-2005 (bulk 1938-1985)
and includes personal journals documenting ranch life, a serial run of the
California Wool Grower (1940-1944), books and pamphlets on agriculture, and
records related to Wesley Wooden's civic involvement in Davis, California. Also present is a small
series of historical material related to the Pierce Ranch in Davis, California. The collection includes
diaries, correspondence, ephemera and realia, photographs, and books on agriculture.
Background
Wesley R. Wooden was born on October 17, 1912 at Elk River in Humboldt County, California. His parents
were Ralph and Alina Brask Wooden. At the age of 12, Wooden took a summer job as a "chore boy" for the
Russ Market Company Blocksburg Ranch in southern Humboldt County. He worked on ranches every summer
until 1930, when he started college at Humboldt State College in Arcata, California. Wooden later
attended the University of California at Berkeley part time from 1931-1940, taking classes in
Engineering, Journalism, Forestry and Agricultural Economics. In February, 1937, Wooden worked on his
first sheep ranch, located in Humboldt County, California.
Restrictions
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17, of the U.S. Code. All requests for permission to
publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections, University of
California, Library, Davis 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 researcher.
Availability
Collection is open for research.