Register of the Richard Coke Wood Papers, 1930-1978

Processed by staff & Don Walker; machine-readable finding aid created by Don Walker
Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
University Library, University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA 95211
Phone: (209) 946-2404
Fax: (209) 946-2810
URL: http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections.html
© 1998
University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.



Register of the Richard Coke Wood Papers, 1930-1978

Collection number: Mss70

Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections

University Library

University of the Pacific

Contact Information

  • Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
  • University Library, University of the Pacific
  • Stockton, CA 95211
  • Phone: (209) 946-2404
  • Fax: (209) 946-2810
  • URL: http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections.html
Processed by:
staff & Don Walker
Date Completed:
ca1980; 1998
Encoded by:
Don Walker
© 1998 University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Richard Coke Wood Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1930-1978
Collection number: Mss70
Creator: Richard Coke Wood
Extent: 6 linear ft.
Repository: University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
Stockton, CA 95211
Shelf location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language: English.

Administrative Information

Access

Collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Richard Coke Wood Papers, Mss70, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library

Biography

Richard Coke Wood (1905-1979), California historian, author, teacher, was born in Oklahoma and was raised in Owens Valley, California. He attended the University of Hawaii, College of the Pacific (B.A. 1932, M.A. 1934), and the University of Southern California (Ph.D., 1950). A high school teacher in the 1930's, he developed a lasting interest in Mother Lode history while recovering from tuberculosis at the Bret Harte Sanitarium in Murphys (1938-1941). During his career he held many administrative and teaching positions, including that of proprieter of the Old Timers Museum in Murphys (ca. 1949-1978); Education Director, Bret Harte Sanitarium (1941-1950); Instructor and Chairman of the Social Sciences Division at Stockton and San Joaquin Delta College (1950-1971); holder of the Rockwell D. Hunt Chair in California History at the University of the Pacific (1951-1971); and, Director of the Pacific Center for Western Historical Studies (1976).
His writings include Murphys, Queen of the Sierra (1949); Calaveras, Land of Skulls (1957); The California Story (co-author, 1958); Stockton Album Through the Years (co-author, 1959); Stockton Memories (co-author, 1977); and, Mother Lode Memories (co-author, 1979). His many awards and honors include: Award of Merit, California Historical Society (1965); and the honorary title, "Mr. California," California State Legislature (1969).

Scope and Content

The Coke Wood papers contain biographical material, including diaries, scrapbooks and photographs, as well as the writings and teaching materials of Richard Coke Wood (1930-1978).

 

BOX 1:BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL:Resumes, sketches, clippings, awards, obituaries and memorabolia. [ca150 items]

 

BOX 2:BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL:Oversize awards, scrapbook & memorabilia. [1 v. & 5 items]

 

BOX 3: DIARIES, 1930; 1939; 1969-1979. [15 v.]

 

BOX 4: CORRESPONDENCE, A-Z. [ca.350 items]

 

BOX 5: CORRESPONDENCE---TOPICAL [ca150 items]

 

BOX 6: WRITINGS: Manuscript drafts, lectures & speeches [ca70 items]

 

BOX 7: WRITINGS: Research notes (primarily Calaveras County) [ca.750 items]

 

BOX 8: TEACHING MATERIALS: Lecture notes (U.S. history, related fields) [10 file folders]

 

BOX 9: TEACHING MATERIALS: Lecture notes (California history) [10 file folders]

 

BOX 10: TEACHING MATERIALS: Lecture notes for T.V. courses (California history) [3 v. & 40 file folders (oversize)]

 

BOX 11: TEACHING MATERIALS: Field trip & tour itineraries (Mother Lode, California Coast, Mission Tour, New England) [ca25 items]

 

BOX 12: MISC. PAPERS COLLECTED BY R.C. WOOD, ca. 1948-1978 (primarily on Calaveras County History) [10 file folders]

 

BOX 13: PHOTOGRAPHS, ca. 1930-978 (historic, family, personal) [2 albums & ca2,500 items]