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Gordon R. Sinclair Papers
MS 90
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Title: Gordon R. Sinclair papers
Dates: 1957-1979
Collection number: MS 90
Creator:
Sinclair, Gordon R.
Collection Size:
4 boxes,
1 oversize folder
Repository:
University of California, Santa Cruz. University Library.
Special Collections and Archives
Santa Cruz, California 95064
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence, publications, news clippings & photographs documenting the City of Santa Cruz's bid
for the new U.C. campus led by Santa Cruz Sentinel's Managing Editor, Gordon R. Sinclair.
Physical location: Stored in Special Collections & Archives: Advance notice is required for access to the papers.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Collection open for research.
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. For permission to publish or to reproduce the material, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
Gordon R. Sinclair papers. MS 90. Special Collections and Archives, University Library, University of
California, Santa Cruz.
Gift of Gordon R. Sinclair, April 22, 1982
Gordon "Scotchy" Sinclair was born in San Francisco on Feb. 25, 1922. He grew up in Paradise Park with his parents, Rutherford
and Estelle Jewett Sinclair. His father died in 1937 when Gordon was 15.
After graduating from Santa Cruz High School in 1939, Gordon went directly to work for the Santa Cruz Sentinel newspaper. One of his duties at the Sentinel was to call the County Hospital for the vital statistics information every week. Florence Marshall worked at County Hospital
and answered his calls week after week and eventually these conversations blossomed into a romance. They married and had three
children, Scott, Laurie, and Cassie.
He wrote sports and general news stories for the Sentinel until 1941 when he became sports editor. Between 1943 and 1970 he progressed from news editor to Sentinel editor, and became editor-emeritus in 1982. He worked tirelessly at the newspaper until 2 days before his death on July 20,
1983.
Gordon was a highly respected individual in Santa Cruz County in journalism, business, and educational circles. Having a voracious
appetite for reading coupled with a prodigious memory, he was a wealth of information regarding local history, facts, and
figures. He dedicated his life to community causes, and worked tirelessly for groups such as the Kiwanas, Elks, and Boys' Clubs, Santa Cruz Beach Plunge Water Carnivals, and many other activities. He chaired committees from the Air Pollution Control Advisory Board to the Northern California Associated Press News Executive Council.
In 1957 Gordon Sinclair became chairman of a Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce committee which persuaded the Regents of the University
of California to build a new campus on the Cowell Ranch property. Santa Cruz won the bid over 80 prospective sites, including
San Jose. In 1968 Chancellor Dean McHenry honored Sinclair for "Distinguished achievements and notable service to the University"
and "Magnificence in the role of chairman of the Site Committee."
Over his 61 years Scotchy dedicated his time and knowledge to the people of Santa Cruz; reminding them of their past, supporting
the present, and creating visions of prosperity for their future.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection contains correspondence, publications, news clippings & photographs documenting the City of Santa Cruz's bid
for the new U.C. campus led by Santa Cruz Sentinel's Managing Editor, Gordon Sinclair.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Sinclair, Gordon R.--Archives
University of California, Santa Cruz--History
Santa Cruz Sentinel-News--History
Journalism--California--Santa Cruz
An invitation to the University of California from Santa Cruz. Brochure compiled by Gordon Sinclair; photos. by Ed. Webber 1958. Spec Coll F869.S48S5