Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Sinclair (Gordon R.) papers
MS.090
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Santa Cruz
Title: Gordon R. Sinclair papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS.090
Physical Description:
3 Linear Feet
4 boxes, 1 oversize folder
Date (inclusive): 1957-1979
Abstract: This collection contains
correspondence, publications, news clippings and 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.
Language of Material:
English
Collection open for research.
Property rights for this collection reside with the University of California. Literary
rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. The publication
or use of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use for research or
educational purposes requires written permission from the copyright owner. Responsibility
for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
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
Existence and Location of Copies
Images from this collection are available through UCSC Library Digital Collections.
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 and 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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Journalism -- California -- Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz sentinel (Santa Cruz, Calif. : 2000)
University of California, Santa Cruz