Carlos Wood Papers

Processed by Nicole Grady

Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections

University of the Pacific Library

3601 Pacific Ave.

Stockton, CA 95211

Phone: (209) 946-2404

Fax: (209) 946-2942

URL: http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections.html

Carlos Wood Papers

Collection number: MSS 318

Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections

University of the Pacific Library

Stockton, California

Processed by:: Processed by Nicole Grady
Date Completed:: August 2008
Encoded by:: Nicole Grady

Descriptive Summary

Title: Carlos Wood papers

Dates: 1936-1992

Bulk Dates: 1960-1965

Collection number: MSS 318

Creator: Wood, Carlos Claude

Collection Size: 1 foot

Repository: University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Dept. of Special Collections

Stockton, California 95211

Abstract: The majority of the collection consists of materials generated during Wood's time at Douglas Aircraft and Sikorsky Aircraft.

Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

Collection open for research.

Publication Rights

Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections 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.

Preferred Citation

Carlos Wood papers. MSS 318. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library.

Biography / Administrative History

Carlos C. Wood (1913-1997) was born in Turlock, California. He did his undergraduate work at the College of the Pacific (COP) and graduated in 1933 with a B.A. in English and a B.A. in Math. In 1934 he received a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and then in 1935 received his Masters in Aeronautical Engineering, also from Caltech. Wood participated in the first Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (GALCIT) rocket motor test on October 31, 1936. Also in 1936 Wood married Madeline Walker. The following year he was employed by Douglas Aircraft of Santa Monica, California (1937-1960) where he reached the position of Director of Advanced Engineering Planning from his starting position as a draftsman. While at Douglas he was involved with the design and development of the DC-6, DC-7, and DC-8 series airplanes, and the XB-19 bomber. In 1960 he left Douglas to work for Sikorsky Aircraft of Stratford, Connecticut, which was a division of United Aircraft Corporation. He retired in 1970 as Vice President of the Engineering Division. Wood was involved with several organizations including: National Academy of Engineering, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Helicopter Society, and American Ordinance Association. He was a consultant for the US Army Test and Evaluation Command as well as the US Air Force Division Advisory Group.

Wood remained involved with COP, later University of the Pacific, even after his graduation. In 1948 he gave a discussion for Pacific's Philosophy Institute. In 1963 he received the Distinguished Alumni Award. He was appointed to the Board of Regents in 1971 and continued in that capacity until 1991. As a regent he served on the Academic Affairs Committee, the Finance Committee, and as a treasurer.

Scope and Content of Collection

The majority of the collection consists of materials generated during Wood's time at Douglas Aircraft and Sikorsky Aircraft. There are some materials included that were created during his time as a member of the Board of Regents for Pacific. The materials include both personal and business correspondence, memos, photos, and other publications. Included is biographical information that gives great detail on both Sikorsky and Douglas Aircraft, which involves management and aeronautical matters, as well as insight into the life of an aircraft engineer from the late 1920s to 1970s.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Sikorsky Aircraft (Firm)

Douglas Aircraft Company

College of the Pacific

University of the Pacific

Aerospace engineering

Box 1

1.1 Autobiography: As I Remember It 1984 (Final version with changes located: Pacificana Tall TL540.W66 A3 1997)

1.2 Biographical Material: Personal Histories and Clippings

1.3 Travel Journals, 1983-1989

1.4 Travel Journals, 1990-1994

1.5 Correspondence: General 1938-1958

1.6 Correspondence: General 1960-1961

1.7 Correspondence: General 1962-1965

1.8 Correspondence: General 1967-1987

1.9 Correspondence: University of the Pacific 1947, 1962, 1983, 1989-1992

1.10 “A History of Technology” for the Philosophy Institute, College of the Pacific (1948) by Wood

1.11 “10 Year Technological Forecast” for Sikorsky Aircraft (1969) by Wood

1.12 “Must the Passenger Go to the Airport” for the National Air Transportation Meeting (1970) by Wood

1.13 “National Academy of Engineering: Biographical Memoir of Dr. Igor Ivanovitch Sikorsky” (1972) by Wood

1.14 Research Material about Igor Sikorsky (1967-1973)

1.15 Patents: 1946, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1953

1.16 Photographs

Scope and Content Note

Carlos Wood, Capt. Robert M. Losey, Igor Sikorsky, Pete Westburg, Nick Karstens, and the GALCIT First Test of a Rocket Engine (1936): Apollo M.O. Smith, Frank J. Malina, Edward S. Forman, John W. Parsons, William C. Rockefeller, William A. Bollay.

1.17 Scrapbook : Clippings of Wood’s personal interest in aircrafts.

1.18 Sikorsky Aircraft Material: Reports, Presentations, and Aircraft Specifications

1.19 Sikorsky Aircraft Material: “Notes on Studies of VTOL and V/STOL Aircraft” (rev. 1968) and “Maneuverability Criteria for Weapons Helicopters” (1964)

1.20 Sikorsky Aircraft Material: “10 Year Plan Air & Surface Transportation Systems 1970-1979” (1969) and its “Summary Presentation”