Wood (Richard C.) - American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of California Papers, 1970-1976

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Summary

Title:
Wood (Richard Coke) American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of California Papers,
Dates:
1970-1976
Creators:
Richard Coke Wood
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Wood (Richard Coke) American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of California Papers, Mss156, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of correspondence, notes, proposals by California counties for Bicentennial events and other Bicentennial project ideas of a more general nature.

Biographical / historical:

In 1970 Gov. Ronald Reagan appointed Richard Coke Wood, professor of California History at the University of the Pacific, Stockton, Calif., to the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of California. At that time Wood was chairman of the California State Historic Landmarks Commission. He served on the ARBCC through 1976.

The California legislature created the ARBC of California in 1966. Its purpose was to assist, sponsor and promote state-wide and local celebrations, exhibits and publications in commemoration of the bicentennial of the American Revolution (1975-1983). The commission acted in an advisory capacity. It had a membership of twenty and an operating budget of $1 million. Wood was the only member who was a professional historian.

In its plans the Commission sought to emphasize California's unique heritage as it related to at least one of three themes established by the national ARBC: "Heritage '76;" "Festival USA;" and "Horizons '76." "Heritage '76" represented history, art, and educational exhibitions. "Festival USA" denoted California's unique contributions to the United States. "Horizons '76" emphasized some aspect of California's future. The Commission chose to focus here principally, though not exclusively, on the Gold Rush. Projects included: reenactment of the DeAnza trek from Sonora, Mexico to San Francisco (1776); planting of California poppies; and, a California history time-line (1771-1783).

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

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by Don Walker; machine-readable finding aid created by Don Walker
Date Prepared:
© 1998
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid derived from paper by means of scanning and OCR; OCR file edited for typographical errors before encoding. Date of source: 1994.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Wood (Richard Coke) American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of California Papers, Mss156, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library

Location of this collection:
University of the Pacific, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University Library
Stockton, CA 95211, US
Contact:
(209) 946-2404
Website