Register of the Snook (James) Reminiscences, 1916-1987

Processed by 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

Register of the Snook (James) Reminiscences, 1916-1987

Collection number: Mss283

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:: Don Walker
Date Completed:: 1996
Encoded by:: Don Walker

Descriptive Summary

Title: Snook (James) Reminiscences,

Date (inclusive): 1916-1987

Collection number: Mss283

Creator:

Extent: 1 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], Snook (James) Reminiscences, Mss283, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library

Biography

James Snook spent most of his life in Stockton and San Joaquin County (1916-1987). Snook's father, a biologist, taught at Stockton High School. Snook's memoirs describe his boyhood with trenchant wit and in great detail (1916-1930). He also describes family summers spent in La Jolla, where his father carried out marine biological research (1916-1923), and, at Silver Lake, where the father was camp naturalist at Stockton's Municipal Camp (1924-1930). Later, Snook attended the University of California (1930-31) and the College of the Pacific (1931-32) until financial pressures forced him to leave school.

After working at various jobs in Stockton, Snook joined the Army (1942) and spent much of the War in Italy (1944-46). Following his wartime service, Snook returned to Stockton where he sold farm properties (1946-48) before finding a job with the gas department at Pacific Gas and Electric.

Scope and Content

James Snook's writings describe his adult life in great detail. Snook devotes over 250 pages to his wartime experiences alone, while his miscellaneous vignettes, anecdotes and stories about life in northern California (1916-1986) occupy more than 300 pages. Snook began these four binders of writings in about 1989 and worked on them until 1994.

JAMES SNOOK REMINSICENCES: LIFESTORY & WORLD WAR II

I. "His story"

Early years [before Stockton]..........1

Stockton (1916-23).....................3

La Jolla summers (1916-23)............24

Friday Harbor, Washington (1923)......29

Stockton (1924-30)....................35

Silver Lake (1924-30).................51

Stockton High School (1926-30)........59

University of California (1930-32)....68

College of the Pacific (1932-33)......81

Pacific Marine Station, Dillon Beach (summer 1933)...82

Various jobs in Stockton (1933-41)....88

Selling farm properties (1946-48)....101

Farmwork in Merced (1948)............104

PG & E gas line worker in Stockton (1948-1977)...106

Travels (1950s-60s)..................137

Heart attack (1984)..................158

"The very special summer of 1929" [a trip thru the West]...separate pagination

"Pump test stories"..................separate pagination

II. "War years"

Induction..............................4

Boot camp [Ft. Ord and Camp Cook, Santa Maria]...6

Officer's Candidate School [Camp Hood TX]...25

Tank Destroyer Battalion [Brownwood TX]...33

Sailing to Europe.....................88

France [Battle of the Bulge, 1944]....93

Italy [Pisa].........................104

Italy [Japanese American 442nd Infantry]...130

Italy [Genova].......................140

Italy [Parma]........................148

Italy [Genova].......................159

Italy [Roma].........................171

Italy [Viareggio]....................183

Italy [Firenze]......................199

Italy [Napoli].......................209

Italy [Milano].......................250

Switzerland..........................252

Return home..........................258

"MISCELLANY, VOLS. 1 & 2" [this listing includes chiefly those anecdotes specific to Stockton or northern California]

Vol. 1

Stories about my son, Bobby............1

Talking about the weather [in San Joaquin County]...14

Boat and train rides..................32

Cars & driving........................48

Stretching the dollar.................97

Scouting.............................114

Earthquakes..........................133

Movies...............................138

Dining in San Francisco..............148

Bicycles.............................152

"A couple of stupid incidents".......157

Savings & Loan Co. Bank Holiday......158

Subway sidewalk......................160

Boat w/ airplane engine..............161

Signs................................162

Sleeping bags........................164

Root beer............................173

Black soldiers.......................174

Grain & the Harris Combine...........181

The big crop.........................186

The butcher wagon....................187

Spraying the beans...................195

The glass works......................201

Walking downtown.....................202

How we sold the 1962 Pontiac.........204

More scouting stories................213

Dinner for 700.......................216

Drilling for water...................219

2035 Lucerne Ave.....................221

Vol. 2

Jury duty............................263

Pfeffernuessen.......................285

Music in my life.....................289

The fleet came in....................312

The rattlesnake......................314

My father & the football team........315

How to start a Model T...............318

Zoology, Biology, and Physiology Notebook (1949-1952) [Created by Harry Zook who taught in Stockton Schools]