Wood, R. Coke (Richard Coke)

Historian, educator. Taught at University of the Pacific, Stockton, Calif. (1950-76). Appointed to American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of California by Governor Ronald Reagan (1970). The Commission was created to assist, sponsor, and promote statewide and local celebrations, exhibitions, and publications in commemoration of the American Revolution Bicentennial. In its plan the ARBCC sought to emphasis California's unique heritage. Projects included such diverse activities as a reenactment of DeAnza's expedition from Mexico to San Francisco Bay (1775-1776) and the statewide planting of redwood trees.

From the description of American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of California papers, 1968-1976. (University of the Pacific). WorldCat record id: 33066998

History professor at University of the Pacific, Stockton, Calif. (1950-1976). Published several works on history of southern motherlode and a general history of California (1963). Appointed by Governor Ronald Reagan and reappointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. to California State Historic Landmarks Advisory Committee (1968-1976). The purposes of this committee were to create and maintain an inventory of state historic sites, review and recommend or reject historic landmark status for various sites, and review the state's annual history plan.

From the description of California State Historic Landmarks Advisory Committee Papers, 1968-1976. (University of the Pacific). WorldCat record id: 30890418

Historian, educator. Ph. D. University of Southern California (1950). A victim of tuberculosis, he taught at, and served as Education Director of Bret Hart Sanitorium (1941-1950). Wood later became an instructor at Stockton (Calif.) Junior College (1950-1971) and University of the Pacific (1951-1971). He was also Director of Pacific Center For Western Studies (1968-1978) and Executive Secretary of Conference of California Historical Societies (1953-1971). Wood was particularly interested in history of Calaveras County. He published several works on this theme, including, "Murphys, Queen of the Sierra" (1949); and, "Calaveras, Land of the Skulls" (1957). He owned and operated the Old Timers' Museum at Murphys (1949-1978). Wood also published works on Stockton history, including "Stockton Album Through the Years" (1959) with V. Covert Martin, and "Stockton Memories" (1977) with Leonard Covello. California legislature voted Wood "Mr. California" (1969) for his service to California history education.

From the description of Richard Coke Wood papers, 1930-1979. (University of the Pacific). WorldCat record id: 35369122

Biography

Richard Coke Wood (1905-1979), California historian, author, teacher, was born in Oklahoma and was raised in Owens Valley, California. He attended the University of Hawaii, College of the Pacific (B.A. 1932, M.A. 1934), and the University of Southern California (Ph.D., 1950). A high school teacher in the 1930's, he developed a lasting interest in Mother Lode history while recovering from tuberculosis at the Bret Harte Sanitarium in Murphys (1938-1941). During his career he held many administrative and teaching positions, including that of proprieter of the Old Timers Museum in Murphys (ca. 1949-1978); Education Director, Bret Harte Sanitarium (1941-1950); Instructor and Chairman of the Social Sciences Division at Stockton and San Joaquin Delta College (1950-1971); holder of the Rockwell D. Hunt Chair in California History at the University of the Pacific (1951-1971); and, Director of the Pacific Center for Western Historical Studies (1976).

His writings include Murphys, Queen of the Sierra (1949); Calaveras, Land of Skulls (1957); The California Story (co-author, 1958); Stockton Album Through the Years (co-author, 1959); Stockton Memories (co-author, 1977); and, Mother Lode Memories (co-author, 1979). His many awards and honors include: Award of Merit, California Historical Society (1965); and the honorary title, "Mr. California," California State Legislature (1969).

From the guide to the Richard Coke Wood Papers, 1930-1978, (University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections)

Biography

Leigh Hadley Irvine (1863-1942) was an author, editor, and journalist. He was, at various times, the assistant managing editor of the San Francisco Examiner in 1888, Sunday editor of the Sacramento Union (1898-1899), managing editor of the newspaper syndicate, 1906-1909, and managing editor of the Daily Eureka Times (1912-1913). Irvine was also the author of a number of books, including: Irvine's New Cyclopedia of Diction, (1910); A History of California's Bench and Bar, (1912);and the History of Humboldt County, (1913).

From the guide to the Irvine (Leigh Hadley) "The History of New California" Typescript, 1905, (University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections)

Biography

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).

From the guide to the Wood (Richard Coke) American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of California Papers, 1970-1976, (University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections)

Biography

Richard Coke Wood (1905-1979) was a professor of California History at the University of Pacific in Stockton, Calif. (1950-1976). During those years he published several works on the history of the southern Motherlode, including Calaveras,The Land of Skulls (1955) and Murphys, Queen of the Sierra (1968). Wood also published a college textbook: CaliforniaHistory (1963). In 1965 he was first named to the California State Landmarks Advisory Committee by Gov. Edmund G. Brown. He was later reappointed by Gov. Ronald Reagan. Wood served as a member of the Commission through 1976.

Commission members served without compensation for terms of four years. They were empowered to conduct a state-wide inventory of historic sites, including State Historical Landmarks, National Register items, and Points of Historical Interest. They were to review applications for various types of historic landmark status, to recommend the attributes necessary for achieving landmark status, and to recommend to the Dept. the type of plaque and descriptive wording to be used in marking historic sites. They were expected to review and recommend state-wide history plans to the Dept. of Parks and Recreation. The Commission was also charged with maintaining a record of all archeological sites in California.

From the guide to the Wood California State Landmarks Advisory Committee Papers, 1965-1976, (University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections)

Biography

San Joaquin county was established in 1850 as one of the original counties of the state of California. The Court of Sessions, faced with a considerable indebtedness at the beginning of 1851, established the first property tax in San Joaquin county in May of that year. The amount of the tax was twenty-five cents on every one hundred dollars. The Court also initiated a poll tax of four dollars. The cost of running the county in 1851 was $36,063.60. The new taxes did not raise this amount and, in April 1852, the State authorized San Joaquin county to issue bonds to cover its indebtedness.

From the guide to the San Joaquin County (Calif.) Account Book, 1850-1862, (University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections)