R. Coke Wood
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).
Dr. Wood was a history professor at College of the Pacific (Now known as
University of the Pacific), and with a couple of friends began the Sim-Ged-Woo
Publishing Company. The produced a newsletter called The Clamper . It was
needed as an adjunct or perhaps even a replacement for another newsletter called
The Pony Express News, printed in Placerville, which had extensive connections
with many Clampers. Dr. Wood owned the oldest building in Murphys, which is
still there now as the Old Timers Museum, and is home to the Clamper Wall of
Comparative Ovations.
Dr. Wood's partners in The Clamper were Wes Simard, a Stockton printer, and
Cliff Geddes. Dr. Wood's daughter married John Hard. John Hard was the
publisher of the Flatlander Nugget.
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).