Richard "Dick" Puckett papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-008

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection documents the career of Richard “Dick” Puckett, director of the Fort Ord Arts and Crafts program from 1960 to 1986, as well as the activities and operations of the program itself during that time. It includes information related to the history of the arts and craft programs, administrative papers and correspondence, and policies and procedures for running the craft shops, specifically those located on Fort Ord, but also other shops within the Crafts Complex, such as the Presidio of Monterey. This collection also includes training materials, job descriptions, letters of recommendation, activity and attendance reports, interest surveys, budgets, and floor plans. Materials documenting programming include photographs and slides of art gallery events, specific pieces of art, art photography, photographs of classes and students, fliers, clippings, ephemera, artifacts, and framed items.

Dates

1950-1998

Creator

Puckett, Richard, 1932-2010 (Creator, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is available for research by appointment only. Please contact Archives and Special Collections staff in advance to request access.

Conditions Governing Use

California State University, Monterey Bay does not hold copyright to all materials in this collection. Archives and Special Collections recognizes that it is incumbent upon the researcher to procure permission to publish information from this collection from the owner of copyright.

Biographical / Historical

Richard “Dick” Puckett was born September 9, 1932 and grew up in Keno, Oregon. He received his B.A. in Public Service from the University of San Francisco, where he majored in Fine Arts and Education. Puckett began his career in the Army Arts and Crafts program in 1956 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Puckett served as the Fort Ord Chief Arts and Crafts Director from 1960 until he retired in 1986.

During his time at Fort Ord, Puckett built the largest and most varied military Arts and Crafts program in the world, winning recognition by the Department of the Army as the best in the nation. The Crafts Complex was comprised of ten Crafts Shops, including locations at the Presidio of Monterey and Hunter Liggett Military Reservation, as well as an art gallery of changing exhibits and displays. Under the direction of Puckett, the program offered hundreds of classes for soldiers and their dependents, covering topics such as painting, photography, glassblowing, ceramics and porcelain, auto shop, sculpture, jewelry, woodworking, leather, and stained glass.

Puckett remained a volunteer instructor at Fort Ord until it closed in 1993. He passed away October 20, 2010, at the age of 78, in Salinas, California.

Extent

163.23 Linear Feet (95 record cartons, 18 flat boxes, oversize items, framed items, artifacts)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection documents the career of Richard “Dick” Puckett, director of the Ford Ord Arts and Crafts program from 1960 to 1986, as well as the activities and operations of the program itself during that time. Materials include photographs and slides of art shows and art work, as well as sample art work and pottery created as part of the Art and Crafts program. It also includes materials related to the history of the program, administrative papers and correspondence, photographs, slides, fliers, clippings, ephemera, artifacts, and framed items.

Arrangement

Materials arranged in 5 series:

Series 1: General and administrative, 1955-1998

Series 2: Programs and events, 1950-1987

Series 3: Photographs and slides, 1962-1987

Series 4: Art and artifacts, 1961-1986

Series 5: Oversize, 1966-1991

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Richard Puckett, 2005.

Processing Information

The bulk of material was originally housed in binders. Materials were removed from binders and placed in folders. The labels from the binders were used as the file names when available.