Roy Bird Cook

Roy Bird Cook (April 1, 1886 - November 21, 1961)[1] was a pharmacist and historian with a special interest in West Virginia history.

Life

Cook was born in Lewis County, near Roanoke, West Virginia. He took a home study course in pharmacy during high school, and in 1905 took the State Board of Pharmacy exam to become the state's youngest certified pharmacist at the age of 19.[1] He went on to practice pharmacy in Weston and later in Charleston, West Virginia.

He also maintained an active interest in the state's history. He helped found the West Virginia Historical Society, and wrote multiple books and articles on historical subjects.

Works

In 1916 and 1917, Cook published a series of "Pioneer Sketches of Lewis County" in the Weston Independent.[2]

In 1924, he published The Family and Early Life of Stonewall Jackson which has been called "the first definitive study of Jackson's formative years,"[3] as well as Lewis County in the Civil War.

Awards

Cook received the Remington Honor Medal in 1955 from the American Pharmaceutical Association, and the Award of Merit from the West Virginia Library Association in 1957.[4]

Legacy

Cook collected a lot of material pertaining to the history of West Virginia, including the history of farming in the state, the history of the 31st Virginia Infantry, additional Civil War and early West Virginia state history, and more. He is responsible for multiple collections of materials held at the West Virginia & Regional History Center.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Venham, Christy. "Roy Bird Cook". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "Roy Bird Cook". West Virginia & Regional History Center. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  3. ↑ Munn, Robert (1957). "West Virginia Library Association Recognition Awards". West Virginia Libraries. 10 (4): 15. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  4. ↑ Munn, Robert (1957). "West Virginia Library Association Recognition Awards". West Virginia Libraries. 10 (4): 14–16. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  5. ↑ "Roy Bird Cook Collections Riches Revealed" (PDF). West Virginia and Regional History Collection Newsletter. 28 (1): 1–5. Fall 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2016.


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