Collection: Woods Photos | ArchivesSpace Public Interface

Dates

1939-1983

Biographical / Historical

Russell M. Wood was born December 17, 1912 in McKean Township. His father, Walter Ernest Wood, and mother, Blanceh Quance Wood, both came from families which had settled in Erie County, Pennsylvania in the 1850's. When Russell was one year old, his father died as the result of a farming accident and his mother moved with her three children from the farm to Belle Valley and then to Edinboro where she bought a house across the street from the college campus.
While his mother worked as a housekeeper in one of the college dorms and took roomers, Russ delivered newspapers and took care of coal-fired furnaces all around town. Even then he was building a reputation for diligence and dependability which followed him for the rest of his life. His mother played the organ in church and the piano in their home was used by a music teacher, Florence Wagner, who came out from Erie by trolley to give music lessons to students in Edinboro. Some of this music in the home must have rubbed off because he became accomplished on violin, cello, trombone and baritone.
Russell graduated from Edinboro State College in 1935 with a degree in math and then added music education from Indiana and the Interlochen Music Camp, University of Michigan.