GRRERVEWNEWSLETTER ED'DOC' 0 4 LL·.u;4- ..0 + "-"4021£t -:///*... 04-'lt=- 4 - e RICKETTS, STEINBECK'S BEST FRIEND Perhaps no other personality f had more impact on John Us:L Steinbeck's Cannery Row than Edward Flanders Ricketts. Steinbeck's closest personal friend and intellectual compan- ion for almost 20 years, Ed Ricketts was the inspiration for characters in no less than six Steinbeck novels and short sto- ries. Ricketts, who owned and operated the Pacific Biological Laboratory on the Monterey waterfront, was a scientist, philosopher and man-about-town in 1930s Monterey. Ed Ricketts' fictional counterpart, "Doc Ricketts," was creat- ed by Steinbeck to play the pivotal role in the author's timeless story of old Cannery Row. Like the real Ed Ricketts, "Doc" Ricketts owned a biological lab and spent much of his time scouting the tide pools of Pacific Grove for samples and specimens. When he was not collecting, Doc served as the fountain of science, art and phi- losophy for the denizens of the Row. Much of Connery Row revolves around a series of planned and spontaneous parties thrown by "Mack and the Boys" for Doc Ricketts, and it is through Doc's voice that Steinbeck offers his most penetrating insights of the Row. 11 Ed Ricketts, the real man, is doubly notable for his long and inspirational association with John Steinbeck and for his remarkable contributions to our knowledge of the biology of Pacific tide pool marine life. Ricketts' Between Pacific Tides is widely recognized as a definitive sourcebook on the marine life of our Pacific Coast, and is still used at major oceanographic research centers on the West Coast. Ricketts' work reflects a fascination with the color, fullness and movement of marine life, and Ed's celebration of these nat- ural wonders inspired much of John Steinbeck's greatest fiction. Yet the meeting of these two remarkable men was as ordinary as could be. Both recall first meeting in a dentist's waiting room in 1930. At the time, Steinbeck was an aspiring young writer and Ricketts a devoted student of marine biology. They soon discovered a shared love of tide pool discovery, philosophy and wine - and thus was born a most rewarding friendship. By the time he arrived in Pacific Grove in 1923, Ed Ricketts had worked as an accountant and surveyor, served a stint in the Army and acquired a lifelong love of biology. His study of marine biology was influenced heavily by W.C. Allee of the University of Chicago, a brilliant ecologist who believed that the social interaction of animals (including man) was a key to both their character and their survival. This idea animated Rickett's biological research and writing, and, through his friendship and influence on Steinbeck, it sup- plied a philosophical foundation for Cannery Row and many other Steinbeck works. Much of the "Doc Ricketts" character is based on real life adventures and impressions shared by Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts. According to mutual friends, Steinbeck felt extremely close to Ricketts and needed his companionship, and Ricketts soon became his closest confi- dam and friend. Steinbeck and Ricketts were mem- bers of a larger group of friends who # lived, worked and played in the area of 1 what is today Cannery Row and i. Monterey. They existed, as one associ- ate recalled, by "stealing vegetables for our communal stews." But while they enjoyed themselves and drank their =%&,=39*.U.*Li-f share of cheap wine, both devoted 13:·56291%2.-*.4*23*4 great energies to their emerging life -:lf.I #.& Ill.·,42@*12· »"u-0·-· -....· 1 works. CONTINUED, PAGE 2 PHOTOS FROM THE PAT HATHAWAy COLLECTION/TOP LEFT By B. FITCH 4 -t , OCR Text: GRRERVEWNEWSLETTER ED'DOC' 0 4 LL·.u;4- ..0 "-"4021£t -:///*... 04-'lt=- 4 - e RICKETTS, STEINBECK'S BEST FRIEND Perhaps no other personality f had more impact on John Us:L Steinbeck's Cannery Row than Edward Flanders Ricketts. Steinbeck's closest personal friend and intellectual compan- ion for almost 20 years, Ed Ricketts was the inspiration for characters in no less than six Steinbeck novels and short sto- ries. Ricketts, who owned and operated the Pacific Biological Laboratory on the Monterey waterfront, was a scientist, philosopher and man-about-town in 1930s Monterey. Ed Ricketts' fictional counterpart, "Doc Ricketts," was creat- ed by Steinbeck to play the pivotal role in the author's timeless story of old Cannery Row. Like the real Ed Ricketts, "Doc" Ricketts owned a biological lab and spent much of his time scouting the tide pools of Pacific Grove for samples and specimens. When he was not collecting, Doc served as the fountain of science, art and phi- losophy for the denizens of the Row. Much of Connery Row revolves around a series of planned and spontaneous parties thrown by "Mack and the Boys" for Doc Ricketts, and it is through Doc's voice that Steinbeck offers his most penetrating insights of the Row. 11 Ed Ricketts, the real man, is doubly notable for his long and inspirational association with John Steinbeck and for his remarkable contributions to our knowledge of the biology of Pacific tide pool marine life. Ricketts' Between Pacific Tides is widely recognized as a definitive sourcebook on the marine life of our Pacific Coast, and is still used at major oceanographic research centers on the West Coast. Ricketts' work reflects a fascination with the color, fullness and movement of marine life, and Ed's celebration of these nat- ural wonders inspired much of John Steinbeck's greatest fiction. Yet the meeting of these two remarkable men was as ordinary as could be. Both recall first meeting in a dentist's waiting room in 1930. At the time, Steinbeck was an aspiring young writer and Ricketts a devoted student of marine biology. They soon discovered a shared love of tide pool discovery, philosophy and wine - and thus was born a most rewarding friendship. By the time he arrived in Pacific Grove in 1923, Ed Ricketts had worked as an accountant and surveyor, served a stint in the Army and acquired a lifelong love of biology. His study of marine biology was influenced heavily by W.C. Allee of the University of Chicago, a brilliant ecologist who believed that the social interaction of animals (including man) was a key to both their character and their survival. This idea animated Rickett's biological research and writing, and, through his friendship and influence on Steinbeck, it sup- plied a philosophical foundation for Cannery Row and many other Steinbeck works. Much of the "Doc Ricketts" character is based on real life adventures and impressions shared by Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts. According to mutual friends, Steinbeck felt extremely close to Ricketts and needed his companionship, and Ricketts soon became his closest confi- dam and friend. Steinbeck and Ricketts were mem- bers of a larger group of friends who # lived, worked and played in the area of 1 what is today Cannery Row and i. Monterey. They existed, as one associ- ate recalled, by "stealing vegetables for our communal stews." But while they enjoyed themselves and drank their =%&,=39*.U.*Li-f share of cheap wine, both devoted 13:·56291%2.-*.4*23*4 great energies to their emerging life -:lf.I #.& Ill.·,42@*12· »"u-0·-· -....· 1 works. CONTINUED, PAGE 2 PHOTOS FROM THE PAT HATHAWAy COLLECTION/TOP LEFT By B. FITCH 4 -t , Heritage Society of Pacific Grove,Historical Collections,Names of People about town,Q through R File names,Ricketts,RICKETTS_007.pdf,RICKETTS_007.pdf 1 Page 1, Tags: RICKETTS_007.PDF, RICKETTS_007.pdf 1 Page 1