A Collection in the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 50648
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia 800 East Broad Street Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000 USA Phone: (804) 692-3888 (Archives Reference) Fax: (804) 692-3556 (Archives Reference) Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives) URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/
Dr. John Randall Cook was born in Crewe, Nottoway County, Virginia on 12 September 1919. He is the son of William Manning
Cook (1890-1954) and Madeline Inez Bryant (1893-1979). He attended St. Joseph's Academy in St. Augustine, Florida (1940) and
Georgetown University (1946-1948). Dr. Cook served with the Army Medical Corps during World War II, and was stationed at the
First General Hospital near London, and when it moved near Paris. Dr. Cook earned a bachelor's degree in English (1952), a
master's degree in Education (1960), and was presented with an honorary doctor of letters degree by Longwood University (1996).
He was employed as a guidance counselor at John Marshall High School in Richmond, Virginia (1960-1966), and then was supervisor
of guidance with the Virginia Department of Education (1967-1982). Dr. Cook, with his partner Dr. Waverly Manson Cole (1929-2009),
has been an active supporter of various causes and educational institutions in Virginia. He published his autobiography Many Septembers in 2007. Dr. Cook died on 24 December 2013 and is buried in Crewe Cemetery.
Papers, 1910-2012, of Dr. John Randall Cook (1919-2013) of Richmond, Virginia, relating to his service in the Army Medical
Corps during World War II, his career as a guidance counselor at John Marshall High School and the Virginia Department of
Education, and the publication of his autobiography Many Septembers (2007). There are also materials concerning philanthropic support by Dr. Cook and his partner Dr. Waverly Manson Cole (1929-2009)
of The College of William and Mary, Longwood University, and Virginia Commonwealth University, as well as information on their
real estate holdings in Virginia Beach. The collection includes articles and reports, clippings, correspondence, greeting
cards, invitations, military records, newsletters, photographs, poetry, programs, and speeches.