VAUGHAN, Reuben “Doc”

VAUGHAN, Reuben Vance “Doc” (1886-1982)[SS#559-07-4090], pharmacist, 4-times married, and author of several books on Santa Catalina Island.

In the 1950 census, Vaughan was widowed, 64 years old, and living in Avalon. His island books were published in 1955 and 1961.

Vaughan died in San Diego on July 12, 1982.

“A graduate of the Class of 1905, a man who made his “first fortune” in 1908 on a “Dippy Dope—for ridding cafes of flies” and later sold a million boxes of a cough drop that “Kills a tickle for a Nickel.” Doc, who admits to making and losing several fortunes over the last three quarters of a century, now lives in San Diego. At 94 years of age, he is still as active in community affairs. He is also a Ham radio operator.

We now turn back the pages of history, for Doc is a walking encyclopedia of Americana. In previous articles, he has shared with us his experience as a pharmacy student and fledgling pharmacist. That which follows is his response to my question: “What changes did you see take place in pharmacy over your lifetime?”

“From 1911 through the next ten years, I witnessed the great metamorphosis of pharmacy from an apothecary into a CONVENIENCE store where the neighborhood shopper could get a package of Diamond dye, a quick kitek, a small jar of vaseline or a coke. The First World War ended and times were rapidly changing.The doctors had started to move from their homes into office buildings...” [UCSF Pharmacy Alumni Association Newsletter (1976).

• Vaughan, Ruben V. "Doc". The Print of My Remembrance. The Autobiography of Ruben V. "Doc" Vaughan Hollywood: Limb Publishing, (1955). Gilt-stamped blue boards. 175 pages.

[original in SCIF archives] [ex-lib. M. D. Daily]

• Vaughan, Ruben V. "Doc". Doc's Catalina Diary By Ruben V. Vaughan. Los Angeles: Pacific Printing & Lithograph Co., 1956. Stapled black wrappers. 74 pages. Signed: R. V. "Doc" Vaughan, PhC. Rocq #4852.

[original in SCIF archives] [ex-lib. M. D. Daily]

• Vaughan, Ruben V. "Doc". Doc's Catalina Diary By Ruben V. Vaughan. [n.p., 1961]. Stapled greed wrappers. 86 pages. Inscribed: To Helen K. Dreuer from Ol' Doc Vaughan, PhC. Thanks. 1961.

[original in SCIF archives] [ex-lib. M. D. Daily]