Albert John Cook, DSC. 
Professor of Biology in Pomona College, 1894-1911 
DAVID L. CRAWFORD 
On September 29, 1916, a very great and noble career was 
brought to a close, when Dr. Albert John Cook passed away to his 
eternal rest. Few men have had the privilege of exerting a greater 
force for good among college students than was exerted by Dr. 
Cook, for he was more than a teacher of biology—he taught men 
and women the way to large service in the world and to clean and 
high and noble living. Hundreds have been made better and 
purer by their contact with this great teacher, and scores have gone 
out of the college to a large career of unselfish Christian service 
because ‘‘Prof.’’ Cook touched their lives and made them see things 
in the large. Colleges and universities need more men of this type, 
for they are very rare indeed. 
Pomona College has not had a more loyal supporter than was 
Dr. Cook. Through all those early years he remained and fought 
loyally for the existence and the development of this institution, 
all the while giving of his time and money and influence to build 
up the scientific side of the college. Much of the present museum 
assets are directly the fruits of his labor and much of the laboratory 
equipment was secured by him, but, greatest of all, the good name 
of the college and of its biology department was built up through 
his sending out of well equipped men ready and eager for large 
service in the state and nation. 
Not only does Pomona College mourn the passing of this man, 
but the entire state of California and indeed the nation has suffered 
a great loss, for he was assuredly a national figure in his sphere. 
When most men are retiring to a quiet life, Dr. Cook at the age of 
nearly seventy years went from his place in Pomona College to a 
larger and even more active sphere of work. From 1911 to nearly 
the time of his death he served the state of California in a most 
successful manner as the head of the Commission of Horticulture. 
He drew this work out of the mire of politics and made it a benefit 
