Since the University of California, Davis, first opened its landmark brick gate as the University Farm in 1906, nearly 100 years have passed. Organizers of an effort to produce a UC Davis history book say the campus should record its long journey from modest roots to a major research and teaching institution by the time the century turns. The project, supported jointly by the university's Emeriti Association and the Retirees Association, is the focus of the UC Davis History Project Committee. Members are collecting information and funding to produce "From Farm to University." Professional writer and alumna Ann Foley Scheuring, author of several other campus publications, has been selected for the project. The aim is to produce a written history worthy of publication by UC Press. The book would be dedicated to former university librarian Dick Blanchard, and proceeds from its sale would go to the UC Davis General Library. To succeed, committee volunteers must raise $300,000 to cover three years of work by the writer, as well as graduate research assistance, supplies, equipment and overhead. The UC Davis Foundation has provided a grant of $150,000 -- through James H. Meyer Fellows funds -- which must now be matched dollar-for-dollar with funds raised by the community. Although several historical views of the campus already exist, including oral histories and a summary produced by the entire UC system in 1968, the committee's members say that a comprehensive, readable and professional history book is missing. In addition to covering the campus's early beginnings and its growth, the book they propose would describe the evolving character of the faculty, staff and student body, as well as the educational enterprise itself and the founding of new schools and colleges. "We want to record in a readable and comprehensive fashion the campus's transition from a farm to a major research and teaching institution," said committee chair and political science professor emeritus Dick Gable. Other committee members are retiree Bob Ball; Bill Knox, professor emeritus of physics; retiree Deanna Falge Pritchard; Jerry Rosen, professor emeritus of music; Bill Smith, professor emeritus of history; and Paul Stumpf, professor emeritus of biochemistry. John Skarstad, head of special collections in Shields Library, is also a member. The project evolved out of the Emeriti Association's recent efforts to record oral histories of retired faculty while also collecting biographical and bibliographical information. Since beginning in 1995, the group has made videos of more than 50 individuals. Those interested in providing historical information should contact Gable at 756-0662, rwgable@ucdavis.edu. Information about the fund-raising campaign may also be obtained from him.