Work-in-Progress

This website is directed toward researchers interested in participating in the documentation of the complete career and life of Dr. Richard Kay Root. It is a work-in-progress. Sources have been vetted at an initial stage, but some source information is embedded in professional journals that require purchase or membership, while others are connected with university archives not available to the general public. We appreciate any information you have to hone what is here. 

- Richard Allen Root 

This website is directed toward researchers interested in documented the life and career of Dr. Richard Kay Root. It is always a "work-in-process."  We hope you can appreciate and participate in this challenge to document and cite information and situations that might have occurred before the advent of the "digital age." Information here stems from personal interviews, traditional research and AI-assisted research. Sources have been vetted at an initial stage, but some source information is embedded in professional journals that require purchase or membership, while others are connected with university archives not available to the general public . Some are from private or pay-for-view audio-video productions. If you would like to cite information, please reach out to us. We are glad to share or direct you to the right place. We appreciate any information you have to continue and hone this project. This is not meant to be a "salable unique and original biography," but - instead - this is a compilation of joint knowledge to assist those who want to learn more or produce more about Dr. Richard Kay Root and the legacy of sharing he has left us. 

- Richard Allen Root 

This website is directed toward researchers interested in documenting the life and career of  Dr. Richard Kay Root. I consider this a "mad dash against mortality," because many first-hand observers (including me) are nearing their final years. If I were to write about all of my father's accomplishments and experiences it would take years - if not decades. His output was that voluminous , as you might note from his CV. We hope you can appreciate and participate in this challenge to document and cite information and situations that might have occurred before the advent of the "digital age." Much "citable" information is buried beneath professional medical paywalls and university archives. For over 30 years, I taught Advanced Placement English, International Baccalaureate English , college English, journalism, research methodology etc.  I cringe to share a site that is not personally written and exhaustively researched to a fine pin point, let alone allow passages that have been researched or summarized by AI. But, it is this or nothing. And I vote for this. Consider this a depository of initial information. I am an extremely discerning and critical writer and researcher, so trust that this is not an amateurish endeavor. 

With my father working 100+ hours a week and almost every social event including doctors speaking unadulterated shop, we know everything already - 99% more than any AI could ever know. We know more than we want to know. What an experience - to test AI , and know where it is strong or weak because I have the information already.  More specifically, information/writing here stems from personal observation (The Root Family), personal interviews, traditional research and AI-assisted research. Digital sources have been vetted at an initial stage, with Root family member verification.  We appreciate any information you have to help hone this project.  If you would like to cite information, please reach out to us. We are glad to share or direct you to the right place. 

- Richard Allen Root 

Upon Dr. Root’s immediate, tragic death, it was “as if his body of work was spewed by a tsunami across the four corners of the earth.” In many ways this website is a “mad dash” against mortality. Many primary source individuals have passed away. Many are in their sunset years. Much information is stashed behind professional paywalls and buried in academic archives. Dr. Root passed so fast that no one was able to prepare. Dr. Root worked 100+ hours a day. His output was immense. To gather and disseminate initial big picture information we use Large Language Models, digital professional sources, hard-copy sources from Dr. Root’s personal library, along with personal observation (the Root family) and personal interviews.