Robert Bruce Hoadley (1933 – October 15, 2019)[1] was Professor Emeritus of Building and Construction Materials in the Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
[2] His main research interests were wood identification and dimensional changes due to wood-moisture relationships.
He is known to the general public primarily as the author of popular books on the anatomy, properties and processing of wood, and for his work as a contributing editor and technical consultant for Fine Woodworking magazine.
His expertise in wood identification has been utilized in analysis of antique furniture and art objects for Sotheby's[3] and major museums.
[2] His book Identifying Wood: Accurate results with simple tools is an accessible introduction to the topic,[4] and his Understanding Wood is a comprehensive treatment of wood technology.