F. A. Gilfillan Papers, 1894-1984

Predominant Dates: 1921-1978

The F. A. Gilfillan Papers are comprised of materials generated and assembled by Francois Archibald Gilfillan, Dean of the School of Science at OSU from 1939 to 1962. The collection includes professional and family correspondence, administrative documents from OSU and other educational organizations, and materials documenting Gilfillan’s work as a public school teacher, member of the U.S. Army Chemical Warfare Service, and Oregon State faculty member and administrator.

Access to audio recordings and related transcripts in Series 4 is restricted due to provisions set by the donor. For more information about access to restricted materials, please see our Guide to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center.

Creators

ID: MSS Gilfillan

Extent: 11.0 cubic feet

More Extent Information

Scope and Content Notes

The F. A. Gilfillan Papers are comprised of materials generated and assembled by Francois Archibald Gilfillan, Dean of the OSU School of Science from 1939 to 1962. The collection contains extensive correspondence with colleagues, family members, and friends including photographer Margaret Bourke-White and author Antonina Riasanovksy. The collection also contains records from education and research-oriented organizations including Scientists of Tomorrow, the Oregon Academy of Science, the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), the National Teacher Training program, and the Junior Engineers’ and Scientists’ Summer Institute (JESSI). Some OSU School of Science administrative documents including budget sheets, reports from the registrar, and memoranda are available. Correspondence and documentation of Gilfillan’s involvement in professional and social organizations including the Blue Key, Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Sigma honors societies, the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, the OSU Order of the Spoon faculty club, and the Corvallis Rotary Club are also present.

In addition, the collection contains examples of Gilfillan’s coursework from OAC and Yale and employment records and materials from his time as a public school teacher, member of the Chemical Warfare Service, employee at Calco Chemical Company, and professor at University of Florida. The Gilfillan collection also includes papers and speeches delivered by Gilfillan and notebooks containing notes, schedules, and meeting agendas. Also included in the collection are newspaper clippings relating to Gilfillan, biographical sketches, results of a survey of extant volumes of the Nuremberg Chronicle, songs, poetry, and drawings generated and collected by Gilfillan, family holiday cards, numerous honors and awards, photographs, slides, and several scrapbooks.

Absent from the collection are substantive records relating to Gilfillan’s duties as Dean of OSU’s School of Science and materials from his tenure as interim University President.

Biographical / Historical Notes

Francois Archibald Gilfillan was born in Ninnekah, a small town in central Oklahoma, in 1893. As a child, he and his family moved from Oklahoma to Bowie, Texas. In 1910, Gilfillan enrolled in the Polytechnic College of Texas (now Southern Methodist University). The following year, he visited an uncle in Washington and took a job teaching at a public high school. He later transferred to Coos River High School in Oregon. In 1915, Gilfillan left Coos Bay and enrolled at Oregon Agricultural College where he became Associate Editor of the OAC Barometer, President of the Pharmaceutical Association and a ROTC cadet captain. In 1918 he earned his bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy with first honors. After graduation he joined the U.S. Army and served briefly in the Chemical Warfare Service.

After the end of World War I, Gilfillan enrolled at Yale University and taught at the Milford Tutoring School. In 1920, he was awarded the Calco Chemical Company fellowship at Yale. The following year, he graduated with his doctorate in chemistry and worked briefly as a research chemist at Calco. In 1922 he accepted an assistant professorship in Pharmacy at Oregon Agricultural College, a position he left three years later in favor of work at the University of Florida. In 1927, Gilfillan returned to his alma mater at the behest of President William Jasper Kerr and was appointed Professor of Chemistry. The following year he married Violette Odekirk, a Portland native, with whom he would have four children: Mary Louise, Elizabeth Ellen, Nansie Jean, and Margaret Alice. In 1939 Gilfillan was promoted to Dean of Science. The following year, when President Frank L. Ballard fell ill, Gilfillan took on some of the duties of University President. In 1941 he was officially appointed Acting President of Oregon State College following the resignation of Ballard. He served in this position until October 1942 when A. L. Strand assumed the presidency. Gilfillan returned to his position as Dean of Science where he remained until his retirement in 1962.

Gilfillan did a great deal to further science education on both the local and national scale. He was instrumental in the formation and administration of the Junior Engineers’ and Scientists’ Summer Institute (JESSI), a founder of the OSU chapter of the Blue Key Honors Society, one of the five original incorporators of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), the Commissioner on Higher Education of the Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools from 1947 to 1957, Secretary of the Oregon Academy of Science, and Vice President for Scientists of Tomorrow, Inc. for the latter half of the 1950s.

In addition to his professional duties, Gilfillan also maintained an active extracurricular life. He was a Rotarian, a Master Mason, and active member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He spoke German, Russian, French, Italian and Chinook and could read Latin, Greek, Chinese, and Spanish. He also collected antique British silver, cultivated an authentic Japanese garden and amassed an impressive collection of rare books—many of which were donated to the Oregon State University Libraries Special Collections & Archives Research Center.

“Doc” Gilfillan passed away in 1983. In tribute to his service to the OSU community, the F.A. Gilfillan Memorial Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Science has been awarded annually since 1984.

Author: Trevor Sandgathe

Statement on Access: Access to audio recordings and related transcripts in Series 4 is restricted due to provisions set by the donor. All other materials in this collection are open for research. For more information about access to restricted materials, please see our Guide to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center.

Arrangement

Preferred Citation: F. A. Gilfillan Papers (MSS Gilfillan), Oregon State University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Acquisition Note: The Oregon State University Archives accessioned materials into the F. A. Gillan Papers in 1985, 1993, and 2006. In 2007, the contents of the Unitarian Church of the Larger Fellowship Records were transferred to the F. A. Gilfillan Papers. The Gilfillan Papers now reside in the OSU Libraries Special Collections and Archives Research Center.

Languages of Materials

English
Russian

Other

Container List

Series 1: Correspondence, 1894-1984 Add to Shelf

Series I is comprised of correspondence to and from F. A. Gilfillan and other members of the extended Gilfillan family generated between 1894 and 1984. The series includes correspondence with members of Gilfillan's immediate and extended family, extensive records relating to Gilfillan's personal interests (British silver, Japanese gardens, rare books, and Gilfillan family geneaology), correspondence with friends and colleagues, and communications with the many professional organizations Gilfillan participated in.

UnitID: Series I

Sub-Series 1: General Correspondence, 1921-1981 Add to Shelf

Subseries 1 is comprised of materials relating to F. A. Gilfillan's work at Oregon State College, his association with rare book and silver dealers, correspondence with friends and colleagues, his involvement in professional organizations, and miscellaneous professional and personal business.

UnitID: Subseries 1

Box-Folder 1.1: Correspondence, 1921 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.2: Correspondence, 1922 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.3: Correspondence, 1923 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.4: Correspondence, 1924 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.5: Correspondence, 1925 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.6: Correspondence, 1925 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.7: Correspondence, 1925 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.1: Correspondence, 1926 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.2: Correspondence, 1926 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.3: Correspondence, 1926 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.4: Correspondence, 1926 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.5: Correspondence, 1926 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 3.1: Correspondence, 1926 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 3.2: Correspondence, 1927 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 3.3: Correspondence, 1927 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 3.4: Correspondence, 1927 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 3.5: Correspondence, 1927 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 3.6: Correspondence, 1928 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 4.1: Correspondence, 1928 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 4.2: Correspondence, 1929 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 4.3: Correspondence, 1929 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 4.4: Correspondence, 1930 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 4.5: Correspondence, 1930 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 4.6: Correspondence, 1930 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 4.7: Correspondence, 1931 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 5.1: Correspondence, 1932 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 5.2: Correspondence, 1933 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 5.3: Correspondence, 1934 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 5.4: Correspondence, 1935 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 5.5: Correspondence, 1936 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 5.6: Correspondence, 1937 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 5.7: Correspondence, 1938 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 5.8: Correspondence, 1939 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 5.9: Correspondence, 1940 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 5.10: Correspondence, 1941 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 5.11: Correspondence, 1942 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 5.12: Correspondence, 1942 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 6.1: Correspondence, 1943 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 6.2: Correspondence, 1944 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 6.3: Correspondence, 1945 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 6.4: Correspondence, 1946 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 6.5: Correspondence, 1947 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 6.6: Correspondence, 1948 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 6.7: Correspondence, 1949 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 6.8: Correspondence, 1950 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 6.9: Correspondence, 1951 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 6.10: Correspondence, 1952 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 6.11: Correspondence, 1953 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 6.12: Correspondence, 1954 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 6.13: Correspondence, 1955 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 6.14: Correspondence, 1956 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 6.15: Correspondence, 1957 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 6.16: Correspondence, 1958 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 6.17: Correspondence, 1958 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 7.1: Correspondence, 1959 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 7.2: Correspondence, 1960 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 7.3: Correspondence, 1961 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 7.4: Correspondence, 1962 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 7.5: Correspondence, 1963 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 8.1: Correspondence, 1963 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 8.2: Correspondence, 1964 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 8.3: Correspondence, 1965 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 8.4: Correspondence, 1966 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 8.5: Correspondence, 1967 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 8.6: Correspondence, 1968 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 9.1: Correspondence, 1969 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 9.2: Correspondence, 1970 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 9.3: Correspondence, 1971 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 9.4: Correspondence, 1972 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 9.5: Correspondence, 1973 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 9.6: Correspondence, 1974 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 9.7: Correspondence, 1975 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 9.8: Correspondence, 1976 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 9.9: Correspondence, 1977 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 9.10: Correspondence, 1979-1981, undated Add to Shelf

Sub-Series 2: Individual Correspondence, 1894-1984 Add to Shelf

Subseries 2 includes correspondence with F. A. Gilfillan's mother, father, and siblings, his four daughters (Mary Louise Simon, Elizabeth Ellen Johnson, Nansie Jean Jensen, and Margaret Alic Doty) and their families, members of his extended family, and several penpals. Notably, the collection includes correspondence with Margaret Bourke-White, a world-renowned documentary photographer, and Antonina Riasanovsky, a critically-acclaimed author who wrote under the pen name Nina Fedorova. Also included is correspondence to and from Violette Gilfillan, much of it relating to the death of F. A. Gilfillan in 1983.

UnitID: Subseries 2

Box-Folder 10.1: Margaret Bourke-White, 1925-1953 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 10.2: Gordon A. Gilfillan, 1942-1969 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 10.3: Herbert A. Gilfillan, 1928-1943 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 10.4: Homer Gilfillan, 1925-1973 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 10.5: J. Lawrence Gilfillan, 1926-1960 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 10.6: Jack D. Gilfillan, 1894-1944 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 10.7: Jack D. Gilfillan, Jr., 1926-1943 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 10.8: Jean L. Gilfillan, 1929-1978 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 10.9: Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1925 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 10.10: Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1926 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 10.11: Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1927 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 10.12: Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1928 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 10.13: Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1929 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 11.1: Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1930 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 11.2: Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1931-1941 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 11.3: Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1942 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 11.4: Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1943 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 11.5: Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1944 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 11.6: Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1945 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 11.7: Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1946 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 11.8: Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1947 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 11.9: Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1948 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 11.10: Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1949 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 11.11: Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1950-1959 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 11.12: Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1960-1964 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 12.1: Violette Gilfillan, 1928-1984, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 12.2: Micellaneous Family Correspondence, 1926-1976 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 12.3: Julia V. Herman, 1942 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 12.4: Julia V. Herman, 1943 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 12.5: Julia V. Herman, 1944 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 12.6: Julia V. Herman, 1945 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 13.1: Julia V. Herman, 1946 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 13.2: Jensen Family Correspondence, 1957-1975 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 13.3: Johnson Family Correspondence, 1957-1975 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 13.4: Lamont Family Correspondence, 1907, 1928-1977 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 13.5: Odekirk Family Correspondence, 1928-1960 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 13.6: V. A. Riasanovsky, 1943-1948 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 13.7: Simon Family Correspondence, 1958-1977 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 13.8: Brinton H. Stone, 1946-1949 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 13.9: Chieko Urakami, 1942-1951 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 13.10: Greeting Cards & Invitiations, 1940-1961, undated Add to Shelf

Series 2: Professional Records, 1912-1975 Add to Shelf

Series II is comprised of materials from F. A. Gilfillan's career as a scientist, educator, and university administrator. It includes employment records, teaching materials, administrative documents from Oregon State University, records from his engagement in numerous professional and academic groups, papers and speeches produced by Gilfillan, and nearly thirty notebooks containing records of his activities at OSU.

UnitID: Series II

Sub-Series 1: Education & Employment Records, 1912-1969 Add to Shelf

Subseries 1 contains contracts and records of F. A. Gilfillan's work as a high school instructor in Washington and Oregon, a notebook and other documentation from his appointment in the Chemical Warfare Service, and employment records from Calco Chemical Company. The subseries also includes materials related to his employment as a Professor of Chemistry and Dean of the School of Science at OSU.

UnitID: Subseries 1

Box-Folder 13.11: Secondary School Instruction, 1912-1917 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 13.12: Oregon Board of Pharmacy Registered Pharmacist Certificates, 1919-1969 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 13.13: Teacher's Contracts, Cowlitz County, Washington, 1912-1914 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 13.14: Teacher's Contract, Coos County, Oregon, 1914 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 13.15: Chemical Warfare Service, 1918 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 13.16: Calco Chemical Company Employment Records, 1919-1921 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 14.1: Oregon State University Employment Records, 1922-1967 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 14.2: OSU Personnel Forms, 1962-1965 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 14.3: OSU Travel Expense Reports, 1954-1960 Add to Shelf

Sub-Series 2: Administrative & Teaching Materials, 1924-1971 Add to Shelf

Subseries 2 is comprised of teaching and administrative materials dating from Gilfillan's employment at the University of Florida and Oregon State College. Included in the subseries are course materials, theses and dissertations, budgetary documents, reports from the OSC registrar, and materials generated by students and employees of the School of Science

UnitID: Subseries 2

Box-Folder 14.4: "Specifications: Castings for Autoclave", 1925 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 34.3: High Pressure Autoclave Blueprints, 1925 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 14.5: Chemistry Course Materials, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 14.6: Russian Course Materials, 1943-1944 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 14.7: Classics of Science Course Correspondence, 1950-1960 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 14.8: Course Lecture Notebook, 1924-1939 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 14.9: Course Lecture Notebook, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 14.10: OSU Biology Colloquium Correspondence and Lecture Drafts, 1963 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 14.11: OSU School of Science Administrative Documents, 1938-1971 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 14.12: OSU School of Science Payscale Graphs, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 14.13: Marine Biology Station Monthly Expense Reports, 1949-1951 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 15.1: Administrative and Graduate Council Notebook, 1937 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 15.2: OSU Directories, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 15.3: Memorandum re: Meeting with Dr. Kleinsorge, 1941 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 15.4: "A Study of the Reactions of Students at Oregon State College to their Curricula and Instructions," Virginia Davolt, 1938 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 15.5: "Some Properties and Reactions of Umbellulone from the Leaf Oil of Coose Bay Myhtls, Umbellularia Californica," Leo Yukio Kiyohiro, 1938 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 15.6: "Andromedotoxin in Rhododendron Californicum," Chieko Otsuki, 1937 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 15.7: "A Chemical Garden," C. C. Pines, 1932 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 15.8: "The Role of State Financial Officers in Higher Education," A. L. Strand, 1960 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 15.9: W. A. deLaubenfels Zoology Research Materials, 1953-1958 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 15.10: Walter R. Stahl Biology Research Materials, 1960 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 15.11: Fred W. Decker Meteorological Research Materials, 1962 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 15.12: Bibliography on Peppermint Constituents, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 15.13: Grade Reports from the OSU Registrar, 1924 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 15.14: Report of the Registrar to the Scholarship Committee, 1926-1931 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 15.15: "Scholastic Ratings of Schools, Classes, Honorary and Professional Scoieties, Living Organizations, and Other Groups", 1931-1933 Add to Shelf

Sub-Series 3: Professional Organizations, 1941-1977 Add to Shelf

Subseries 3 contains documentation of Gilfillan's work with various educational groups and enterprises including the Junior Engineers' and Scientists' Summer Institute (JESSI), the Oregon Academy of Science, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the National Teacher Training program, and Scientists of Tomorrow. His association with professional organizations including the Corvallis Rotary Club, the OSU Order of the Wooden Spoon, the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, and the Blue Key, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Sigma, and Theta Delta Nu honors societies is also well documented here.

UnitID: Subseries 3

Box-Folder 15.16: Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools Notebook, 1948 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 16.1: Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools / Specialized Professional Accredding Organizations, 1954 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 16.2: Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools Correspondence, 1961-1963 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 16.3: Report to the Higher Commission of the Northwest Association Covering a Cooperative Evaluation of the University of Idaho", 1954 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 16.4: Middle States Association for College and Secondary Schools Report, 1954 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 16.5: Accrediting Organization Materials, 1960-1962, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 16.6: Blue Key Honor Society, 1949, 1974-1976 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 16.7: Corvallis Rotary Club, 1958 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 16.8: Order of the Wooden Spoon, 1933, 1954 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 16.9: Phi Gamma Delta, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 16.10: Phi Kappa Phi Correspondence and Administrative Documents, 1943-1950, 1964 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 16.11: Phi Kappa Phi Notebook, 1949-1959 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 16.12: Phi Kappa Phi Speeches, 1958-1965 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 16.13: Phi Sigma, 1939-1946 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 16.14: Theta Delta Nu, 1974-1977 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 17.1: Future Scientists of America Foundation Science Teachers Summer Institute, 1955-1959 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 17.2: JESSI Correspondence and Administrative Documents, 1957-1969 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 17.3: JESSI Correspondence and Administrative Documents, 1962-1963 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 17.4: JESSI Correspondence and Administrative Documents, 1970-1971, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 17.5: JESSI Scheduling Materials, 1956-1964 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 17.6: JESSI Exam Materials, 1964 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 17.7: JESSI Student Evaluations, 1956-1959 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 17.8: JESSI Speeches and Lectures, 1956-1971 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 17.9: Oregon Museum of Science and Industry Annual Budget Ledger Sheets, 1961-1962 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 17.10: Oregon Academy of Science Correspondence, 1972-1976 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 18.1: Oregon Academy of Science / American Association for the Advancement of Science Correspondence, 1950-1954 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 18.2: Oregon Academy of Science / American Association for the Advancement of Science Correspondence, 1955-1959 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 18.3: Oregon Academy of Science / American Association for the Advancement of Science Correspondence, 1960-1965 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 18.4: Oregon Academy of Science Administrative Documents, 1946-1977 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 18.5: Oregon Academy of Science High School Research Grants, 1957-1964 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 18.6: Oregon Academy of Science Newsletters, 1969-1976 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 18.7: Oregon Academy of Science Notebook, 1946-1948 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 18.8: Oregon Institute of Marine Biology Administrative Report, 1941 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 18.9: OSC High School Science Teachers Summer Research Assistantship Applications, 1955 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 18.10: Oregon Student Science Conference Administrative Documents, 1963 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 18.11: National Teacher Training Correspondencee and Administrative Documents, 1952-1955 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 19.1: National Teacher Training Correspondence and Administrative Documents, 1952-1957 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 19.2: Scientists of Tomorrow Correspondence, 1963-1965 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 19.3: Scientists of Tomorrow Correspondence, 1964-1971 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 19.4: Scientists of Tomorrow Correspondence and Administrative Documents, 1961-1970 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 19.5: Scientists of Tomorrow Questionnaire, 1959-1970 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 19.6: Scientists of Tomorrow Financial Statements, 1967-1970 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 19.7: Scientists of Tomorrow Administrative Changes and Dissolution, 1971-1973 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 19.8: Scientists of Tomorrow Board of Trustees Annual Meeting, 1964 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 19.9: Scientists of Tomorrow Board of Trustees Spring Meeting, 1965 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 19.10: Scientists of Tomorrow Board of Trustees Annual Meeting, 1965 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 19.11: Scientists of Tomorrow Board of Trustees Annual Meeting, 1966 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.1: Scientists of Tomorrow Board of Trustees Spring Meeting, 1968 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.2: Scientists of Tomorrow Board of Trustees Annual Meeting, 1968 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.3: Scientists of Tomorrow Board of Trustees Spring Meeting, 1969 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.4: Scientists of Tomorrow Board of Trustees Annual Meeting, 1969 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.5: Scientists of Tomorrow Board of Trustees Spring Meeting, 1970 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.6: Scientists of Tomorrow Board of Trustees Annual Meeting, 1970 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.7: Scientists of Tomorrow Speech, City Club, 1957 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.8: Survey of Attendance for Unidentified Meeting, 1962 Add to Shelf

Sub-Series 4: Articles & Speeches, 1921-1975 Add to Shelf

This subseries is comprised of a doctoral dissertation, papers, articles, and speeches written by F. A. Gilfillan between 1921 and 1975.Topics include instruction in the sciences, science and humanities education, the history of printing, language learning, and the future of the sciences in industry and academia.

UnitID: Subseries 4

Box-Folder 20.9: "A Catalytic Study of Some Dehydration and Addition Reactions of Ethyl Alcohol," F. A. Gilfillan, 1921 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.10: "The American College Fraternity System," F. A. Gilfillan, 1927 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.11: Article on Science Instruction, F. A. Gilfillan, 1959 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.12: "Science and Superstition," F. A. Gilfillan, 1962 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.13: Speech: "Ephedrin," American Chemical Society, 1932 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.14: Speech: "History of the Eastern Church", 1935 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.15: Speech" The Place of Science in Modern Education", 1939 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.16: Speech: "Science in the Ancient World", 1939 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.17: Speech: "Meet the Sciences", 1939 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.18: Speech: "The School of Science in the Service of the State", 1939 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.19: Speech: "The Making of a Scientist", 1939 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.20: Speech: "The Scientific Career," Physics Honor Society, 1939 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.21: Speech: "Present Status and Needs of the School of Science," Oregon State College, 1940 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.22: Speech: "Members of the Class of '41," Oregon State College Commencement, 1941 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.23: Speech: "Members of the Class of '42," Oregon State College Commencement, 1942 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.24: Speech: "Education for the World of Tomorrow," Oregon College of Education Commencement, 1947 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.25: Speech: "Encouraging the Exceptional Student," Oregon State College, 1950 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.26: Speech: Lincoln Day Address, 1950 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.27: Speech: Provisions for the Superior Student," University of Oregon, 1951 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.28: Speech: "The Importance of College Language Programs in Landgrant Institutions," Denver, Colorado, 1957 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.29: Speech: "International Geophysical Year," Oregon Caves, 1957 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 20.30: Speech: "The Impact of Science on Society", 1958 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.1: Speech: "Thermodynamics," Lewis & Clark College, 1958 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.2: Speech: Untitled, Logan, Utah, 1958 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.3: Speech: "Semantics," Address to Freshman, Oregon State College, 1958 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.4: Speech: "Herbal Exhibit", 1959 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.5: Speech: Freshman Honors Groups, Oregon State College, 1960 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.6: Speech: Address at New Student Week, 1961 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.7: Speech: Farewell Dinner for Chancellor Richards, 1961 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.8: Speech: "Commissioning the 'Acona'," Portland, Oregon, 1961 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.9: Speech: "A Bluperint for Your Education" Honors Group, 1961 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.10: Speech: "The Three Keys," Nurses' Graduation, 1962 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.11: Speech: "Four Thousand Years of Books," George Fox College, 1962 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.12: Speech: "Education for All Americans", 1964 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.13: Speech: "Four Thousand Years of Books," Friends of the Library Banquet, 1966 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.14: Speech: Dean Dubach's Retirement Dinner, Lewis and Clark College, 1966 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.15: Speech: "Science and Literature", 1971 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.16: Speech: Light from the Lamps of China", undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.17: Speech: History of American Higher Education, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.18: Speech: "The Dawn of Science or the Dawn of Civilization," Oregon Academy of Science Meeting, 1975 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.19: Speech: "The Invention of Printing", undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.20: Speech: "The Word Nobody Knows", undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.21: Speech: "I Believe", undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.22: Speech: Address to the 13th Biology Colloquium, Oregon State College, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.23: Speech: "The School of Science", undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.24: Speech: "War-Time Science and Post-War Business," Condensation of a talk by Gerald Wendt, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.25: Speech: "International Control of Atomic Energy", undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.26: Speech Notes, 1954-1965, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.27: Interview: Japanese Culture, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.28: Radio Broadcast Forum: The Nature and Purpose of UNESCO, 1948 Add to Shelf

Sub-Series 5: Notebooks, 1940-1974 Add to Shelf

Subseries 5 contains nearly thirty notebooks with meeting records, scheduling and travel information, and miscellaneous personal and professional notes spanning much of Gifillan's career at Oregon State University.

UnitID: Subseries 5

Box-Folder 21.29: Notebook, December 1940 - January 1942 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.30: Notebook, March 1942 - October 1942 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.31: Notebook, January 1944 - March 1945 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 21.32: Notebook, July 1944 - April 1945 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 22.1: Notebook, March 1945 - June 1945 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 22.2: Notebook, July 1945 - June 1947 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 22.3: Notebook, June 1947 - July 1947 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 22.4: Notebook, June 1948 - November 1948 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 22.5: Notebook, September 1947 - September 1950 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 22.6: Notebook, September 1950 - November 1951 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 22.7: Notebook, November 1951 - November 1952 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 22.8: Notebook, November 1952 - May 1953 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 22.9: Notebook, May 1953 - May 1954 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 22.10: Notebook, May 1954 - September 1955 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 22.11: Notebook, September 1955 - September 1956 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 22.12: Notebook, September 1956 - September 1957 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 23.1: Notebook, September 1957 - November 1958 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 23.2: Notebook, November 1958 - December 1959 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 23.3: Notebook, January 1960 - November 1960 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 23.4: Notebook, November 1960 - February 1962 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 23.5: Notebook, February 1962 - October 1962 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 23.6: Notebook, October 1962 - February 1963 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 23.7: Notebook, February 1963 - March 1965 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 23.8/: Notebook, November 1963 - October 1966 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 23.9: Notebook, October 1967 - July 1976 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 23.10: Notebook, November 1973 - June 1974 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 23.11: Notebooks, undated Add to Shelf

Series 3: Biographical Materials, 1915-1984 Add to Shelf

Series III is composed of biographical materials collected by F. A. Gilfillan and his wife, Violette. Included are biographical sketches and academic and employment records. Ephemera, including four scrapbooks detailing his life in the early 1900s, a 1925 trip to Europe, and his retirement from OSU and an extensive collection of newspaper clippings are also present. Honors and awards, a collection of songs and poetry by Gilfillan, documentation of his rare book and silver collections, records from the Unitarian Church of the Larger Fellowship, and the results of a survey conducted by Gilfillan on the Nuremberg Chronicle can also be found in this series. Also included are materials relating to Gilfillan's death and a short biography composed by Violette Gilfillan. The series also contains course notebooks and records dating from Gilfillan's time as a student at Oregon Agricultural College and Yale University, appointment books, car mileage records, and a series of family holiday cards designed by Gilfillan.

UnitID: Series III

Box-Folder 23.12: Biographical Sketches and Reports, 1933-1962 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 23.13: "The Story of F.A. Gilfillan," Violette Gilfillan, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.1: Passport and Certificate of Citizenship, 1926, 1941 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.2: Academic Records, 1915-1918 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.3: Materials re: Retirement from Oregon State University, 1961-1962 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.4: Materials re: Death of F.A. Gilfillan, 1983 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.5: Memorial Booklet, circa 1983 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.6: F. A. Gilfillan Memorial Award, 1984 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.7: Newspaper Clippings, 1938-1983 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 34.1: "Autumn at Gilfillan's Farm," Sunday ROTO, Pittsburgh Press, 1960 Add to Shelf
Box-Item 30.1: Scrapbook, 1918-1925 Add to Shelf
Box-Item 31.1: Scrapbook: Trip to Europe, circa 1925 Add to Shelf
Box-Item 31.2: Scrapbook: "A Remarkable Man", 1962 Add to Shelf
Box-Item 31.3: Scrapbook: Holiday Greeting Cards, 1927-1974 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.8: Gilfillan Family Holiday Cards, 1959-1978 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.9: Inventory of Book Collection, 1925 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.10: Nuremberg Chronicle Survey and Correspondence, 1954-1955 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.11: Inventory of Silver Collection, 1958 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.12: Songs and Poetry, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.13: Portland City Club Materials, 1944-1945 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.14: Unitarian Church of the Larger Fellowship Sermons and Records, 1953-1954 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.15: Unitarian Church of the Larger Fellowship News Bulletin, 1953-1954 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.16: The Christian Register, 1953-1954 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.17: Membership and Business Cards, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 24.18: Honors, Awards, and Certificates, 1909-1974 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 34.5: Honors, Awards, and Certificates, 1910-1965, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 25.1: Oregon State University Centennial Award, 1968 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 25.2: Oregon State University 25-Year Club Award, 1968 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 25.3: Violette Odekirk High School Diploma, 1920 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 25.4: Documents and Correspondence re: The last will and testament of Jessie H. Gilfillan, 1965-1970 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 25.5: Bound Notes: OAC Laboratory and Lectures Notes, 1916 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 25.6: Bound Notes: Yale Laboratory and Lecture Notes, 1918 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 26.1: Bound Notes: Yale Lecture Notes, 1919-1920 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 26.2: Notebook: Yale Synthetic Organic Chemistry Lecture Notes, circa 1920 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 26.3: Notebook: Yale Chemistry Lecture Notes, circa 1920 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 26.4: Notebook: Yale Chemistry Lecture Notes, circa 1920 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 26.5: Notebook: Yale Chemistry Lecture Notes, circa 1920 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 26.6: Notebook: Yale Laboratory Notes, circa 1920 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 27.1: Bound Notes: Yale Lecture Notes and Calco Chemical Company Records, 1920 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 27.2: Notebook: Chemistry Course Notes, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 27.3: Notebook: Japanese Course Notes, 1971 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 27.4: Notebook: Car Mileage Records, August 1925 - September 1928 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 27.5: Notebook: Car Mileage Records, September 1928 - May 1930 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 27.6: Appointment Books, 1941, 1953 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 27.7: Desk Calendar, 1961 Add to Shelf

Series 4: Photographs, Slides, Audio Recordings and Motion Picture Film, 1921-1978 Add to Shelf

This series includes approximately 75 photographic prints featuring images from Gilfillan's time at the Chemical Warfare Service, Yale University, Oregon State University, and in retirement. Early photographs include Gifillan with his coworkers in the Chemical Warfare Service and graduating from Yale University. Other images include Gilfillan attending various OSU functions such as commencement, the OSU Centennial Celebration, and an ROTC summer camp at Hamilton Air Force Base. Other photographs capture Yale University staff, members of the OSU administration, School of Science Faculty, and JESSI attendees. Several photos feature the Gilfillan family, Violette Gilfillan, social events, and the Gilfillan silver collection and Japanese Garden.

Series 4 also includes more than 450 commercially produced slides of historic and culturally significant sites in Europe and Canada, and 275 slides of photos taken by Gilfillan during a 1969 trip across Western Europe. The photographs by Gilfillan include images of major cities in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Denmark. The series also contains a short 16mm film titled "Institute of Marine Biology - Summer 1941." The film features a group of people walking on a beach and examining tide pools.

Additionally, this series contains six cassette tapes and transcripts of Violette Gilfillan detailing biographical information about F. A. Gilfillan. Subjects discussed include Gilfillan's deanship and presidency, his education in pharmacy, Russian language instruction, and the Marine Science Station. Access to these audio recordings and related transcripts is restricted due to provisions set by the donor. For more information about access to restricted materials, please see our Guide to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center.

UnitID: Series IV

Box-Folder 28.1: Photographic Prints, 1921-1978 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 34.6: Oversized Photographic Prints, 1940, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 28.2: Photographic Slides by Gilfillan, 1969 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 28.3: Commercially Produced Photographic Slides, circa 1969 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 28.4: Commercially Produced Photographic Slides, circa 1969 Add to Shelf
Box-Item 35.1: RESTRICTED: Cassette Tape and Transcript 1: "Gilfillan at Pharmacy School," Violette Gilfillan., undated Add to Shelf
Box-Item 35.2: RESTRICTED: Cassette Tape and Transcript 2: "1938 Deanship; Feeding Chickens; Secretary; Bert Christenson; 1938-1939 Chemistry," Violette Gilfillan., undated Add to Shelf
Box-Item 35.3: RESTRICTED: Cassette Tape and Transcript 3: "1939 Chemistry; Charleston Marine Station; Fall 1939 at OSU," Violette Gilfillan., undated Add to Shelf
Box-Item 35.4: RESTRICTED: Cassette Tape and Transcript 4: "Fall 1940 at OSU; John Byrne Inauguration," Violette Gilfillan., undated Add to Shelf
Box-Item 35.5: RESTRICTED: Cassette Tape and Transcript 5: "Russian Teaching at OSU (1943-1944); Academy of Science; OMSI," Violette Gilfillan., undated Add to Shelf
Box-Item 35.6: RESTRICTED: Cassette Tape and Transcript 6: "John Byrne Inauguration; Gilfillan Presidency; A. L. Strand Presidency," Violette Gilfillan, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Item 32.1: Film: "Institute of Marine Biology - Summer 1941", 1941 Add to Shelf

Series 5: Artifacts and Ephemera, 1918-1978 Add to Shelf

Series V is comprised of artifacts and ephemera collected by F. A. Gilfillan. This series includes a Polytechnic College yearbook, an assortment of OSU promotional materials and memorabilia including a Golden Jubilee medallion and several examples of beanies worn by OSU freshmen, a satirical drawing of OAC penned by Gilfillan, two engraved printers blocks featuring Gilfillan, a charcoal portrait, and miscellaneous programs and pamphlets.

UnitID: Series V

Box-Folder 29.1: "The Panther," Polytechnic College Yearbook, 1911 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 29.2: Oregon State University Brochures, Programs and Informational Materials, 1928-1958 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 29.3: Oregon State University Brochures, Programs, and Informational Materials, 1961-1966 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 29.4: Oregon Agricultural College Songbook, 1924 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 29.5: "Fight for Oregon State" Sheet Music, 1940 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 34.2: "Hail to Old OAC" Songbook, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 34.4: Satirical Drawing of OAC, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Item 32.2: OSU Memorial Union Fiftieth Anniversary Medal, 1978 Add to Shelf
Box-Item 32.3: OSU Golden Jubilee Medallion, circa 1968 Add to Shelf
Box-Item 32.4: OSU Commemorative Medallion, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Item 32.5: Honorary OSU President's Club Gavel, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Item 32.6: OAC Paperweight, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Item 33.1: OSU Rook Lids, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 29.6: Miscellaneous Programs and Pamphlets, 1928-1976 Add to Shelf
Box-Item 32.7: Phi Sigma Society Scholarship Award Medal, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Item 32.8: Engraved Printer's Block featuring School of Science staff, 1940 Add to Shelf
Box-Item 32.9: Engraved Printer's Block featuring F. A. Gilfillan, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 34.7: Charcoal Portrait, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Item 32.10: Assorted OSU Building and Equipment Keys, undated Add to Shelf

People, Places, and Topics

Forms of Material

Related Materials

Francois A. Gilfillan, 1941. Gilfillan was a professor of chemistry (1927-1939) and Dean of Science (1939-1962). Gilfillan also filled in as acting President of Oregon State College from 1941-1942.

Information and Credits