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George P. Griffis Portfolio and Scrapbook, 1926-1979

By Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Nielsen.

Collection Overview

Title: George P. Griffis Portfolio and Scrapbook, 1926-1979

Predominant Dates: 1947-1979

ID: MSS Griffis

Primary Creator: Griffis, George P.

Extent: 0.35 cubic feet. More info below.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The George P. Griffis Portfolio and Scrapbook were assembled by Griffis to document his career with The Oregonian newspaper and the Pacific National Advertising Agency in Portland, Oregon, during the 1940s-1960s. Griffis attended Oregon State College from 1926 to 1929 and was national advertising manager for the Barometer campus newspaper.

Scope and Content Notes

The George P. Griffis Portfolio and Scrapbook were assembled by Griffis to document his career with The Oregonian newspaper and the Pacific National Advertising Agency in Portland, Oregon. The portfolio was assembled in 1979 as part of an assignment on prior learning experience for the Marylhurst Education Center at Marylhurst University in Portland. The portfolio includes narrative essays by Griffis in which he describes his educational background and work experience with detailed examples of the the skills he gained and lessons he learned. It also includes newspaper clippings, articles, and correspondence and documents his military service during World War II and training in radio communications.

The scrapbook contains a series of newspaper articles published in an Oregonian series promoting Oregon cities in 1947-1948 that were arranged and written by Griffis in his role as promotion manager for The Oregonian. The scrapbook includes clippings of the articles, published responses, and poster-size reproductions of the full page spreads for each city as they were featured in Sunday issues of the newspaper. The scrapbook also includes advertisements promoting these cities that were developed by the The Oregonian and published nationally. The featured Oregon cities were Albany, Astoria, Baker, Coos Bay and North Bend, Corvallis, Eugene, Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, La Grande, Medford, Pendleton, Roseburg, Salem, and The Dalles. Kelso and Longview, Washington, were also featured in one issue.

An addition to the George P. Griffis Papers (Accession 2011:082) is made up of a card, certificates, newspaper clippings, and a photograph. The materials that document Griffis' student experience at OAC reflect his involvement in the Alpha Delta Sigma Fraternity, recognition of academic honors by the Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society, and his winning of a Lions Club speech contest as a freshman. Commemorating the promotion of Griffis to president of the Oregon Advertising Club, the card is hand drawn and features caricatures of Griffis and his colleagues at the "Oregonian" newspaper. The photograph is an undated portrait shot of Griffis ca. 1950.

A second addition to the George P. Griffis Papers (Accession 2013:016) consists of a letter, newspaper clippings, photographs, a souvenir packet of snapshots, and a student handbook. Numbering 45 negatives in total, the images depict fruit picking and processing, campus views, shots of local downtowns, lumber operations in the St. Johns area of Portland, a high school basketball game, the Hanson Poultry Farm, and the erection of a tower for the KGW radio station. A few of the fruit processing images were featured in an article by Griffis about the Harry and David Company. The downtown views were taken in Corvallis, Albany, Salem, Medford, and McMinnville. The souvenir packet is made up of 15 snapshots of the OAC campus. The student handbook contains annotations by Griffis about his class schedule and the letter is an invitation to membership from the Alpha Delta Sigma Honorary Society for journalism students.

Biographical / Historical Notes

George P. Griffis attended Oregon State College from 1926 to 1929 and studied engineering and business. During his student years, he was national advertising manager for the Barometer campus newspaper; he continued this work as promotion manager for The Oregonian newspaper in Portland, Oregon, from 1929 until 1951. In 1951, Griffis left the The Oregonian to work for the Pacific National Advertising Agency where he worked until 1963, when he formed his own advertising firm.

The George P. Griffis Publishing Internship at the Oregon State University Press was established in 2010.

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 1 oversize box

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: The materials were donated to the Archives in 2010 by Griffis' daughter, Joan E. Griffis.

Related Materials: The Special Collections and Archives Research Center includes several collections documenting the work of alumni journalists and newspaper writers and publishers, including the Frank H. Bartholomew Collection (MSS Bartholomew), Hope Chamberlin Newspaper Columns (MSS Chamberlin), the Judith Carol Carlson Oral History Interview with Robert C. Ingalls (OH 002), and the Fred M. Shideler Papers (MSS Shideler).

Preferred Citation: George P. Griffis Portfolio and Scrapbook (MSS Griffis), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Creators

Griffis, George P.

People, Places, and Topics

Advertising, Newspaper--Oregon.
Cities and towns--Oregon.
Griffis, George P.
Marylhurst University
Portland (Or.)--Newspapers.
University History

Forms of Material

Scrapbooks.


Creative Commons License
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