F. A. Gilfillan Papers, 1894-1984

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.

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.

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.

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 IV 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.

Additionally, this series contains six transcribed cassette tapes 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. These tapes and their transcripts are restricted indefinitely. The series also includes 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.

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.