NTDMG350 Guide to Rafe Gibbs papers Gibbs (Rafe) papers Sara Szobody Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives 2021
libspec@uidaho.edu
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-07-02. Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives Rafe Gibbs papers Gibbs, Rafe, 1912-1998 MG 350 7 cubic feet 1946-1984 Rafe Gibbs' papers; including articles and books he wrote; research and photographs; and materials used as exhibits at a reception at the University of Idaho honoring Gibbs and illustrator Alfred Dunn, May 14, 1989, and a frame (ca. 11"x22.5") containing portraits of Gibbs and Dunn with a narrative about their collaboration. English . 1 Oversized

A corrected typescript of Gibbs' history of the University of Idaho and 2 books and many articles authored by him which were published in a variety of popular magazines. The latter formed part of an exhibit held at the university on May 14, 1989. Also included is an oversize framed photograph of Rafe Gibbs and Alfred Dunn, the artist who illustrated many of Gibbs' stories. Also research notes, photographs, news clipping, and correspondence.

Collection is open for research.

Raphael Sandford (Rafe) Gibbs (1912-1998) was an author and former University of Idaho director of information and publications.He was born April 29, 1912, to Sandford Oliver (S.O.) and Anna Sandmeyer Gibbs in Yakima. The family later moved to Moscow to begin farming shortly before the stock market crash in October 1929. The farm produce and profits put Gibbs and his five siblings through college. He paid his fraternity bills in eggs.

He graduated from the UI in 1934 and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and Phi Beta Kappa. He began working in 1934 as the UI sports publicity director. He served as the editor of publications from 1946 to 1949. He was a professor and taught Magazine Article Writing at UI in 1950. From 1949 until his retirement June 30, 1970, he was the director of information and publications.He worked from 1936 to 1941 at the Milwaukee Journal as a copy desk editor, reporter, daily news writer for the newspaper's radio station, WTMJ, and assistant picture editor.

He married Elizabeth F. (Biddie) Egeland Oct. 3, 1940, in Milwaukee.

In 1941 he was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps and worked as the base executive officer at Rapid City, S.D., and inspector of all air bases in nine Western and Midwestern states. He attained the rank of colonel and was discharged in 1946.

His writing career began at the age of 13 with the sale of his first story, a Western, for $35. He wrote articles, short stories and histories for such magazines as The Saturday Evening Post, Popular Mechanics and Sports Afield. Throughout his career, his wife, a former editor at the Milwaukee Journal, edited and critiqued his work. She survives him at their home in Sun City Center.

He wrote several histories, including "Beacon for Mountain and Plain," a history of the UI, and "Visibility Unlimited," a history of the Florida International University, of which he was a founding staff member and assistant dean of university relations and development. He wrote "Beckoning the Bold," a history of Idaho, as well as children's stories and encyclopedia entries on Idaho. He also worked as a consultant in public relations.

He was a member of the University of Idaho Alumni Hall of Fame and was honored in 1989 as one of the most distinguished graduates during the university's centennial celebration. --from the Lewiston Morning Tribune

Duplicates removed; pulp magazines that did not contain a Gibbs' article were also removed.

Materials received from Grayson Gibbs in 1986, 1989, and 1997 (MA 1989-23; MA 1986-46; MA 1997-17).

FOR PHOTOS: Photographer, "Title," date. Collection name, object ID. University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives, Moscow, ID.

FOR DOCUMENTS: Author, Description or "Title" of item, date. Collection name, collection number, box, folder. University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives, Moscow, ID.

https://www.lmtribune.com/obituaries/raphael-rafe-gibbs-86-former-ui-writer-1396069e/

 Dunn, (Alfred Charles), , Alfred C. (Dunn, (Alfred Charles)), 1909-2002 University of Idaho Universities and colleges--Faculty Universities and colleges--Professional staff College Publicity Outdoor writers Authors Publications Correspondence Idaho Series I: Publications Beacon for Mountain and Plain 1 items 1962 1 1 Beckoning the Bold 1 items 1976 1 2 30th Anniversary Reader's Digest Reader 1 items Rafe's name is embossed on cover 1952 3 52 Article on Fred Blanchard and U of I Dramatics 1 items undated 1 3 Action Stories 2 items Gibb's first published story; Gunmen of the Painted Desert 1926 1 4 American, The 1 items Mail for Hell's Canyon 1950 1 5 American Mercury 3 items He Owns a Town, p 135; Rest Your Oars On an Island, p 139; The Mountains with Two Names, p 39 He Owns a Town, p 135 1956-1956 1 6 Away 2 items Exploring Sunny Florida, p 5; Town of 'Motif No. 1', p 6 1972-1973 1 7 Blue Bucket Magazine 1 items 1939 1 8 Brochures, Programs, documents 4 items undated 1 9 Buick Magazine 2 items Jun 1948 Touring Below the Earth; Sept 1950 Reliving the Old West 1948-1950 1 10 Cascades 2 items Feb 1963 Daring Men; Mar 1963 Book Review of Beacon for Mountain and Plain 1963 1 11 Congressional Record 1 items 100th Anniversary of the Morrill Act 1962 1 12 Coronet 1 items Where Adventure Begins 1948 1 13 Contemporary Authors 1 items 1969 3 14 Cowboy Stories 1 items Brand 'em Cowboy! 1932 1 15 Crown, The 3 items June 1956 Dusting Off the Old West; May 1957 Chuck Wagon 'Round Wyoming Bend 1956-1957 1 16 Dictionary of International Biography 1 items 1967 2 17 Dodge News Magazine 7 items Jan 1970 Best Place For a Shell Game; May 1972 They Keep a Heritage Flying; Sept 1971 Florida's Road Into the Sea; Sept 1969 Hazaledon-George Ade's Cure for Loneliness; Dec 1971 Destination Florida; Mar 1971 America's Low Cost Riveria; undated Twice as High as Niagara! 1969-1972 1 18 Eagle 2 items Mar 1957 Wooden Indians Wouldn't Die; Nov 1957 Virginia City Rides Again 1957 1 19 Farm Journal 2 items June 1948 That's My Pop!; Aug 1956 These 4-H-ers Saddle Up For Fun 1948-1956 1 20 Ford Times 18 items 1948-1971 1 21 Lincoln-Mercury Times 3 items Jan 1953 Hook, Line, and Sink Her; Jan 1955 Life History of the Jackalope; Nov 1956 Mountain That Came Back 1953-1956 1 22 Magazine Digest 2 items College in the Tall Timber; Stake a Claim 1950-1951 1 23 Mainliner 5 items Mar 1964 Drama When the West Roared!; Oct 1964 Wooden Indian Rides Again; Sept 1969 Meter Mutterings; Jan 1966 Sage Brush Sign Posts; Jul 1963 Streets of Gold 1963-1969 1 24 Men Goodyear Dealers Magazine 4 items Rides Chuckwagon to Success; Law Reaches Underwater; Virginia City Rides Again; Paul Bunyan Rodeo; One-Shot Hunt undated 1 25 Milwaukee Journal Green Sheet 4 items 1936-1940 1 26 Motor News 2 items Sept 1948 Shuffle Off to Buffalo Land; Apr 1962 Tenting By Tide 1948-1962 1 27 Motorhome 2 items 1 28 Newspapers 10 items 1947-1984 1 29 Popular Electronics 3 items Electronics Tell Truth Fish Tales; More Than Meets the Ears; TV in the Tall Timber 1956-1958 1 30 Popular Mechanics 1 items They Keep the Old West Alive 1949-09 4 Popular Mechanics 43 items Jan 1950 Homestead on the Range; Mar 1950 FBI Road Show; Apr 1950 Small Town Television; June 1950 College in the Tall Timber; The Campus is 'On the Air'; Mar 1951 Close ups from Miles; May 1951 Westerners Are Riding High; June 1951 There's No Age Limit for Mountain Climbers; July 1951 Lost River Returns; Aug 1951 The Farm Shop Keeps Pace; Oct 1951 New West Still Fights Rustlers; Dec 1951 They Said Good bye to Broadway; Feb 1952; May 1952 The Richest Hole in the Mountain; Aug 1952 Ride 'em Lumberjack!; Nov 1952 Time Savers on the Dairy Farm; Dec 1952 Playing Safe with Atomic Rays; Feb 1953 He Bosses 11,000 Acres By Radio; Mar 1953 Cattle Ranch in a Canyon; Apr 1953 This Curiosity Shop Beats the Dickens; May 1953 What Became of the Shelter Belt; Aug 1953 The Turbo Truck the Hottest on the Road; Sept 1953; Jan 1954 Battle of the Sage Brush Busters; Oct 1954 Buffalo, Cattle and now Oil; Apr 1955 The World's Hottest 'Garbage'; Nov 1955 Testing Atoms at Work; Feb 1956 Seatle Police Patrol an Underwater Beat; May 1956 Shooting Salmon From the Sky; Jul 1956 How Atoms Generate Power; Apr 1958 Quick Power When Disaster Strikes; Jun 1958 Farm Machine Race The Population; Feb 1959 Scraps From Junk Yard (About George Roberts); May 1959 Pipelines Grow Like Spider Webs; Jul 1959 Seattle Police Take a Tip From Hollywood; Dec 1959 Oil Hunters With Aqualungs 1950-1953 4 Popular Mechanics 6 items May 1960 Tips For Tenting; Feb 1961 Potatoes Start a Revolution; Dec 1961 Seattle's Floating Prowl Car; Oct 1962 Tractor Jack Stampede; May and June 1950 Norwegian Popular Mechanics 1953-1962 5 Populaer Mekanik 2 items 1950 1 31 Ranch Romances 1 items 1933 1 32 Record, The 4 items Hold That Geiger; History High, Wide, Handsome; That New Swimming Hole; Chuck Wagon Rolls Again 1956-1957 1 33 Sunday Digest 1 items 1953 1 34 Souvenir Book-Gowen Field Idaho 1 items undated 3 35 That First Hunting Trip 2 items 1952 2 36 Various Magazines '47 - C 10 items 47 Vardis Fisher "The Storm"; 1933 Author and Journalist; 1933 All Outdoors; 19556 Alumination; 1986 Barascope; 1939 Crime Detective; 1989 Christmas; 1954 Chrysler Events; 1954 Country Gentlemen 1933-1989 1 37 Various Magazines E - F 8 items Feb 1960 Electronics Illustrated; June 1986 Endless Vacation; Sept 1947 Everybody's Digest; undated Farm Progress; July 1959 Flying; 1978 Flying Colors; Spring 1951 Form Farms; Aug 1988 Ford New Holland News 1947-1988 1 38 Various Magazines G - M 6 items Oct 1961 Guns; Jul 1956 Highway magazine; May 1934 Idaho Blue Bucket; Jul 1958 Lion; Oct 1948 Mechanix Illustrated; Sept 1982 Motorhome 1934-1982 1 39 Various Magazines O - P 4 items Apr 1959 Outboard; Apr 1950 Pacific Northwest Magazine; Sept 1953 Pic; Jul 1959 AOPA Pilot 1953-1959 1 40 Various Magazines S 7 items Sept 1980 Reader's Nutshell; Aug 1984 Saturday Evening Post; Aug 1951 Science Digest; Fall 1978 September Days; Nov 1952 Sports Afield; May 1952 Steelways; Oct 1959 Success Unlimited 1951-1984 1 41 Various Magazines T - W 4 items Sept 1954 Town and Journal; Jul 1933 Town Tidings; Jan 1980 Treasure; May 1934 Writer's Review 1933-1980 1 42 Varsity 1 items 1951 3 43 West 1 items 1932 1 44 Western Horseman 1 items Ben Hollady-King of Stage Coaches 1985 1 45 Who's Who in Public Relations 1 items 1962 3 46 Western Wildlife 2 items Dry Gulch's Mint; Swan Song 1934 1 47 Westward 2 items 1956-1957 2 48 Woman 2 items The Price of an Aching Heart; Career Girl Turned Farmer 1947-1953 2 49 Your Life 2 items The Lady Who Took to Dirt Farming; It's Earlier Than you Think 1953-1954 2 50 Zane Grey's Western Magazine 2 items 1950-1951 2 51 Blue Book of Magazine Writers 1 items 1960 2 53 Images 1 items Public School Textbook 1971 3 54 Medley 1 items Public School Textbook 1976 3 55 Keystone 1 items Public School Textbook 1976 3 56 Galaxies 1 items Public School Textbook 1971 3 57 Visibility Unlimited 1 items From a Deserted Airport of Yesterday to an Urban University of Tomorrow 1976 3 58 Series II: Writing Drafts Acadiana-Cajuns Make It Special 10 items 1980-1982 3 59 Articles 15 items Born Again- The Early West; Cruising Down the St. Lawrence Flowing with Memories; Christmas in Old San Juan; Appaloosas- Pride of the Long Trail; Rodeo When the West Was Young; Spur of the Moment Town Names; Those Hornswoggled Jackalopes; The Spotted Horse, and the Willow Whistle; The Lady and the Spotted Horse; Adventures of Spunky, The Globe-Hopping Frog; Run or the Blue Ribbon; The Swan of Storytellers: Hans Christian Andersen undated 3 60 Buffalo 6 items News clippings; photographs of Buffalo 1941-1978 3 61 By the Sea In a Tent 18 items Article draft; notes; correspondence; photographs 1960 3 62 Crater Lake 7 items Correspondence; photographs; bw negatives 1954 3 63 Elbow Room 7 items Wallowa; photographs; bw negatives undated 3 64 Gold and Fire in Those Hills 4 items Article; photographs undated 3 65 Idaho's Mission of the Wilderness 9 items Article drafts; Coeur d'Alene Mission brochures; correspondence; photographs; negatives undated 3 66 Lessons in Living- The Indian Way 25 items Article drafts; notes; correspondence; photographs; news clippings; negatives; Laupin brochure; Reginald and Gladys Laupin 1952-1956 3 67 Long on Scenery, Short on People 46 items Article drafts; news clippings; bw negatives; bw photo; correspondence; Owyhee County 1958-1960 3 68 Mountain Nobody Saw, The 3 items Article; photographs; bw negatives; Mazam Mountain 1981 3 69 Nostalgia By the Sea-Cedar Keys 13 items Article draft; correspondence; 35mm color slides 1978 3 70 Shuttle to Glory 4 items Article; correspondence; bw negatives undated 3 71 Sign Posts to the Lore of America 4 items article drafts undated 3 72 Steam Boatin' Down Dixie Way 14 items Article; postcards; brochures; 35mm color slides; correspondence 1983-1989 3 73 Sundance Time 14 items Article drafts; news clippings; bw negatives; bw photo undated 3 74 The Easiest - The Best- Way 69 items Photographs; article drafts; bw negatives; bw photographs; notes 1953-1960 3 75 Williamsburg of the West 33 items Article; photographs; negatives; drafts; America's Wild West Rises Again undated 3 76 Yakima's First Christmas 12 items Article; correspondence; news clippings; brochure; notes 1963 3 77 Yellowstone's Second Old Faithful 36 items Article draft; notes; correspondence; photographs; J.E. Haynes; President FDR & Eleanor Roosevelt 1883-1950 3 78 You Can Live Like a Millionaire on Jekyll Island 3 items undated 3 79 Series IV: Research Material Indians 40 items Photographs; negatives; news clippings undated 3 80 Voyager Fishing Boat 6 items Photographs; negatives. 1954-1956 3 81 Idaho Photographs 27 items 1957 3 82 Animals 29 items Photographs; sheep; gulls; cattle; ranch hands undated 3 83 Island Crop: Contentment 6 items Photographs; negatives undated 3 84 Pictorial 16 items Photographs; negatives undated 3 85 Photographs 27 items Photographs; negatives; Lumberyard Stampede-Orofino; Idaho wilderness; lighthouse; USS Ian Homme Richard; air carrier; fighter jets undated 3 86 Historical Photographs 24 items Photographs; negatives undated 6 87 Western Photographs 11 items Photographs undated 6 88 Twin Echo 110 items bw negatives 1951-1958 6 89 Scenic 83 items undated 6 90 Series V: Personal Papers Workshop on Wheels 83 items Mary Kirkwood; Alf Dunn 1956 6 91 5oth Wedding Anniversary 36 items 1960-1991 6 Communication 11 items letterhead; correspondence Letter from 1958-1980 6 News clippings 14 items 1960-1992 6 94 Correspondence 39 items 1969-1970 6 95 On Beacon and Plain Correspondence 18 items 1962 6 96 Brochures, Programs, documents 4 items 1934-1950 6 97 White Cloud Controversy 2 items 1969 6 98 Photographs 17 items undated 6 99 Retirement 9 items 1970 6 100 First Purchased Article 1 items 1926 6 101 Series VI: Large Magazines Country Gentleman 6 items Convertible Homes Fill a Need; Clover See Can be a Cash Crop; Sage Gives Way to Gas; Open Sheds Cut Dairy Costs; Sheep on the Comeback Trail; Shutter Bugs with a Purpose 1950-1952 7 Once a Year 1 items Of Pigeons and Peanuts 1939 7 This Week Magazine 1 items This Man Bought a Town! 1946 7 Esquire 1 items Bullfight, USA 1947 7 Collier's 4 items Designs for Touring; Rah! Rah! Radio; Christmas Tree Capital; Million-acre Boom 1947-1948 7 Print with photographs of Gibbs and Dunn 1 items Framed prints of Gibbs and Dunn with a narrative about their collaboration. 1989 Oversized