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Rafe Gibbs papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MG 350

Content Description

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.

Dates

  • Creation: 1946-1984

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Biographical / Historical

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

Extent

7 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

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.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

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

Bibliography

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

General

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

Title
Guide to Rafe Gibbs papers
Author
Sara Szobody
Date
2021
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities

Repository Details

Part of the University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives Repository