Detroit Public Library. Burton Historical Collection.
Finding Aid for George F. Pierrot papers,
1898-1980
03956
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Detroit Public Library. Burton Historical Collection.
- Creator
- Pierrot, George F.,1898-1980
- Title
- George F. Pierrot papers,
- ID
- 03956
- Date
- 1898-1980
- Extent
- 55.0 linear ft.
- General Physical Description note
- (115 boxes, 12 large manuscripts)
- Abstract
- Papers which primarily reflect his work in the travel-adventure field as a journalist and film and television personality. The collection also speaks to his very active involvement in civic activities, fraternities, and clubs.
Biographical/Historical note
George F. Pierrot was born January 11, 1898, in Chicago Illinois. The family moved to Ballard, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. His father, a physician and surgeon kept him out of school until he was eight years of age, although he was taught to read at five. He entered public school in the third grade, skipped another grade, and entered high school at twelve. There he debated for three years, leading the state team in his senior year. He was also class president, and editor of the school paper for two terms. He finished at the head of his class, and was chosen valedictorian. He took a year off before entering the University of Washington in Seattle, where he majored in Journalism, with English as a minor. His grades were of Phi-Beta-Kappa average until the middle of his junior year, when he started to cover the campus for the Seattle Times, and had his study time broken. His summers were spent working in salmon canneries in Alaska. After the summer following his junior year in 1918, he joined the Army, and was sent to officers training School. The Armistice came six weeks before he was to receive his commission. Not wanting to return home so soon, he and a friend embarked on a "Work your way around America expedition", ending up in Washington D.C. There they applied for a job on the Coast and Geodetic Survey's flagship "Surveyor". The ship sailed out of Norfolk, Virginia, for Alaska via the Panama Canal. He left the ship in Seattle in late June, 1919. That fall he returned to the University of Washington to receive his degree the following year. He subsequently worked at many writing jobs. In May of 1922 he accepted a position in Detroit, Michigan, as assistant managing editor of the American Boy Magazine. He later became managing editor. In 1933, while still editor of American Boy, he organized the World Adventure Series, a civic non profit illustrated lecture series at the Detroit Institute of Arts. This brought to Detroit the world's leading explorers, adventurers, and travelers. He thus built an enormous circle of friends in the travel-adventure field. In 1948 he was asked to present the World Adventure Series on TV, launching another facet of his career. He became very active in civic activities, various fraternities, and f clubs. He was instrumental in forming the Michigan Chapter of the Circumnavigators Club. His TV presentations ended in 1978. He retired from the World Adventure Series in 1979, and died February 16, 1980.
Arrangement note
Organized into series: I. Biography and Correspondence. II. Works. III. Activities and Correspondence. IV. Photos and Clippings
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Detroit Public Library. Burton Historical Collection.
Restrictions
This collection is open for research use as of 1998.
Controlled Access Headings
Family Name(s)
- Pierrot, George F., -- 1898-1980 -- Archives
Genre(s)
- Biographies -- aat
- Clippings (information artifacts) -- aat
- Correspondence -- aat
- Photographs -- aat
Subject(s)
- Journalists.
- Television personalities.
- Travelers.
Other finding aids note
Finding aid and white index cards available in the Burton Historical Collection and on the World Wide Web.
Collection Inventory
SERIES I: BIOGRAPHY AND CORRESPONDENCEScope and Contents noteBiographical material is largely covered on page 1. Awards are for Mr Pierrot's accomplishments in the fields of Journalism, Travel, and Television, and his civic and club contributions. The correspondence consists of letters both to and from Mr. Pierrot. Prominent correspondents are noted on page 2. |
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Box | |||
Biographical Papers |
1 | ||
Awards |
2 | ||
Genealogy |
2 | ||
Biographical |
2 | ||
Awards |
3 | ||
Awards |
4 | ||
Christmas and Birthday Correspondence |
4 | ||
Christmas and Birthday Correspondence |
5 | ||
Christmas and Birthday Correspondence |
6 | ||
Get Well Correspondence 7 —Obituaries |
7 | ||
Condolences |
7 | ||
Condolences |
8 | ||
Correspondence A to B |
8 | ||
Correspondence B to C |
9 | ||
Correspondence C to F |
10 | ||
Correspondence F to H |
11 | ||
Correspondence I to M |
12 | ||
Correspondence M to R |
13 | ||
Correspondence R to T |
14 | ||
Correspondence T to Z |
15 | ||
Financial |
16 | ||
|
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SERIES II: WORKSScope and Contents noteMr. Pierrot's Works are primarily in the field of Journalism, the World Adventure Series Lectures at the Detroit Institute of Art, then the presentation of travel programs on Television. The collection also contains some fictional writings, some published. |
|||
Box | |||
Works 1919 to 1922 |
16 | ||
Works 1922 to 1940 |
17 | ||
Works 1940 to 1953 |
18 | ||
Works 1953 to 1967 |
19 | ||
Works 1967 to 1972 |
20 | ||
..Works 1972 to 1974 |
21 | ||
..Works 1974 to 1980 |
22 | ||
..Works Undated |
23 | ||
..Works Undated |
24 | ||
Works World Series 1933 to 1939 |
24 | ||
Works World Series 1938 to 1952 |
25 | ||
Works World Series 1952 to 1959 |
26 | ||
Works World Series 1960 to 1966 |
27 | ||
Works World Series 1966 to 1971 |
28 | ||
Works World Series 1971 to 1976 |
29 | ||
Works World Series 1976 to undated |
30 | ||
Works World Series Title Slides |
31 | ||
Works World Series Speakers A to B |
31 | ||
Works World Series Speakers B to C |
32 | ||
Works World Series Speakers C |
33 | ||
Works World Series Speakers C to D |
34 | ||
Works World Series Speakers C to F |
35 | ||
Works World Series Speakers F to G |
36 | ||
Works World Series Speakers G to H |
37 | ||
Works World Series Speakers H to I |
38 | ||
Works World Series Speakers I to J |
39 | ||
Works World Series Speakers J to L |
40 | ||
Works World Series Speakers L to M |
41 | ||
Works World Series Speakers M |
42 | ||
Works World Series Speakers M |
43 | ||
Works World Series Speakers M to N |
44 | ||
Works World Series Speakers N to P P |
45 | ||
Works World Series Speakers P |
46 | ||
Works World Series Speakers P to R |
47 | ||
Works World Series Speakers R |
48 | ||
Works World Series Speakers R to S |
49 | ||
Works World Series Speakers S |
50 | ||
Works World Series Speakers S to T |
53 | ||
Works World Series Speakers T to W |
54 | ||
Works World Series Speakers W |
55 | ||
Works World Series Speakers W |
56 | ||
Works World Series Speakers W |
57 | ||
Works WAS Inactive Speakers A to C |
57 | ||
Works WAS Inactive Speakers C to F |
58 | ||
Works WAS Inactive Speakers G to M |
59 | ||
Works WAS Prospective Speakers A to G |
60 | ||
Works WAS Prospective Speakers G to M |
61 | ||
Works WAS Prospective Speakers M to Q |
62 | ||
Works WAS Prospective Speakers R to V |
63 | ||
Works WAS Prospective Speakers W to Z |
64 | ||
Works Television 1958 to 1965 |
64 | ||
Works Television 1965 to 1969 |
65 | ||
Works Television 1969 to 1971 |
66 | ||
Works Television 1971 |
67 | ||
Works Television 1972 to 1973 |
68 | ||
Works Television 1973 |
69 | ||
Works Television 1973 to 1974 |
70 | ||
Works Television 1974 to 1975 |
71 | ||
Works Television 1975 |
72 | ||
Works Television 1975 to 1976 |
73 | ||
Works Television 1976 to 1978 |
74 | ||
Works Syndicated Films 1962 to 1966 |
74 | ||
Works Syndicated Films 1966 to 1967 |
75 | ||
Works Syndicated Films 1967 to 1970 |
76 | ||
Works Syndicated Films 1970 |
77 | ||
|
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SERIES III: ACTIVITIES AND CORRESPONDENCEScope and Contents noteMr. Pierrot was very active in many Clubs, Civic and Fraternal organizations. Boxes 81 through 90 are devoted to the Circumnavigators Club. He was the first president of the Club not from New York City, and was instrumental in forming the Michigan Chapter. Included is material on his personal travels and fishing and Hunting Trips. |
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Box | |||
Activities A to D |
77 | ||
Activities E to I |
77 | ||
Activities J to S |
79 | ||
Activities S to Z |
80 | ||
Activities Circumnavigators Club 1940 to 1960 |
81 | ||
Activities Circumnavigators Club 1960 to 1962 |
82 | ||
Activities Circumnavigators Club 1963 to 1965 |
83 | ||
Activities Circumnavigators Club 1965 to 1969 |
84 | ||
Activities Circumnavigators Club 1969 tc 1976 |
85 | ||
Activities Circumnavigators Club 1976 to Undated 86 Correspondence Circumnavigators Club A to D |
86 | ||
Correspondence Circumnavigators Club D to I |
87 | ||
Correspondence Circumnavigators Club J to P |
88 | ||
Correspondence Circumnavigators Club P to Z |
89 | ||
Circumnavigators Club "Log" 1940, 52, 53, and 56 thru 79 |
90 | ||
Activities Trips 1926 to 1966 |
91 | ||
Activities Trips 1967 to 1968 |
92 | ||
Activities Trips 1969 to 1973 |
93 | ||
Activities Trips 1973 to Undated |
94 | ||
Activities Lodges and Resorts A to D |
95 | ||
Activities Lodges and Resorts D to P |
96 | ||
Activities Lodges and Resorts P to W |
97 | ||
|
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SERIES IV: PHOTOS AND CLIPPINGSScope and Contents noteThe early photos are biographical, followed with those of people and his works, such as World Adventure Series Speakers, and his many activities, including travels. A large Scrap Book, Clippings and Typical Periodicals complete the collection. |
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Box | |||
Photos - Early, 1914 to 1978 |
98 | ||
Photos A to C |
98 | ||
Photos C to F |
99 | ||
Photos F to P |
100 | ||
Photos P to Z |
101 | ||
Photos By Country or State A |
102 | ||
Photos By Country or State A to C |
103 | ||
Photos By Country or State C to G |
104 | ||
Photos By Country or State G to J |
105 | ||
Photos By Country or State J to N |
106 | ||
Photos By Country or State N to S |
107 | ||
Photos By Country or State S to Y |
108 | ||
Miscellaneous, People |
109 | ||
Scrapbook |
110 | ||
Clippings |
110 | ||
Typical Periodicals |
110 | ||
Oversized material |
111 | ||
Oversized material |
113 | ||
American boy Magazines, seven copies, 1917 - 1921 Guest Register of the Michigan Insect Zoo, June - September 1937 |
111 | ||
Oversized Birthday Cards n.d. |
111 | ||
Restaurants and menus n.d. |
111 | ||
Testimonial from the Circumnavigators Club, 1978 |
111 | ||
Testimonials from the Mayor and the City Council of the |
111 | ||
City of Detroit n.d. |
111 | ||
Award, U.S. Airforce, May 1948 |
112 | ||
Award from the City of Detroit Council, January 1954 Award from the State of Michigan, January 1977 Award of merit form France, June, 1976 |
112 | ||
Award from the United European American Club, 1972 Award from Educational TV and Radio, 1959 |
112 | ||
Award from Birmingham Community House, January 1978 Award from the Sons of the Whiskey Rebellion June 1977 Bureau National Du Cognac, France, April 1975 Card, 80th Birthday, January 1978 |
112 | ||
Presidential Citation from American Society of Travel Agents January 1978 |
112 | ||
Clippings, Scrapbook, 1961 - 1965 |
112 | ||
Congratulations from Province of Ontario for 21 years of TV November 1969 |
112 | ||
Gil Dobie, one time coach of the University of Washington 1908 - 1916, Obituary and photo. |
112 | ||
Phonograph Records from the Tokyo Board of Tourism Industries to the American Boy magazine n.d. |
112 | ||
Photos of Eastern Market, Detroit, n.d. |
112 | ||
Poster, World Adventure Series, n.d. |
112 | ||
Proclamation from the City of Dearborn, Michigan, January 1968 Proclamation from the City of Detroit, November 1978 Program: Dedication of the Detroit Institute of Art North |
112 | ||
Wing, October 1971 |
112 | ||
Resolution from the City of Detroit Council, January 1954 Resolution from the State of Michigan Senate # 115, August 1971 Resolution from the State of Michigan Senate # 106, April 1975 Resolution from the State of Michigan |
112 | ||
House of Representatives # 521, December 1977 Resolution Testimonial from the City of Detroit Council November 1978 |
112 | ||
LMS | |||
Scrap Book, largely Publicity, 1965 - 1976 |
I | ||
Executive Declaration from Governor of the State of Michigan, |
II | ||
William G. Milliken n.d. Honor from the Detroit Producers Association. n.d. |
II | ||
Proclamation from the City of Detroit n.d. |
II | ||
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