Finding Aid for George F. Pierrot papers, 1898-1980
03956

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.

Return to Table of Contents »

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.

Return to Table of Contents »

Arrangement note

Organized into series: I. Biography and Correspondence. II. Works. III. Activities and Correspondence. IV. Photos and Clippings

Return to Table of Contents »

Administrative Information

Publication Information

Detroit Public Library. Burton Historical Collection.

Restrictions

This collection is open for research use as of 1998.

Return to Table of Contents »

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.

Return to Table of Contents »

Other finding aids note

Finding aid and white index cards available in the Burton Historical Collection and on the World Wide Web.

Return to Table of Contents »

Collection Inventory

SERIES I: BIOGRAPHY AND CORRESPONDENCE 

Scope and Contents note

Biographical 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.
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

Return to Table of Contents »

SERIES II: WORKS 

Scope and Contents note

Mr. 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

Return to Table of Contents »

SERIES III: ACTIVITIES AND CORRESPONDENCE 

Scope and Contents note

Mr. 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.
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

Return to Table of Contents »

SERIES IV: PHOTOS AND CLIPPINGS 

Scope and Contents note

The 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.
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

Return to Table of Contents »