Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
Dirk Gringhuis Papers
UA.17.306
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
- Creator
- Gringhuis, Dirk, 1918-1974
- Title
- Dirk Gringhuis papers
- ID
- UA.17.306
- Date
- undated, circa 1965-1967
- Extent
- 1.0 Cubic feet
- Language
- English
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: "Item title, Collection title, Collection Identifier, Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections, East Lansing, Michigan."
Biographical Note
Richard H. "Dirk" Gringhuis was born on September 22, 1918 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He attended Greason School of Painting in Douglas, Michigan in 1937, followed by the American Academy of Art in Chicago, Illinois from 1938 to 1940. In 1941 Gringhuis took a break from school to marry Helen Lees. He returned to school in 1942; this time attending the Grand Central Art School in New York, N.Y.
For the first 10 years of his career, Gringhuis worked as a freelance artist in Grand Rapids, then as Director of the Art Department at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. In 1952 he began working as a freelance artist in East Lansing. Gringhuis started his career at Michigan State University as Assistant Curator at the Abrams Planetarium in 1963. The following year he was transferred to the museum to work as an artist. He was promoted to Curator of Exhibits in 1967, a position he held until his death in 1974. In 1971 Gringhuis became an Associate Professor of Elementary Education and Special Education.
Gringhuis wrote and illustrated 20 childrens books and served as a artist, producer, and host of the weekly television program "Open Door to Michigan." The program began at WMSB-TV at MSU in 1964 as an educational show targeted to children in grades 3 through 5. Gringhuis also served as a consultant for Mackinac Island State Park Commission. Preparing illustrated bulletins, research reports, and painting murals depicting scenes from Michigan history were a few of the tasks he performed for the Commission.
Following a short illness, Gringhuis died on March 31, 1974 at the age of 55.
Scope and Content
The Dirk Gringhuis Papers contain drafts, gallery proofs, photographs, and illustrated drawings for two of Gringhuis' books: Stars on the Ceiling: the Planetarium Story and Open Door to the Great Lakes. The collection also contains MSU Museum pamphlets, newspaper articles concerning Gringhuis and the MSU Museum, publications by Gringhuis, reminiscence about Gringhuis by his coworker Charles Smith, a drawing of Charles Smith? by Gringhuis, photographs of museum staff members, and a watercolor and sketches by Gringhuis.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections July 2012
Conrad Hall888 Wilson Road, Room 101
East Lansing , MI, 48824
517-355-2330
archives@msu.edu
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Legal Status
Copyright: Michigan State University. Property Rights: Michigan State University.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- Michigan State University. Libraries. Special Collections Division.
Genre(s)
- Galley proofs
- Letters (correspondence)
- Photographs
Geographic Name(s)
- Great Lakes (North America)
- Michigan -- History
Subject(s)
- Planetariums
Collection Inventory
|
Stars on the Ceiling: the Planetarium Story 1967 |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Final draft, galley proofs, correspondence |
4025 | 1 | ||
|
Illustrations - drawings |
4025 | 2 | ||
|
Photographs |
4025 | 3 | ||
|
Page proofs |
4025 | 4 | ||
|
Oversize illustrations |
4026 | 1 | ||
|
Open Door to the Great Lakes 1966 |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Draft |
4025 | 5 | ||
|
Galley proofs |
4025 | 6 | ||
|
Photographs |
4025 | 7 | ||
|
Oversize illustrations |
4026 | 1-2 | ||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Drawing of Charles Smith? by Gringhuis undated |
4025 | 8 | ||
|
MSU Museum Pamphlets undated |
4025 | 9 | ||
|
Newspaper Articles - Otters on Exhibit; Piecing Together the Past 1970-1971 |
4025 | 10 | ||
|
Publications by Gringhuis |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
The Big Hunt: A Museum Exhibit Comes to Life 1962 |
4025 | 11 | ||
|
Mystery Mammals of the Ice Age 1972 |
4025 | 11 | ||
|
Moccasin Tracks: A Saga of the Michigan Indian 1974 |
4025 | 11 | ||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Reminscence from "But in Here" book by Charles Smith undated |
4025 | 12 | ||
|
Watercolor of Labrador Tea by Gringhuis 1964 |
4025 | 13 | ||
|
Photographs of Museum Staff 1961-1970 |
4025 | 14 | ||
| Box | ||||
|
Drawing of Men Working in the Woods by Gringhuis (oversize) undated |
5813 | |||
|
Photo of Drawing of Mountain Lion Killing an Elk by Gringhuis (oversize) undated |
5813 | |||
|
Drawing of Otter Exhibit by Gringhuis (oversize) undated |
5813 | |||