MS 708 - The Pearson Games Collection

Title	MS 708 - The Pearson Games Collection
Subject	Arts & Entertainment
Subject	BGSU Centennial History
Introduction	The Pearson Games Collection is comprised of approximately 3 1/2 cubic feet of design, research and publicity documents from 1982-1986 for the BG-opoly and BGSU Trivia games. BGSU faculty member Dr. Michael Pearson and his wife Gayl created and funded production of the games. BG-opoly was developed by Gayl Pearson as a non-profit, public service project to commemorate the Bowling Green sesquicentennial in 1983. She designed the BGSU Trivia game in recognition of the university's seventy-fifth anniversary in 1985. As co-advisor to the B.G.S.U. Chapter of the American Marketing Association (A.M.A.), Michael Pearson relinquished the promotion and selling of the trivia game to the A.M.A. - the largest professional student organization on campus at that time. The collection was transferred to the Center for Archival Collections (CAC) by the Pearsons on August 7, 1995. No restrictions have been placed on its use for research purposes. The collection was arranged and the finding aid was completed by Eric Honneffer in August 2006.
Scope and Content	The BG-opoly and BGSU Trivia games are evidence of one family's interest in promoting their local community and its resources while educating citizens, students and visitors about the history of Bowling Green and Bowling Green State University. The Pearson Games Collection offers insight into how the games were designed, the local history researched and how the games were finally produced and promoted during local community anniversaries. The correspondence, research files and printed materials are especially beneficial to researchers. The information request forms shed light on how the Pearsons worked with campus organizations to gather data for the BGSU Trivia game. Records series are divided separately by individual games.
Series Description	CORRESPONDENCE CORRESPONDENCE April 4, 1982-June 13, 1984 Arranged chronologically Correspondence focuses predominately on the BG-opoly game and includes letters of congratulations and documents concerning copyright, distribution and promotion of the game. Scattered correspondence - some from Paul Jones - offering bits of Bowling Green history may also be found in the research files. In addition, a promotional tape is included. Material for each game filed separately. SUBJECT FILES RESEARCH FILES 1893, 1911, 1970-1983 (scattered) Miscellaneous printed materials, photocopies and notes regarding Bowling Green and Wood County history. Material for each game filed separately. MISCELLANEOUS FILES 1984-1985 Financial documents and information request forms for the BGSU Trivia game. PRODUCTION DOCUMENTS 1982-1985 Drafts of historical fact cards, deed cards, questions/answers by subject, card proofs, and printing masters for producing various aspects of both games. Material for each game filed separately. PRINTED MATERIALS PRINTED MATERIALS 1982-1986 Includes clippings, press releases and publicity about the games, as well as logos and designs for the game box and game board. Two miscellaneous B.G. drugstore bottle labels are included. Material for each game filed separately. ARTIFACTS GAMES 1982-1985 Complete versions of each game including game boards, boxed trivia cards, tokens, dice, BGSU Trivia game/pin back buttons, etc.
Inventory	Box 1: BG-opoly Game Folders Correspondence, 4/12/1982-6/13/1984 Research Files - B.G./Wood County history, 1893, 1911-1983 (scattered) Research Files - notes, 1982-1983 Drafts - historical fact cards, 1982-1983 Drafts - game instructions, B.G. bucks, 1982-1983 Drafts I - deed cards, 1982-1983 Drafts II - deed cards, 1982-1983 Drafts - game board, graphics, costs, 1982-1983 Corrected proofs - deed cards, historical fact cards, 1982-1983 Printing masters - layout, historical fact cards, deed cards, 1982-1983 Printing masters - historical fact cards, 1982-1983 Printing masters - game instructions, B.G. bucks, 1982-1983 Clippings - BG-opoly, 1983 Clippings - B.G. Sesquicentennial, 1983 Miscellaneous B.G. drugstores' bottle labels, c.1920 Box 2: BG-opoly Game BG-opoly game, dice, tokens, etc., 1983 Box 3: BGSU Trivia Game Folder Draft questions/answers - Buildings, 1984-1985 Draft questions/answers - Buildings, 1984-1985 Draft questions/answers - Buildings, 1984-1985 Draft questions/answers - Campus Life, 1984-1985 Draft questions/answers - Campus Life, 1984-1985 Draft questions/answers - History and Traditions, 1984-1985 Draft questions/answers - History and Traditions, 1984-1985 Draft questions/answers - Odds and Ends, 1984-1985 Draft questions/answers - Odds and Ends, 1984-1985 Box 4: BGSU Trivia Game Folder Draft questions & answers - People, 1984-1985 Draft questions & answers - People, 1984-1985 Draft questions & answers - Sports, 1984-1985 Draft questions & answers - Sports, 1984-1985 Corrected proofs - Places (Buildings), 1984-1985 Corrected proofs - Campus Life, 1984-1985 Corrected proofs - History and Traditions, 1984-1985 Corrected proofs - History and Traditions, 1984-1985 Corrected proofs - Odds and Ends, 1984-1985 Corrected proofs - People, 1984-1985 Corrected proofs - Sports, 1984-1985 Corrected proofs - Sports, 1984-1985 BGSU Trivia game playing instructions, 1984-1985 Box 5: BGSU Trivia Game Folder Financial documents, 1984-1985 Information request forms, 1984-1985 BGSU Trivia game logo, design mock-ups, etc., 1984-1985 BGSU Trivia game box design, 1984-1985 BGSU Trivia game clippings, press releases, publicity, 1984-1986 Box 6: BGSU Trivia Game BGSU Trivia game, question cards and two buttons with game logo, n.d. Oversize Box 1: BG-opoly Game BG-opoly game boards: drafts, printing master, and final version, n.d. Oversize Box 2: BGSU Trivia Game BGSU Trivia game printing masters and original art work and final version of box design, n.d.