Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Edward Griffin fonds
General material designation
- Textual record
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
Level of description
Fonds
Reference code
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
1956 - 2006 (Creation)
- Creator
- Griffin, Edward
Physical description area
Physical description
1.7 linear metres of textual records and other materials.
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Edward “Ted” Griffin is the founder and former owner of Seattle Marine Aquarium who launched the orca capture industry in the Pacific Northwest in the 1960s. In 1965, Griffin purchased and transported “Namu,” an orca caught in fishing nets in British Columbia, to Seattle Aquarium where Griffin trained the animal to perform and swim with humans. Following Namu’s capture, Griffin and his business partner, Don Goldsberry, went on to pioneer orca capture methods and supply oceanariums around the world with the whales. In 1972, Griffin retired from orca captures but remains heavily involved and interested in various marine mammal research projects.
Custodial history
Scope and content
The fonds consists of documents relating to the career of Edward “Ted” Griffin, covering his work as founder and manager of the Seattle Aquarium, his experience as an orca capturer, and his writing ventures with magazine articles and a full-length book. The collection includes personal and professional correspondence, drafts of publications, documents regarding Washington State’s marine mammal legislation, publications written by Griffin or featuring him, financial reports, research notes and reports, and promotional material surrounding Namu. Major topics covered in these papers include the passage of the marine mammal capture ban in Washington in 1971, the capture and ensuing stardom of Namu, Griffin’s book, Namu: Quest for the Killer Whale, aquarium research and planning, and marine mammal research. Forms of materials include correspondence, reports, publications, manuscripts, clippings, and photographs.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Gift of Edward Griffin and Freda J. Zimmerman, January 2018.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged into 4 series:
- Correspondence
- Writings
- Seattle Aquarium
- Other Papers
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Generated finding aid
Associated materials
Accruals
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Griffin, Edward (Subject)
- Colby, John F. (Subject)
Genre access points
Control area
Description record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules or conventions
Status
Revised
Level of detail
Partial
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Language of description
- English