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Finding Aid

George H. Orians Papers, 1916 to 1972

UM-64

Size: .75 linear feet

Provenance: Dorothy Orians, Toledo, OH, August 30th, 1985

Access: Open

Related Collections:  

Processing Note:

Condition: Fair

Copyright: The literary rights to this collection are assumed to rest with the person(s) responsible for the production of the particular items within the collection, or with their heirs or assigns.  Researchers bear full legal responsibility for the acquisition to publish from any part of said collection per Title 17, United States Code.  The Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections may reserve the right to intervene as intermediary at its own discretion.

Completed by: Susan Schwerer

Historical/Biographical Sketch

George Harrison Orians, born in 1900, taught American Literature at the University of Toledo from 1929 to 1970. In addition, he also taught summer lectures. By 1941, Orians held the position of chairman of the English Department. In 1970, his wife, Dorothy, moved to Denver, Colorado in order to be closer to their three children, leaving Orians alone. He was an avid outdoorsmen and was often described as letting his house “return to nature”. Particularly, he was interested in water pollution issues of the area and of the world. He was a nature photographer and filmmaker and lectured for the National Audubon Society. His interests ranged from Oriental and Indian art to the career of film actor Otto Kruger.

Dr. Orians wrote numerous books and articles about local history, the American Indian, nature, and the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne. On April 14, 1985 after suffering a heart attack, George Harrison Orians died while in the care of the Toledo Hospital.

Scope and Content Note

This collection includes Dr. Orian’s correspondence with several libraries and historical societies in an effort to research his interest in travelers. There are also citations and credits for his service as well as some faculty reappointments. Further, there are numerous research notes on Oriental and Indian art and American fiction topics. The collection also contains Orians’ American Literature syllabus and several examples of his periodical publications. Finally, the collection features Orians’ photographs of log houses, rail fences, polluted waters, other miscellaneous photographs, and photos of himself in action.

Folder List