Center for Archival Collections

Introduction | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

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

1. Correspondence, 4/12/1982-6/13/1984
2. Research Files - B.G./Wood County history, 1893, 1911-1983 (scattered)
3. Research Files - notes, 1982-1983
4. Drafts - historical fact cards, 1982-1983
5. Drafts - game instructions, B.G. bucks, 1982-1983
6. Drafts I - deed cards, 1982-1983
7. Drafts II - deed cards, 1982-1983
8. Drafts - game board, graphics, costs, 1982-1983
9. Corrected proofs - deed cards, historical fact cards, 1982-1983
10. Printing masters - layout, historical fact cards, deed cards, 1982-1983
11. Printing masters - historical fact cards, 1982-1983
12. Printing masters - game instructions, B.G. bucks, 1982-1983
13. Clippings - BG-opoly, 1983
14. Clippings - B.G. Sesquicentennial, 1983
15. Miscellaneous B.G. drugstores' bottle labels, c.1920

Box 2: BG-opoly Game

1. BG-opoly game, dice, tokens, etc., 1983

Box 3: BGSU Trivia Game

Folder

1. Draft questions/answers - Buildings, 1984-1985
2. Draft questions/answers - Buildings, 1984-1985
3. Draft questions/answers - Buildings, 1984-1985
4. Draft questions/answers - Campus Life, 1984-1985
5. Draft questions/answers - Campus Life, 1984-1985
6. Draft questions/answers - History and Traditions, 1984-1985
7. Draft questions/answers - History and Traditions, 1984-1985
8. Draft questions/answers - Odds and Ends, 1984-1985
9. Draft questions/answers - Odds and Ends, 1984-1985

Box 4: BGSU Trivia Game

Folder

1. Draft questions & answers - People, 1984-1985
2. Draft questions & answers - People, 1984-1985
3. Draft questions & answers - Sports, 1984-1985
4. Draft questions & answers - Sports, 1984-1985
5. Corrected proofs - Places (Buildings), 1984-1985
6. Corrected proofs - Campus Life, 1984-1985
7. Corrected proofs - History and Traditions, 1984-1985
8. Corrected proofs - History and Traditions, 1984-1985
9. Corrected proofs - Odds and Ends, 1984-1985
10. Corrected proofs - People, 1984-1985
11. Corrected proofs - Sports, 1984-1985
12. Corrected proofs - Sports, 1984-1985
13. BGSU Trivia game playing instructions, 1984-1985

Box 5: BGSU Trivia Game

Folder

1. Financial documents, 1984-1985
2. Information request forms, 1984-1985
3. BGSU Trivia game logo, design mock-ups, etc., 1984-1985
4. BGSU Trivia game box design, 1984-1985
5. BGSU Trivia game clippings, press releases, publicity, 1984-1986

Box 6: BGSU Trivia Game

1. BGSU Trivia game, question cards and two buttons with game logo, n.d.

Oversize Box 1: BG-opoly Game

1. BG-opoly game boards: drafts, printing master, and final version, n.d.

Oversize Box 2: BGSU Trivia Game

1. BGSU Trivia game printing masters and original art work and final version of box design, n.d.

Manuscripts by Subject | Arts & Entertainment | Miscellaneous Collections