.
By Cara Bertram
Collection Overview
Title: Agnes M. Griffen Papers, 1953-1957, 1964-1965, 1967-2009
ID: 97/1/93
Primary Creator: Griffen, Agnes M. (1935-2025)
Extent: 16.0 Cubic Feet
Arrangement: Original order. Most materials are arranged by chronological order.
Date Acquired: 02/06/2026
Subjects: Affirmative Action, Arizona, Arizona-Public Libraries, Arizona State Library, Arizona State Library Association, Executive Board, ALA, Friends Groups, Friends of Libraries, Institutional Libraries, King County Library System, Legislation Committee, Libraries and people with disabilities, Library Administration, Library Budgets, Library Outreach Programs, Library Reports, Library services to prisons, Maryland, Maryland-Public Libraries, Montgomery County (Md.). Department of Public Libraries, Program Evaluation and Support Committee (COPES), Public Libraries, Public Library Association (PLA), Tucson-Pima Public Library, Washington
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Papers of Agnes M. Griffen, documenting her education in librarianship and career at the King County Library System (1965-1974), the Tucson Public Library (1974-1980), the Director of the Montgomery County, Maryland, Department of Public Libraries (1980-1996), and as Director of the Tucson-Pima Public Library (1997-2003), along with her publications, speeches, conference materials, activities in the American Library Association, and her work in library education at University of Washington, University of Arizona, and the Tucson-Pima Public Library. The papers contain materials on public libraries, library administration, budgets, library education, library fees, library services to people with disabilities, library services to youth and adults, library services to incarcerated people, hiring practices and affirmative action in libraries, outreach programs, intellectual freedom and censorship, library technology, state libraries, library legislation, and friends of the library groups.
Biographical Note
Agnes Marthe Hallanger Griffen was born in Fort Dauphin, Madagascar, to Lutheran missionary parents in 1935. The family’s regularly scheduled furlough back to the United States was delayed until 1947 due to World War II. After touring Europe, the family lived in St. Paul for several years. Agnes graduated from high school in Butte, Montana. She attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, earning her Bachelor of Arts in English, cum laude, in 1957. There she worked in the school library and met and married her first husband. They moved to Whatcom County and lived on his family’s homestead. She continued her path of library work and organized the small library at Immanuel Lutheran Church in nearby Everson and volunteered at Wilson Library at Western Washington University in Bellingham. After the family moved to Seattle, Agnes earned her Master of Library Science degree from the University of Washington in 1965. She immediately began working for the King County Library System, first as area children’s librarian, then Institutional Libraries coordinator, and finally Deputy Librarian for staff and program development. She also began to contribute to the development of public libraries and librarians through writing, speaking, teaching and consulting. Her article in the Library Journal, “Social Indicators and Library Change,” (October 1, 1972), gained national attention. She would later marry her co-author. Griffen became deputy library director of the Tucson Public Library (1974 -1980), then became Director of the Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Public Libraries (1980-1996). She returned to Tucson as Director of the Tucson-Pima Public Library in 1997 and retired in 2003. She earned an Urban Executive Certificate in 1976 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a second from Harvard in 1993. These credentials helped her when she was appointed by and worked for elected county officials in Maryland and Arizona. She participated in civic and local government activities as well as working with Friends of the Library supporters. In 1998, Griffen testified before the US Congress at the Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade and Consumer Project. Griffen was a member of the American Library Association where she served on numerous boards and committees. She was also a member of the Arizona State Library Association and the Maryland Library Association. She was affiliated with the Maryland Humanities Council, the Arizona Humanities Council, the Executive Women's Council of Southern Arizona, the National Capital Area Public Access Network, and the Arizona Statewide Library Development Committee. She was the recipient of the Helping Hand Award, Maryland Association of the Deaf (1985), the Certificate of Recognition, Montgomery County Hispanic Employees Association (1985), and the Chinese American Librarians Association President’s Recognition Award (1991). She was also a personal member of REFORMA. Following her retirement, Griffen continued to live in Tucson until 2015, when she returned to the Pacific Northwest to be near family, and lived in Bellingham until her death in 2025.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
The American Library Association Archives
Related Materials:
Additional materials on Agnes Griffen's career can be found in:
Department of Public Libraries, 1869-1876; 1908, 1931-2005, Series 2: Director's Files, Subseries 2: Agnes Griffen, Montgomery County Archives: https://montgomeryhistory.org/montgomery-county-archives/mca-finding-aids/
Processing Information:
Records primarily kept in their original order as Griffen dilberately organized them in preparation of their transfer to the ALA Archives. Secondary literature not relating to Griffen was removed.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Education, 1953-1957, 1964-1965, 1967],
[
Series 2: King County Library System, 1965, 1967-1978],
[
Series 3: Tucson Public Library, 1969-1980],
[Series 4: Montgomery County Public Library, 1977-1996, 1998, 2007],
[
Series 5: Tucson-Pima Public Library, 1996-2009],
[
Series 6: Teaching Materials, 1974-1979, 1983, 1997-2003, 2006],
[
Series 7: American Library Association, 1970-1972, 1976-2002],
[
All]
- Series 4: Montgomery County Public Library, 1977-1996, 1998, 2007
- Sub-Series 1: Personal Letters and Articles about Agnes Griffen, 1980-1996
- Box 11
- Folder 6: Newspaper Articles about Agnes Griffen, 1980-1992
- Folder 7: Cartoons and Organization Jokes, circa 1980
- Folder 8: Thank You Cards and Letters, 1981-1995
- Folder 9: Correspondence, 1987-1996
- Sub-Series 2: Visiting Librarian Programs, 1988-1996
- Box 11
- Folder 10: Foreign Librarians and Scholars Visit, 1988-1996
- Folder 11: Soros Foundation - Library of Congress Librarian Interns and Foreign Librarians, 1990-1996
- Sub-Series 3: University of Maryland - Lectures and Presentations, 1987-1993, 1996
- Box 12
- Folder 1: Guest Lecturer and Presentation, 1987-1988
- Folder 2: "Personal Management Philosophies" speech, 1987-1991
- Folder 3: Notes for Classes, 1987, 1992
- Folder 4: Alumni Chapter Presentation, 1988
- Folder 5: Public Library Seminar, 1988
- Folder 6: Presentation Thank You letters, 1989
- Folder 7: On the Need for Keep the College of Library and Information Services, 1991
- Folder 8: Retention of College of Library and Information Services, 1991
- Folder 9: Public Library Advisory Group, 1993
- Folder 10: Public Library Leadership Institute, 1996
- Sub-Series 4: JFK School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government, 1993
- Box 12
- Folder 11: Correspondence, 1993
- Folder 12: Materials, 1993
- Sub-Series 5: Appointments and Performance Reviews, 1980, 1982-1986, 1988, 1990, 1994-1996
- Box 12
- Folder 13: Appointment, 1980
- Folder 14: Performance Evaluations, 1982-1984
- Folder 15: Performance Evaluations, 1982-1985
- Folder 16: Reappointment, 1986
- Folder 17: Performance Evaluations, 1988
- Folder 18: Reappointment, 1990
- Folder 19: Performance Evaluations, 1994-1996
- Box 13
- Folder 1: Resignation, 1996
- Sub-Series 6: Library Administration, 1978-2001
- Box 13
- Folder 2: SCION Circulation System Lawsuit [Folder 1], 1978-1984
- Folder 3: SCION Circulation System Lawsuit [Folder 2], 1978-1984
- Folder 4: Budget, 1981
- Box 14
- Folder 1: Public Lending Right, 1982
- Folder 2: Work Plan FY 1983, 1982
- Folder 3: Planning Documents, 1983
- Folder 4: Cost Analysis Project [Folder 1], 1983-1985
- Folder 5: Cost Analysis Project [Folder 2], 1983-1985
- Folder 6: Communication Audit Executive Summary, 1986
- Folder 7: Workload, Budget, and Other Issues, 1986
- Folder 8: Public Services Plan FY 1989-1994, 1987
- Folder 9: System Wide Team Meeting, 1988
- Folder 10: Library Express Pilot, 1989-1990
- Folder 11: Acting Chief Administrative Officer, 1990
- Folder 12: Facilities Plan FY 1990-1995, 1990
- Box 15
- Folder 1: Montgomery County Public Library Survey: A Report on the Findings, 1990
- Folder 2: From Fee to Free Paper, 1991
- Folder 3: Friends of the Library MCDLP, 1992-2001
- Folder 4: Collection Policy, 1993
- Folder 5: Intellectual Freedom Cases - Kid Vid and Family Card, 1993-1994
- Folder 6: Impact on Year Round Schools on Public Libraries, 1994
- Folder 7: Public Services Strategic Plan, 1994
- Folder 8: Strategic Plan, 1994
- Folder 9: Senior Management Team, 1995
- Folder 10: Strategic Plan FY 1996-2001, 1995
- Folder 11: Team Excellence Seminar, 1995
- Box 16
- Folder 1: Development Projects and Activities, 1995-1996
- Folder 2: Internet Policy Issues, 1996
- Folder 3: IT Strategic Plan "Horizon 21", 1996
- Folder 4: Lakeforest Library Connection - Public/Private Partnership, 1996
- Folder 5: Library Board Membership Policies and Procedures, 1996
- Folder 6: Staff Development Days, 1996
- Folder 7: Workload Reports and Circulation Services Manual, 1996
- Folder 8: Workshop on Redesigning Work, 1996
- Folder 9: Circulation Services Manual, 1998
- Sub-Series 7: Montgomery County and State of Maryland, 1981-1996
- Box 16
- Folder 10: Maryland Plan for Libraries, 1981-1996
- Box 17
- Folder 1: MCDPL Documents, 1982-1986
- Folder 2: Establishment of the Montgomery County Archives, 1985
- Folder 3: Maryland State Library Network Publications, 1985-1996
- Folder 4: Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Reaccreditation, 1987-1989
- Folder 5: Enoch Pratt Free Library Scandal, 1990
- Folder 6: CapAccess Network [Folder 1], 1991-1996
- Folder 7: CapAccess Network [Folder 2], 1991-1996
- Box 18
- Folder 1: CapAccess Network [Folder 3], 1991-1996
- Folder 2: Duncan Transition Papers - New County Executive, 1994-1995
- Folder 3: Maryland Advisory Council on Libraries, 1994-1996
- Folder 4: Fiber Optic Networks, 1995
- Folder 5: Montgomery County Public Libraries Strategic Plan FY 1996-2001, 1995
- Folder 6: Electronic Village, Montgomery County, 1995-1996
- Sub-Series 8: Outreach, 1981, 1987, 1990-1993
- Box 18
- Folder 7: Developing Special Services and Special Needs Task Force, 1981
- Folder 8: Neighborhoods Task Force - John Knot's Concept of Neighborhood, 1987
- Folder 9: Adult Services "How to Keep Up", 1990-1993
- Folder 10: Diversity Task Force Problems, 1993
- Sub-Series 9: Memberships, 1984, 1986-1996
- Box 18
- Folder 11: Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, 1984
- Folder 12: National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) Application, 1986
- Folder 13: Maryland Humanities Council, 1987
- Folder 14: National Conference of State Humanities Councils, 1987
- Folder 15: Maryland Humanities Council - Fundraising and Federation of State Humanities Councils, 1988
- Folder 16: National Endowment for the Humanities, 1988
- Box 19
- Folder 1: State Agencies - Participation, 1988-1996
- Folder 2: Maryland Humanities Council, 1989-1990
- Folder 3: Chinese American Librarians Association, 1989-1991
- Folder 4: NCLIS - Joel Valda Nomination, 1994
- Folder 5: Maryland Association of Public Library Administrators, 1995
- Folder 6: Maryland Library Association Legislative Panel, 1996
- Sub-Series 10: Publications, Speeches, and Presentations, 1980-1996, 1998, 2007
- Box 19
- Folder 7: Speeches to the Staff, 1980
- Folder 8: "Automation" Idea Exchange, 1981
- Folder 9: "Continuing Education in 2001", 1981
- Folder 10: "A Conversation with Agnes Griffen," The Crab, 1981
- Folder 11: "Trends and Visions: Library Services in Search of a Believable Future", 1983
- Box 20
- Folder 1: The Value of a Good Staff Association, 1983
- Folder 2: Workshop for Conference on Computers and the Humanities in Maryland, 1983
- Folder 3: Community Information - More Than Just Files, 1984
- Folder 4: Dallas Public Library Interview, 1984
- Folder 5: My Search for the Meaning of Life, 1984
- Folder 6: NCLIS, 1984
- Folder 7: Bowker Library Advisory Board Event Speech, 1985
- Folder 8: Images of Libraries in Science Fiction, Original Version as a Talk, December 7, 1986
- Folder 9: Information for Constituents - Congressional Research Service, 1986
- Folder 10: Library of Congress Seminar, 1986
- Folder 11: One Step Ahead of the Budget Analyst, 1986
- Folder 12: You Can't Tell a Book by its Cover - Special Needs Talk, 1986
- Folder 13: Images of Libraries in Science Fiction, 1986-1987
- Folder 14: Images of Libraries in Science Fiction, 1986-1988
- Folder 15: Bowker Seminar - Adult Book Selection and Collection Building in Public Libraries, December 4, 1987
- Folder 16: Libraries in the Information Society, 1987
- Folder 17: Potential Roles of the Public Library in the Local Emergency Management Program: A Simulation, 1987
- Box 21
- Folder 1: Resolved: Public Library Services Should Be Free, 1987
- Folder 2: Serving a Multi-Ethnic , Non English Speaking Population, 1987
- Folder 3: Fees in the Future of Public Libraries: Alternative Scenarios, 1988
- Folder 4: Public Libraries: The Dream and the Reality, 1988
- Folder 5: Public Library Leadership - About Agnes Griffen, 1988
- Folder 6: Seattle Public Library - Consultation, 1988
- Folder 7: Towards an Understanding of Montgomery County as an Information Society: A Statement of Possibilities, 1988
- Folder 8: Vision Statements in Open System Newsletter of the Montgomery County Department of Public Libraries, 1988
- Folder 9: Conferences on Humanities Programming for Public Libraries, 1988-1991
- Folder 10: Being Top Gun When the Buck Stops: Censorship From the Perspective of the Political Appointee, 1989
- Folder 11: North Bethesda Rotary Club, "Learning Society", 1989
- Folder 12: Tucson Speech - Opening of New Main Library, 1990
- Folder 13: Christ Episcopal School Chapel Speech, 1991
- Folder 14: Montgomery County Comments - Interview, 1991
- Folder 15: "A Tribute to the Endangered" in Library Hotline, 1991
- Folder 16: Public Relations Projects When Services are Being Eliminated, 1992
- Folder 17: Towson Conference on Role of Information in Maryland's Economic Development, 1993
- Folder 18: Expedient Ethics: Ethics in the Workplace, 1993-1994
- Box 22
- Folder 1: Censorship Speech to Arlington County Department of Libraries, 1994
- Folder 2: The Public Enterprise and the National Electronic Library, 1994-1995
- Folder 3: Intellectual Freedom Panel for Southern Maryland Regional Association, 1995
- Folder 4: Is There a Cybrary in Your Future?, 1995
- Folder 5: Leading and Facilitating Teams, 1995
- Folder 6: Manager's Retreat, 1995
- Folder 7: Managing Technology in Public Libraries Leadership Institute, 1995
- Folder 8: Maryland Library Association Conference Presentations, 1995
- Folder 9: Why Montgomery County Libraries Need Their Friends, 1995-1996
- Folder 10: Maryland Library Leadership Institute, 1998
- Folder 11: Technology is Changing All of Our Lives Every Day, circa 1998
- Folder 12: Staff Day Speeches, 2007
- Sub-Series 11: Library Newsletters, 1977-1991
- Box 22
- Folder 13: The Open Book Newsletter, 1977-1980
- Box 23
- Folder 1: Open System Newsletter, 1980-1981
- Folder 2: Open System Newsletter, 1982-1983
- Folder 3: Open System Newsletter, 1984-1986
- Folder 4: Open System Newsletter, 1987-1988
- Folder 5: Open System Newsletter, 1989-1990
- Folder 6: Open System Newsletter, 1991
- Box 24
- Folder 1: Friday Memo, 1980-1981
- Folder 2: Friday Memo, 1982-1985
- Sub-Series 12: Director's Reports, 1984-1996
- Box 24
- Folder 3: Director's Reports, January-April 1984
- Folder 4: Director's Reports, May-June 1984
- Folder 5: Director's Reports, July-September 1984
- Folder 6: Director's Reports, Octobery-December 1984
- Box 25
- Folder 1: Director's Reports, January-March 1985
- Folder 2: Director's Reports, April-May 1985
- Folder 3: Director's Reports, July-December 1985
- Folder 4: Director's Reports, January-March 1986
- Folder 5: Director's Reports, April-May 1986
- Folder 6: Director's Reports, April-December 1986
- Box 26
- Folder 1: Director's Reports, January-June 1987
- Folder 2: Director's Reports, July-December 1987
- Folder 3: Director's Reports, January-June 1988
- Folder 4: Director's Reports, July-December 1988
- Folder 5: Director's Reports, January-June 1989
- Box 27
- Folder 1: Director's Reports, July-December 1989
- Folder 2: Director's Reports, January-June 1990
- Folder 3: Director's Reports, July-December 1990
- Folder 4: Director's Reports, January-June 1991
- Box 28
- Folder 1: Director's Reports, July-December 1991
- Folder 2: Director's Reports, January-June 1992
- Folder 3: Director's Reports, July-December 1992
- Folder 4: Director's Reports, January-June 1993
- Box 29
- Folder 1: Director's Reports, July-December 1993
- Folder 2: Director's Reports, January-June 1994
- Folder 3: Director's Reports, January-June 1995
- Folder 4: Director's Reports, September-December 1995
- Box 30
- Folder 1: Director's Reports, January-June 1996
- Folder 2: Director's Reports, July-December 1996
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Education, 1953-1957, 1964-1965, 1967],
[
Series 2: King County Library System, 1965, 1967-1978],
[
Series 3: Tucson Public Library, 1969-1980],
[Series 4: Montgomery County Public Library, 1977-1996, 1998, 2007],
[
Series 5: Tucson-Pima Public Library, 1996-2009],
[
Series 6: Teaching Materials, 1974-1979, 1983, 1997-2003, 2006],
[
Series 7: American Library Association, 1970-1972, 1976-2002],
[
All]
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