.
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 5: Tucson-Pima Public Library, 1996-2009
- Sub-Series 1: Recruitment and Resignation, 1996-2003
- Box 30
- Folder 3: Tucson Appointment, 1996
- Folder 4: Tucson Appointment - Letters to Agnes Griffen, 1996
- Folder 5: Tucson Appointment - Materials, 1996-1997
- Folder 6: City of Tucson Department Director Plan, 1997-1998
- Folder 7: Correspondence - Miscellaneous, 1997-2001
- Folder 8: Biographical Materials, 1997-2003
- Folder 9: Letters and Cards, 1997-2003
- Folder 10: City of Tucson Executive Management Evaluation, 2000-2001
- Box 31
- Folder 1: Resignation, 2003
- Sub-Series 2: Publications, Speeches, and Presentations, 1997-2006
- Box 31
- Folder 2: Arizona Library Association Conference Program and Materials, 1997
- Folder 3: Buildings, Books, and Bytes, Benton Foundation Meeting, 1997
- Folder 4: From Packhorse to Pegasus of the Back of the Push Me Pull You, Beta Phi Mu, University of Arizona, 1997
- Folder 5: Libraries and the Quality of Life, The Unabashed Librarian, 1997
- Folder 6: Speech: Tucson Rotary Club, 1997
- Folder 7: Libraries for the Future, Youth Access Program, 1998
- Folder 8: Outsourcing: Panacea or Pandora's Box? Arizona Library Association, 1998
- Folder 9: HB2402 Testimony, 1999
- Folder 10: KTKT Radio Interview - Banned Books, 1999
- Folder 11: Strategic Planning, Cochise County Library District's Citizen Liaison Council, 1999
- Folder 12: Strategic Planning in Public Libraries, Arizona Library Association, 1999
- Folder 13: Bridging the Digital Divide, Tucson Link Forum, 2000
- Folder 14: Building on the Foundation, TPPL Foundation, 2000
- Folder 15: Create Your Own Future: Star Date 5.26.2000, Scottsdale Public Library, 2000
- Folder 16: How TPPL Earned a Place at the Community Building Table, Colorado Library Association, 2000
- Folder 17: Lutheran Church Library Association Speech, 2000
- Folder 18: Making a Case for the Library Materials Budget, Arizona Library Association, 2000
- Box 32
- Folder 1: Friends of the Library Talk, 2001
- Folder 2: Friends of the TPPL Speech, 2001
- Folder 3: Overview of Working with Local Friends, TPPL Public Services Meeting, 2001
- Folder 4: The Real Meaning of Friends, Arizona Library Friends and the Arizona State Library, 2001
- Folder 5: Topic of Tucson Interview, 2001
- Folder 6: Urban Libraries Council Symposium, 2001
- Folder 7: The Real Meaning of Friends, Friends of the Venito Garcia Library and Archives, 2002
- Folder 8: Tucson Executive Women's Council Speech, 2002
- Folder 9: Youth as Community Assets, Urban Libraries Council Conference, 2002
- Folder 10: Mentors, Anti-Mentors and Other Life Lessons, Arizona Library Association, 2004
- Folder 11: Library Institute Speeches - "Library Boards and Library Friends" and "The Library's Role in the Community", 2005
- Folder 12: Arizona Library Friends Conference, Keynote Speech, 2006
- Sub-Series 3: Maryland Public Libraries, 1997-1999, 2001-2002
- Box 32
- Folder 13: Agnes Griffen Scholarship, Friends of the MCPL, 1997
- Folder 14: Maryland Public Libraries Trustee Manual, 1998
- Folder 15: MCPL Board and Library Advisory Committee Handbook, 1998
- Folder 16: MCPL Strategic Facilities Plan, 1998
- Folder 17: Friends of the Montgomery County Libraries Handbook, 1999
- Folder 18: MCPL 50th Anniversary, 2001
- Folder 19: MCPL 50th Anniversary - 20th Anniversary of Friends, 2001-2002
- Sub-Series 4: Arizona Library Association and Other Organizations, 1998-2001
- Box 33
- Folder 1: Arizona Humanities Council, 1998-2000
- Folder 2: Arizona Policy Choices, 1999-2001
- Folder 3: Arizona Library Association Awards - Carla Stoffles as Librarians of the Year, 2000
- Folder 4: Arizona Library Association - Legislative Day, 2000-2001
- Sub-Series 5: Arizona State Library, 1997-2002
- Box 33
- Folder 5: State - DLAPR - Plan, 1997
- Folder 6: State - LSTA - Plan, 1997
- Folder 7: State - Network - Project EAGLE, 1997
- Folder 8: State - LSTA Evaluation, 1998-2002
- Folder 9: Arizona Convocations, 1999-2002
- Folder 10: Arizona Statewide Development Commission, 2000
- Box 34
- Folder 1: Arizona State Library Planning Documents, 2002
- Folder 2: Arizona Statewide Library Development Commission - Arizona's Libraries in the 21st Century, 2002
- Sub-Series 6: City of Tucson, 1998, 2000-2003
- Box 34
- Folder 3: Mayor and Council Budget Advisory Committee Recommendations, 1998
- Folder 4: TPPL Overview for New City Manager, 2000
- Folder 5: City of Tucson Web Policy, 2001
- Folder 6: TPPL - City of Tucson Response to 9/11/2001, 2001
- Folder 7: Executive Leadership Team, 2001-2002
- Folder 8: Management Team Evaluation - FY 2001-2002
- Folder 9: Executive Leadership Evaluation - FY 2002-2003
- Folder 10: Value of the TPPL, 2003
- Sub-Series 7: Internet and Library Legislation, 1999, 2001-2003
- Box 34
- Folder 11: Arizona Legislation HB2409, 2521, 2006, 2455, 1999
- Folder 12: US Senate and HR Bills S. 97 and HR 1501, 1999
- Folder 13: Patriot Act and Libraries, 2001-2003
- Folder 14: Children's Internet Protection Act related materials, 2003
- Sub-Series 8: Budgets, 1999-2003, 2006
- Box 35
- Folder 1: Library Operating Budget FY 2000-2001, 1999
- Folder 2: Library Operating Budget FY 2000-2001, 2000
- Folder 3: Budget FY 2001-2002, 2000
- Folder 4: Budget Meetings FY 2001-2002, 2000
- Folder 5: Budget Cuts FY 2001-2002, 2001
- Folder 6: TPPL Budget, 2001-2002
- Folder 7: Budget Cuts FY 2003-2004, 2002
- Folder 8: Advocacy for Budget Task Force, 2003
- Folder 9: Community Budget Return on Investment, 2006
- Sub-Series 9: Strategic Plans, 1997-2003
- Box 36
- Folder 1: Strategic Plan Kick Off, 1997
- Folder 2: Strategic Plan Steering Committee, 1997-1998
- Folder 3: Strategic Plan: Comprehensive Edition, 1998-2003
- Folder 4: Strategic Planning, 2001-2002
- Folder 5: Strategic Master Plan, 2003
- Sub-Series 10: Administration, 1997-2007
- Box 36
- Folder 6: Reorganization of Technical Services/Technology Section, 1995-1997
- Folder 7: TPPL - Statistics and Studies, 1996-2003
- Folder 8: Filtering - TPPL, 1997
- Folder 9: Intellectual Freedom Crisis - Playboy, 1997
- Box 37
- Folder 1: Telecommunication, 1997
- Folder 2: Filtering, 1997-2002
- Folder 3: Censorship Issue, 1998
- Folder 4: Filtering - McCain et. al., 1998
- Folder 5: Library System Comparisons, 1998
- Folder 6: Management Day Away, 1998
- Folder 7: Administrative Council and Library Board Annual Summaries, 1998-1999
- Folder 8: History of IT Department, 1999
- Folder 9: University of Arizona Report - Miller-Golf Links Library Roof, 1999
- Folder 10: Online Voting, 2000
- Folder 11: Technology Plan, 2000-2001
- Folder 12: Virtual Library Program Request, 2000-2001
- Folder 13: Administrative Council Meeting Minutes, 2000-2002
- Folder 14: Library Board Retreat Reports, 2000, 2003
- Folder 15: Capital Improvement Program, 2002-2007
- Folder 16: Facilities Plan, 2003
- Sub-Series 11: Outreach, 1997, 1999-2002
- Box 37
- Folder 17: Gay and Lesbian Services Committee TPPL, 1997
- Folder 18: NETeam (Neighborhood Enhancement Team), 1997
- Folder 19: NETeam - Review and Analysis, 1999-2000
- Folder 20: CHILE (Consumer Health Information Links for Everyone) Project, 2001
- Folder 21: Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago - Policy Map, 2002
- Sub-Series 12: Freedom to Read Foundation, 1997-1999, 2001-2009
- Box 37
- Folder 22: Freedom to Read Foundation and the Communications Decency Act, 1997-1998
- Folder 23: Freedom to Read Foundation, 2001
- Folder 24: Freedom to Read Foundation Board, 2002-2009
- Sub-Series 13: Friends of the Pima County Library and Foundation, 1997-2000, 2006, 2008
- Box 38
- Folder 1: Friends of the Library, 1997-2000
- Folder 2: Pima County Library Foundation, circa 2006
- Folder 3: Friends of the Pima County Library History, 2008
- Sub-Series 14: Library Board Meetings, 1997-2003
- Box 38
- Folder 4: Library Board Meetings - Director's Reports, February-May 1997
- Folder 5: Library Board Meetings - Director's Reports, June-December 1997
- Folder 6: Library Board Meetings, January 14, 1998
- Folder 7: Library Board Meetings, February 11, 1998
- Folder 8: Library Board Meetings, March-April 1998
- Folder 9: Library Board Meetings, May 13, 1998
- Folder 10: Library Board Meetings, June 10, 1998
- Folder 11: Library Board Meetings, August 12, 1998
- Folder 12: Library Board Meetings, September 9, 1998
- Folder 13: Library Board Meetings, October 14, 1998
- Folder 14: Library Board Meetings, November 18, 1998
- Folder 15: Library Board Meetings, December 9, 1998
- Folder 16: Library Board Meetings, January 13, 1999
- Folder 17: Library Board Meetings, February 10, 1999
- Folder 18: Library Board Meetings, March 10, 1999
- Folder 19: Library Board Meetings, April 14, 1999
- Box 39
- Folder 1: Library Board Meetings, May 12, 1999
- Folder 2: Library Board Meetings, June 9, 1999
- Folder 3: Library Board Meetings, August 11, 1999
- Folder 4: Library Board Meetings, September 8, 1999
- Folder 5: Library Board Meetings, October 13, 1999
- Folder 6: Library Board Meetings, November 10, 1999
- Folder 7: Library Board Meetings, December 8, 1999
- Folder 8: Library Board Meetings, January 12, 2000
- Folder 9: Library Board Meetings, February 9, 2000
- Folder 10: Library Board Meetings, March 8, 2000
- Folder 11: Library Board Meetings, April 12, 2000
- Folder 12: Library Board Meetings, May 10, 2000
- Folder 13: Library Board Meetings, June 14, 2000
- Folder 14: Library Board Meetings, August 9, 2000
- Folder 15: Library Board Meetings, September 13, 2000
- Folder 16: Library Board Meetings, October 11, 2000
- Folder 17: Library Board Meetings, November 8, 2000
- Folder 18: Library Board Meetings, December 13, 2000
- Folder 19: Library Board Meetings, January 10, 2001
- Folder 20: Library Board Meetings, February 14, 2001
- Folder 21: Library Board Meetings, March 14, 2001
- Box 40
- Folder 1: Library Board Meetings, April 11, 2001
- Folder 2: Library Board Meetings, May 9, 2001
- Folder 3: Library Board Meetings, June 6, 2001
- Folder 4: Library Board Meetings, August 8, 2001
- Folder 5: Library Board Meetings, September 12, 2001
- Folder 6: Library Board Meetings, October 10, 2001
- Folder 7: Library Board Meetings, November 14, 2001
- Folder 8: Library Board Meetings, December 12, 2001
- Folder 9: Library Board Meetings, January 9, 2002
- Folder 10: Library Board Meetings, February 13, 2002
- Folder 11: Library Board Meetings, March 20, 2002
- Folder 12: Library Board Meetings, April 10, 2002
- Folder 13: Library Board Meetings, May 8, 2002
- Folder 14: Library Board Meetings, June 12, 2002
- Folder 15: Library Board Meetings, July 10, 2002
- Folder 16: Library Board Meetings, August 14, 2002
- Folder 17: Library Board Meetings, September 11, 2002
- Folder 18: Library Board Meetings, October 9, 2002
- Folder 19: Library Board Meetings, November 13, 2002
- Folder 20: Library Board Meetings, December 11, 2002
- Folder 21: Library Board Meetings, January 8, 2003
- Folder 22: Library Board Meetings, February 12, 2003
- Box 41
- Folder 1: Library Board Meetings, March 12, 2003
- Folder 2: Library Board Meetings, April 9, 2003
- Folder 3: Library Board Meetings, May 14, 2003
- Folder 4: Library Board Meetings, June 11, 2003
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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