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By Chloe Attrell
Collection Overview
Title: Forest Linton Papers
ID: 26/20/273
Extent: 4.0 cubic feet
Date Acquired: 01/01/2025
Subjects: Advertising, Computer Software, Fraternity Alumni, Interfraternity Council, Sigma Phi Epsilon
Languages: English, Japanese
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Papers of Forest Linton (1968-2002; B.S. Advertising, 1993). Contains papers and materials concerning his business activities (Hobbico, Forlin Publishing and Greek Guide, Koyosha Graphics, and Microsoft Japan), his articles published in Excellence (1989), Computing Japan (1994-1998), and Internet User (1995-1996) magazines, scrapbooks assembled by his mother (Norma Linton; see the Norma J. Linton Papers, Record Series 26/20/279) which document Forest’s professional activities, as well as personal papers which include correspondence, photographs, journals from his childhood through his adulthood.
This collection is organized into three series. Series 1: Professional Life - U.S. contains 3 sub-series, all arranged alphabetically: 1. Early Career and Professional Activities, 2. Forlin Publishing: Administration, Business Activities, and Plans, and 3. Forlin Publishing: Greek Guide. Series 2: Professional Life - Japan contains 5 sub-series, all arranged alphabetically: 1. Japan Job Search and Business Notes, 2. Koyosha Graphics, 3. Microsoft Japan, 4. Forest’s Columns in Japanese Publications, and 5. Japanese Publications with Advertisements, Articles, and Interviews Featuring Forest. Series 3: Personal Papers is arranged chronologically.
Collection Historical Note
Born in 1968, Forest Linton was a local of Urbana, Illinois, and received his B.S. in Advertising from the University during the winter of the 1992-1993 academic year. He was the son of fellow University of Illinois alumna and employee, Norma Linton. While attending the University of Illinois, he financed most of his tuition and living expenses by working various jobs and opening his own business, Forlin Publishing. Through this company he published “Greek Guide” from 1990-1993, which was a directory for students involved in Greek Life. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and served on the Advertising Committee of the Inter-Fraternity Council.
After graduating, Linton moved to Japan to work in software technology. By 1994, he began working for Koyosha Graphics. He published monthly columns in Computing Japan from 1994-1998, and in Internet User Magazine from 1995-1996, reporting about emergent software technologies and internet phenomena. He then worked for Microsoft Japan from 1996-2002. While at Microsoft, he had a significant role in the marketing and business development of Internet Explorer 4.0 in Japan. He received multiple awards for his accomplishments at Microsoft, including awards and gifts directly from Bill Gates. He additionally served as vice chairman of the Japanese Internet Advertisers Association and on the Board of Directors of CarPoint KK.
Subject/Index Terms
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Professional Life: United States, 1976, 1985-1994],
[
Series 2: Professional Life: Japan, 1993-2002],
[Series 3: Personal Papers],
[
All]
- Series 3: Personal Papers
- This series contains correspondence, photographs, journals, and scrapbooks that document Forest's personal life from childhood until his death in 2002. Arranged chronologically.
- Box 3
- Folder 14: "Baby Memories", 1968
- Folder 15: Photographs, Cards, Writings, and Memorabilia from Childhood through Young Adulthood, ca. 1970-1993
- Folder 16: Elementary School Writings, Drawings, and Award, ca. 1974-1979
- Folder 17: "Bomb" Tabletop Game Created by Forest, ca. 1977-1979
- Folder 18: Personal Writings and Correspondence, 1977-1987
- Folder 19: High School Writings, ca. 1981-1985
- Folder 20: Correspondence: Jim Herman, 1985-1993
- Folder 21: Correspondence and Photographs, ca. 1985-1996
- Folder 22: Illinois State Scholar Scholarship Letter, 1985
- Folder 23: Scrapbook: Summer Vacation, 1985
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Urbana High School Diploma, 1986
- Folder 2: Photographs - Sigma Phi Epsilon, 1989-1993
- Folder 3: Correspondence, 1991-2000
- Folder 4: Correspondence with Grandmother, 1991-1993
- Folder 5: Correspondence: Norma Linton and Okano Family, 1991-1995
- Folder 6: Activities in Japan, ca. 1993-2002
- Folder 7: Correspondence and Greeting Cards, 1993-2000
- Folder 8: Correspondence: Forest and Norma Linton's Friends in Japan, 1993
- Folder 9: Correspondence and Journal Excerpts, 1993-1996
- Folder 10: Correspondence: Norma Linton (mother), 1993-1995
- Folder 11: Correspondence: Norma Linton (mother), 1993-1996, 2001
- Folder 12: Correspondence and Photograph: Okano Family Funeral, 1993, 1996
- Folder 13: Correspondence: Rick Piester, 1993-1994
- Folder 14: Journal, 1993
- Folder 15: Photographs (1 of 2), ca. 1993-2002
- Folder 16: Photographs (2 of 2), ca. 1993-2002
- Folder 17: Photographs: Car and Motorcycle, ca. 1993
- Folder 18: Postcards and Greeting Cards, ca. 1993-2001
- Folder 19: Scrapbook: The Kurohime Inn, 1993
- Assembled by Norma Linton.
- Folder 20: Journal, 1994
- Folder 21: Correspondence with Family, 1997, 2001
- Folder 22: Photograph and Correspondence to Akane, 1998
- Folder 23: Correspondence: Norma Linton (mother), 1999-2001
- Folder 24: Correspondence: Norma Linton (mother), 2001-2002
- Folder 25: Golfing - Writings, Photographs, and Memorabilia, ca. 2001-2002
- Folder 26: A Tale of Two Sig Ep Brothers: Correspondence, Interviews, and Writings, 2002-2003
- Folder 27: Articles about Forest's Life and Death in Japanese Publications, 2002
- Folder 28: Celebration of Forest's Life (U.S.), 2002
- Folder 29: Correspondence from Forest's Colleagues to Norma Linton, 2002-2003
- Folder 30: Forest's Japan Memorial Service Guest Books, 2002
- Folder 31: Forest's Obituary in the News-Gazette, 2002
- Folder 32: Letters of Condolence from Forest's Japanese Friends and Colleagues (1 of 2), 2002
- Folder 33: Letters of Condolence from Forest's Japanese Friends and Colleagues (2 of 2), 2002
- Folder 34: Personal Goal-Setting Notes, ca. 2002
- Folder 35: Photo Albums: Forest's Memorial Service (Japan), 2002
- Folder 36: Photographs and Correspondence: Forest's Japanese Memorial Service, 2002
- Folder 37: Photographs and Reflections on Forest's Life, ca. 2002
- Folder 38: Photographs: Celebration of Forest's Life (U.S.), 2002
- Folder 39: Photographs: Forest's Memorial Service in Japan, 2002
- Folder 40: Pictures of Forest's Japan Apartment, 2002
- Folder 41: "Forest" Personal Essay by Garrick Heuer, 2003
- Folder 42: "A Forey Story", ca. 1992
- Book containing drawings, personal notes, and photographs, by family friends. Item is stored on top of folders within the box.
- Folder 43: VHS Tape: "Forest Fun Footage", Undated
- Folder 44: VHS Tape: "Forest's Work Footage/Highlights", Undated
- Folder 45: VHS Tape: "Mac World Expo/Tokyo 1998 Keynote Speech", Feb. 19, 1998
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Professional Life: United States, 1976, 1985-1994],
[
Series 2: Professional Life: Japan, 1993-2002],
[Series 3: Personal Papers],
[
All]
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