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Robert Bibler and Carol Hausser papers

 Collection
Identifier: WUA117

Scope and Contents

The Robert Bibler papers include materials concerning Bibler’s commission to paint the official portrait of former Oregon governor Neil Edward Goldschmidt and publicity for film series presentations, including The Amherst Film Cooperative at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and The Wednesday Evening Film Series at Chemeketa Community College and the Historic Elsinore Theatre. The programs for the film series contain short essays offering analysis and historical context in addition to production information about the films. The collection also includes greeting cards and mail art from Sandra Loy and Dave Nichols, who comprise Nicholsloy Studio.

The Bibler papers contain newspaper articles, photographs, a scrapbook, sketches and drawings, digital files, promotional fliers, brochures, and correspondence. Newspaper articles document the scandal involving Governor Goldschmidt and the removal of the Goldschmidt official portrait from the Oregon State Capitol in 2011. Several of the news articles are included in email correspondence between Bibler and his colleagues and include discussion about the scandal. Photographs in Box 3 are of former Governor Goldschmidt and were collected by Bibler to prepare and execute the governor’s official portrait for the State of Oregon. Box 6 contains publicity posters for The Amherst Film Cooperative at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and The Wednesday Evening Film Series at Chemeketa Community College and the Historic Elsinore Theatre. Art created by Carol Hausser was used on some of the promotional posters for The Wednesday Evening Film Series at Chemeketa Community College.

Dates

  • 1972-2016

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

Library acts as “fair use” reproduction agent. For further information, see the section on copyright in the Regulations and Procedures of the Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.

Copyright Information: Before material from collections at Willamette University Archives and Special Collections may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permission. Persons wishing to quote from materials in any collections held by University Archives and Special Collections should consult the University Archivist. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.

Biographical / Historical

Robert Bibler was born in 1948. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree from the University of Washington, Seattle, and his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. While completing his MFA, Bibler worked with John Morrison to co-found The Amherst Film Cooperative in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1972. Bibler and Morrison developed film schedules for the Cooperative and organized public film screenings held at Hampshire College, the Amherst Folklore Center, and venues on the University of Massachusetts campus. In 1973 Bibler began teaching part-time at Mt. Hood Community College, in Gresham, Oregon and at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon. In the fall of 1974, he was hired full-time to develop the Art Program at Chemeketa Community College, where he taught drawing, painting, design, printmaking, and film studies and served as chair of the Art Program. While teaching at Chemeketa, Bibler also developed the Film Studies Program with Leonard Held, Ph.D., an instructor in the English department. In the fall of 1974, a film studies curriculum that included the study of film directors, genres, and cinema history was established at Chemeketa Community College using funds received from a two-year Program Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. These funds also enabled the creation of a weekly campus film series, The Wednesday Evening Film Series, which showcased a diverse selection of movies. The Wednesday Evening Film Series was open to Chemeketa Community College students and the public. Bibler and Held coordinated the series together until Leonard retired in 1996. Bibler continued to coordinate series programming and publicity at Chemeketa Community College until his retirement in 2003. In 2004 The Wednesday Evening Film Series was relaunched at the Historic Elsinore Theatre, in partnership with Chemeketa Community College, offering big-screen presentations in a newly restored 1926 movie palace in downtown Salem, Oregon. At this new location, Bibler coordinated the selection of movies, authored publicity, and wrote or edited the educational program notes distributed at the screenings from the fall of 2004 until the summer of 2015. Bibler has exhibited artwork professionally since 1974. His drawings and paintings utilize classical techniques and traditional genre subjects to explore his interest in implicit narrative, film history, and Renaissance art through figurative representation and symbolism. His works can be found in private and public collections throughout the Pacific Northwest, including the Hallie Ford Museum of Art at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, as well as in cities in the eastern United States. One of Bibler’s paintings, the official portrait of former Oregon governor Neil Edward Goldschmidt, was on display at the Oregon state Capitol from 1993 until 2011. Bibler was a member of the Blackfish Gallery in Portland, Oregon and was represented by the Lidtke Fine Art Gallery in Seattle, Washington and the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery in Salem, Oregon. He currently resides in Salem, Oregon with his wife, artist Carol Hausser.

Extent

3 Linear Feet (6 boxes)

Overview

The Robert Bibler papers consist of newspaper articles, photographs, a scrapbook, sketches and drawings, digital files, promotional fliers, and correspondence related to Bibler’s commission to paint former Oregon governor Neil Goldschmidt’s official portrait from 1990 to 1993 and the creation and promotion of The Amherst Film Cooperative at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1972 and The Wednesday Evening Film Series at Chemeketa Community College and The Historic Elsinore Theatre from 1974 to 2015.

Arrangement

The records are arranging into three series: I. Goldschmidt portrait, II. Publicity for film series, and III. Corrrespondence. Files are arranged in original order and in chronological order.

Physical Location

Mark O. Hatfield Library

Title
Guide to the Robert Bibler and Carol Hausser papers, 1972-2016
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid processed by Jennifer L. Gehringer and Morgan Davis
Date
© 2018
Description rules
Dacs
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.
Sponsor
Processed with funds provided by the National Historical Publications & Records Commission's (NHPRC) Access to Historical Records grant.

Repository Details

Part of the Willamette University Archives and Special Collections Collection Descriptions

Contact:
Mark O. Hatfield Library
900 State Street
Salem Oregon 97301 United States