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Murray Pletz papers

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_ORA 013

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of materials related to JanSport created and collected by the brand’s designer Murray Pletz from 1968 to 1991. The materials include original design sketches of clothing and bags, textile swatches, early JanSport logo designs, magazine clippings related to JanSport, and a biographical note about JanSport written by Murray Pletz in 1987, located in folder 7. The materials in folder 7 and folder 8 were each originally held in a 3-ring binder.

Dates

  • Majority of material found within 1968-1991

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Copyright

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Murray Pletz papers must be obtained from the Outdoor Recreation Curator and/or the Special Collections Section Head.

Biographical / Historical

Murray (Pletz) McCory founded JanSport with his father, Norman Pletz, and girlfriend, Jan Lewis in 1967. The idea for the company stemmed from Murray’s backpack design featuring a flexible aluminum frame, which won him an award while a student at the University of Washington in 1966. After this success, Murray started producing outdoor packs and tents with help from Jan, who the company is named after, Norman, and his cousin, Skip Yowell. From their first office on the second floor of Norman’s transmission shop, JanSport began designing products for outdoor recreation, like tents, sleeping bags, and backpacks. One of the company’s first significant innovations was the Mountain Dome tent, which gained popularity during the early 1970s. However, JanSport is probably best known for its backpack designs. Their Alpine Phantom flexible frame pack became a popular pack for outdoor sports, and the campus daypack became a staple for book-toting students in classrooms across the nation. JanSport was sold to K2 corporation in 1971-72 and Murray left the company in 1982. Since 1986, the company has been owned by VF Corporation. Jan remained with JanSport, eventually becoming the Director of Development in 2000 before retiring in 2005. Skip retired in 2010 as the company’s Vice President of Global Public Relations and passed away on October 19, 2015.

Extent

.25 Linear Feet (1 quarter box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection contains materials from Murray Pletz related to his business, JanSport, from 1968 to 1991.

Arrangement

The materials are arranged chronologically, with undated materials first.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was donated to USU Special Collections and Archives by Murray Pletz in 2021.

Related Materials

Outdoor Recreation Catalogs (ORA 001) Outdoor Recreation Serials (ORA 002) Michael Hodgson and Therese Iknoian outdoor industry collection (USU_ORA 005)

Processing Information

Processed in May 2021.

Title
Guide to the Murray Pletz papers 1968-1991
Author
Monique Davila and Clint Pumphrey
Date
December 2021
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)