Tim Walsh papers

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: 111.5211

Staff Only

The Tim Walsh Papers include biographical information on and media appearances by Tim Walsh, game designer and play author, as well as information on his projects. Historical textual and video material and a press kit for his game “TriBond” are contained in this collection. Additionally, a press kit and transcripts of interviews used in Walsh’s research for his book Timeless Toys: Classic Toys and the Playmakers Who Created Them are included.

The materials in this collection have been arranged into three series. They are housed in one archival document box.

Dates

1996-2011

Creator

Walsh, Tim (Designer, Person)

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is open for research use by staff of The Strong and by users of its library. Though the donor has not transferred intellectual property rights (including, but not limited to any copyright, trademark, and associated rights therein) to The Strong, he has given permission for The Strong to make copies in all media for museum, educational, and research purposes.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet (1 box)

Additional Description

Abstract

The Tim Walsh papers are a compilation of biographical and historical information, press kits, game advertisements, and interview transcripts from game designer and author Tim Walsh of The Playmakers. The materials in this collection are from 1996 through 2011.

Biographical Note

Tim Walsh is an American game inventor and author. He was born in Camden, New Jersey, on Christmas Day, 1964--a date which Walsh jokes “destined him for a life in toyland.” An avid player of traditional team sports and classic games, Walsh also enjoyed creating his own. He graduated from Colgate University in 1987, where he had met Dave Yearick and Ed Muccini. The three friends developed the wildly popular game TriBond a few years later. Walsh subsequently invented the board game Blurt! and co-developed the games Mad Gab and Crazy Chins. His game designs have sold more than 4 million copies around the world.

Walsh authored Timeless Toys: Classic Toys and the Playmakers Who Created Them (Andrews-McMeel Publishing, 2005) and Wham-O Super-Book: Celebrating 60 Years Inside the Fun Factory (Chronicle Books, 2008). He acted as creative consultant and editor on documentarian Ken Sons’ award-winning film Toyland, released in 2010. Walsh’s company, The Playmakers, is a design and marketing studio focusing on play. Walsh gives presentations and lectures on various toy-related topics, including the history of toy inventing, the science behind toys, and how play encourages creativity and productivity in the workplace.

System of Arrangement

Series I: Tim Walsh

Series II: TriBond

Series III: Timeless Toys: Classic Toys and the Playmakers Who Created Them

Custodial History

The Tim Walsh papers were donated to The Strong in October 2011 as a gift from Tim Walsh. The papers were accessioned by The Strong under Object ID 111.5211.

Related Materials Note

A digital video archive of Tim Walsh’s interviews for the documentary Toyland are part of the Ken Sons and Tim Walsh Toyland Digital Video Archive at The Strong.