The privilege of hosting the Ramses II exhibit was largely due to the relationship between Wilfred Griggs and the government of Egypt. Impressed by his research, academic and professional integrity, the government of Egypt approached Dr. Griggs with the idea of having Brigham Young University (BYU) host the Ramses II exhibit. The contract became official in August 1985, and the exhibit opened October 25, 1985 and ran through August 5, 1986. As a major administrator and organizer of the exhibit, Dr. Griggs was privy to the documents which characterized the exhibit as an enormous achievement of organization and logistics. BYU had less than three months to prepare for the exhibit; preparation included designing and modifying the Bean Museum, creating the logo and art for advertising, and organizing and implementing the tremendous media campaign. BYU had to generate enough interest to attract at least 400,000 visitors to the exhibit. As a result, marketing focused on the western states, and included advertising in magazines, newspapers, billboards, and television. Public relations packets were created for religion and general press editors, which educational presentations were prepared for schools and other public and private groups. The Wilfred Griggs papers attest to the tremendous coordination between the BYU administration, BYU Public Relations, Gardiner Advertising, and the hundreds of individuals who played a role in the Ramses II exhibit.
C. Wilfred Griggs is an Egyptologist and college teacher in Utah.
From the guide to the Ramses II office files, 1985-1987, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)
