Charles E. Grayson
Archer, bowyer, collector, and author of archery history.
Charles E. Grayson (July 24, 1910 – May 17, 2009) was an archer, bow maker, collector, and writer. His worldwide collection of archery artifacts now resides at the University of Missouri Museum of Anthropology.
Born on an Iowa farm, Grayson was the eighth of nine children. When he was nine, his family moved to Riverside, California. After graduating from Riverside Polytechnic High School in 1928, he attended Pomona College from 1928 to 1933. There, he and a friend, along with a Japanese student, took up archery—his first exposure to formal Japanese archery. He then studied physics at the University of California, Berkeley, before switching to medicine. He earned his medical degree from Stanford School of Medicine in 1942, becoming a radiologist.
A neighbor in Riverside, a scoutmaster and archer, knew prominent archers like Art Young, Saxton Pope, and William "Chief" Compton. Grayson made his first bow from a lemonwood stave he won by selling tickets to a film about Young's Alaska trek.
While in private practice in Sacramento, Grayson returned to archery. He became skilled at crafting many types of bows and joined local, regional, and national archery associations. He won numerous competition medals and once held the amateur record for the 65-pound class in flight shooting. His hunting trips and professional travels let him collect archery items in Mexico, British Columbia, Alaska, and Africa.
In 1960, Grayson and his wife built a house in Oregon, where they retired in 1972. He added a building to house his vast collection, which included thumb rings, ivory carvings, and paintings. He began donating the collection to the University of Missouri Museum of Anthropology in the early 1990s.
Grayson’s collection spans artifacts from China, Tibet, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Turkey, Iran, India, Pakistan, Mongolia, the Philippines, Africa, North and South America, as well as contemporary pieces from England and the United States. He also collected bows from Fred Bear and many record-setting flight bows from Harry Drake.
Beyond collecting, Grayson researched and published on archery topics. Many of his articles appeared in *Primitive Archer*, covering subjects like shear in self and composite bows, and traditions such as Somali archery, Eskimo bows and arrows, and Wintu archery.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1910-07-24
- Birth Place
- Iowa
- Death Date
- 2009-05-15
- Death Place
- Clatskanie, Oregon
- Known For
- Archery
- Occupation
- bow hunter & bowyer / author, collector
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Charles Grayson was born on a farm in Iowa, the eighth of nine children. When he was nine, his family moved to Riverside, California. He graduated from Riverside Polytechnic High School in 1928 and attended Pomona College from 1928 to 1933. At Pomona, he and a friend, together with a Japanese student, began archery as a sport, marking his first introduction to formal Japanese archery. After Pomona, he studied physics at the University of California, Berkeley, before changing to medicine and graduating from Stanford School of Medicine in 1942 as a radiologist.
A close neighbor in Riverside, a scoutmaster and archer, was friends with prominent archers Art Young, Saxton Pope, and William 'Chief' Compton. Grayson made his first bow from a lemonwood stave that he won by selling tickets to a movie about Art Young's trek across Alaska. In private practice in Sacramento, he took up archery again, became skilled in making various types of bows, and was involved in local, regional, and national archery associations. He won many medals in competition and at one time held the amateur record for the 65-lb class in flight shooting.
In 1960, Grayson and his wife built a house in Oregon, where they retired in 1972. There he added a building to house his vast archery collection, which included thumb rings, ivory sculpture, and paintings. He began donating his collection to the University of Missouri Museum of Anthropology in the early 1990s. His collection spans artifacts from China, Tibet, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Turkey, Iran, India, Pakistan, Mongolia, the Philippines, Africa, North America, South America, and contemporary pieces from Europe (England) and the United States. He also collected bows from Fred Bear and many record-setting flight bows from Harry Drake.
Reader's Guide
Charles Grayson's significance lies in his dual role as a practitioner and scholar of archery. As a competitive archer, he held the amateur record for the 65-lb class in flight shooting and won numerous medals. As a collector, he amassed one of the most comprehensive archery collections in the world, spanning cultures from Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. His collection, now at the University of Missouri Museum of Anthropology, preserves artifacts such as bows, arrows, quivers, thumb rings, ivory sculpture, and paintings. Grayson also contributed to archery literature, publishing articles in Primitive Archer on topics including the effects of shear in bow construction and regional traditions such as Somali Archery, Eskimo Bows, Arrows, and Quivers, and Wintu Archery. He served as Vice President of the Society of Archer-Antiquaries and was inducted into the Archery Hall of Fame in 2005. His legacy endures through his collected artifacts and published research, which provide a broad view of archery's global history and technical evolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Charles E. Grayson?
Charles E. Grayson (July 24, 1910 – May 17, 2009) was an American archer, bow maker, collector, and author who devoted much of his life to the history and practice of archery. Born on a farm in Iowa as the eighth of nine children, he later became a well-known figure in the archery-antiquities world.
What were Charles E. Grayson's main contributions to archery?
Grayson crafted bows, assembled a worldwide collection of archery artifacts, and wrote about the history of the sport. He also held the position of Vice President of the Society of Archer-Antiquaries, one of the oldest dedicated archery organizations.
Where did Charles E. Grayson first learn archery?
His initial exposure to formal Japanese archery came while he was a student at Pomona College in the early 1930s. There, he and a friend practiced alongside a Japanese student, an experience that set the direction for his lifelong involvement in the sport.
Where is Charles E. Grayson's archery collection kept today?
His worldwide assemblage of archery artifacts is held at the University of Missouri Museum of Anthropology. The collection continues to serve as a major reference for researchers and enthusiasts studying bows and arrows across different cultures and eras.
What did Charles E. Grayson do outside of archery?
In addition to his work as a bowyer, collector, and writer, Grayson trained as a radiologist, completing his studies at Stanford School of Medicine in 1942. He balanced that medical career with decades of dedicated effort in archery history and craftsmanship.
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