Arthur Hills Brayfield

No services will be held for Arthur Hills Brayfield, 86, of Ashland, who died Friday, March 15, 2002 at his home.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy, PO Box 954, Ashland, Ore. 97520, or to the charity of the donor's choice.

The son of Clarence and Mattie Hills Brayfield at Peru, Kan., he moved to Southern California at age 7. After graduating from Excelsior High School, he spent several years working in the oil fields. He earned his B.S. with honors in 1939 from the University of Minnesota, and he earned his Ph.D. in psychology from the UM in 1946. While in Minnesota he married Marie Pettit, who preceded him in death. They had four children together.

He taught at various colleges and universities, including Colorado State University, University of California-Los Angeles, and the University of California-Berkeley. He chaired the Departments of Psychology at The Claremont Graduate School (1968-1981), Pennsylvania State University (1958-1962), and Kansas State University (1951-1958).

Mr. Hills Brayfield championed the value of academic freedom throughout his career, and as a result lost his faculty position at the University of California-Berkeley for failure to sign a loyalty oath.

Early in his career he was interested in the application of psychological knowledge to the area of employment. He established himself in psychology by his work in job satisfaction. His job satisfaction scale is now a classic illustration of applied psychology. Published more than 50 years ago, it is still being requested for use by researchers from a broad area of disciplines.

From 1962-68 he served as executive officer of the American Psychological Association in Washington D.C., where he was a member of the National Science Foundation, the National Academy of Sciences Research Council, the National Association of Mental Health, and the Center for Creative Leadership of the Smith Richardson Foundation in Greensboro, N.C.

He was also an advisor to the U.S. departments of labor, health, education and welfare, and housing and urban development; Veterans Administration; Peace Corps; Job Corps; and the Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity.

In 1968 Mr. Hills Brayfield moved to Claremont, Calif. to develop and direct a graduate program at Claremont Graduate School which would reflect his interest in public affairs psychology. His contribution to psychology is documented by more than 90 professional publications, and he also contributed to "Encyclopedia Britanica." He received an award from the Board of Ethnic Minority Affairs of the American Psychological Association for his "unusual and outstanding contributions."

He retired in 1981, and he moved with his wife Austin to Baja California, Mexico, for four years before moving to Ashland where they have lived since 1986. He taught history and systems for the Department of Psychology at Southern Oregon University for a short time. He also taught several sessions of financial planning for retirement at the extension program at SOU.

He enjoyed reading, politics and world travel.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Austin Brayfield; four children: Ann Brayfield of Bradford, N.H.; Douglas Brayfield of Santa Monica, Calif.; Donald Brayfield of Farmington, N.M.; Jean Fitch of Buellton, Calif.; 14 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He donated his body to Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. Arrangements are under the direction of Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mortuary in Medford.