Charles O. Grigsby Jr. was born on February 27, 1917. He received a B.S. degree (1941) in Dairy Industry from Iowa State College (University).

After graduation, Grigsby served in the United States Navy (1942-1946). Following his military service, Grigsby worked for Kraft Foods as a bacteriologist in the cheese making division (1946-1952). After leaving Kraft Foods, Grigsby started the Lorraine Cheese Company where he developed new and innovative cheese products (1953-1985).

In 1985, Grigsby sold the Lorraine Cheese Company and subsequently started the Chevreal Cheese Company (1988) and the Zero Rust Company (1988). Grigsby also started the Native American Healing Ointments Company (1996), which produces ointments to treat psoriasis and arthritis.

Grigsby and his wife Lorraine currently reside near Hamilton, Illinois.

The collection (1989-[ongoing]) contains biographical information, documentation about cheese production, the Native American Herbal Ointments (NAHO) and Zero Rust companies, personal and professional correspondence, and a publication: The History of the Bladinsville, Illinois Grigsbys.

The collection also contains a set of personal journals that Grigsby started in 1997. In the first journal, Grigsby writes about his past career and in subsequent journals he focuses more and more on daily events, business activities, and personal thoughts. One journal that would have had entries from March to October 1998 is missing from the set.

The collection is arranged alphabetically.