William Patton Griffith papers
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Abstract
The William Patton Griffith papers consist primarily of correspondence, writings, photographs, speeches, and clippings relating to all aspects of Griffith's participation as Grand Marshall in the Grand Army of the Republic and the Society of Old Brooklynites, among other civic activities in Brooklyn, with most of the collection focusing between the 1890s and 1930s. There are also a few items representative of Griffith's personal life, such as poems, programs, certificates, and a swatch of flag bunting from the flag that flew over General Ulysses Grant's tomb in 1897.
Biographical Note
Civil War soldier William Patton Griffith was born in Washington, PA, on July 22, 1843. Griffith worked at The Washington Reporter as a reporter, editor, and poet, and enlisted in the Union Army during the American Civil War. After the War, Griffith served as New York State Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a national association of Union Army Civil War veterans. He also served as editor and publisher of The Soldier's Journal. When the Order of the Purple Heart was revived in 1932, he was the first Civil War veteran to receive the decoration.
After his military service, Griffith went on to pursue a career as an editor at The Pittsburgh Dispatch, The New York Herald, The World, The Brooklyn Eagle, and The Brooklyn Press. Griffith later moved on to public service in Brooklyn, working as a court reporter in the Kings County Supreme Court and serving as the deputy City Clerk of Brooklyn. He was also an active member of the Kings County Republican Committee and served as a delegate to national and State encampments of the GAR, as well as an aide to the staffs of GAR Commanders-in-Chief, department commanders, and local grand marshals.
Other veteran activities included being national commander of the Union Veteran Legion, the "long-service order" of the Civil War, commander of the GAR Winchester Post 197, and GAR county commander and State commander in 1928. In addition, Griffith served as marshal and patriarch of the Brooklyn Masonic Veterans, and as historian and master of the Sylvan Grove Lodge 275. He was also a member of the Society of Old Brooklynites and the Kings County Republican Club.
At the age of 76, he studied chiropractic medicine and became a practicing chiropractor. Griffith participated in the New York State Chiropractic Society and the Long Island District Chiropractic Society. William Patton Griffith died at the age of 92 on February 17, 1936.
Sources:
- ""Thinner Blue Line' Mourns Gen. Griffith." Brooklyn Daily Eagle, February 18, 1936.
- "W.P. Griffith Dies; Civil War Soldier." The New York Times, February 18, 1936.
Scope and Contents
The William Patton Griffith papers consist primarily of correspondence, writings, photographs, and clippings relating to all aspects of Griffith's activities in the Society of Old Brooklynites, the GAR, and other military veteran societies. Highlights of the collection include correspondence between William Patton Griffith and the general public, constituents, and political colleagues, such as letters to and from the office of Franklin Roosevelt, then Governor of New York. Among the notable items in this collection are a variety of speeches, clippings, programs, and certificates and other papers depicting Griffith's involvement in civic affairs such as the restoration of the General Slocum Statue in Brooklyn. In addition, there are some black and white photographs of Griffith attending a variety of public ceremonies and a few items representative of Griffith's personal life, such as poems, programs, certificates, and a swatch of flag bunting from the flag that flew over General Ulysses Grant's tomb in 1897. Some items of correspondence are photocopies of originals not in this collection. The collection has no materials reflecting Griffith's time as a Civil War soldier.
The collection is organized thematically into the following seven categories: Correspondence, Writings, Personal Papers, Professional Papers, Photographs, Clippings, and Artifact (swatch of flag bunting).
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Conditions Governing Access
Open to users without restriction.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); William Patton Griffith papers, 2006.030, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Betty Shave, 2006.
Other Finding Aids
An earlier version of this finding aid, containing a complete container list, is available in paper form at the Brooklyn Historical Society. Please consult library staff for more information.
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Processing Information
Minimally processed to the collection level.
