Skip to main content

Griffith, William J. (William Joyce), 1908-

 Person

Biography

William Joyce Griffith was born December 20, 1908 in Kanopolis, Kansas. He received his bachelor's degree from Southwestern College in 1930 and his master's degree from Wichita State University in 1937, where he titled his thesis "A History of the Schools of Butler County, Kansas."

In 1942 Griffith received his doctorate in Latin American history from University of California at Berkeley. This same year he entered government service as head of the Division of Education, Office of Inter-American Affairs.

From 1944 to 1947, Dr. Griffith was a special representative of this office in Guatemala, where he helped expand education among its indigenous people and was awarded a Medal of Merit from the Guatemalan government. He then joined the faculty at Tulane University, where he served as the Chairman of Latin American studies from 1950 to 1970.

Griffith joined the faculty at the University of Kansas as the Director of the Center of Latin American Studies from 1970 to 1975, retiring from KU in 1977. During his career, Griffith served on numerous committees dedicated to Latin American studies. He was a fellow at the Social Sciences Research Council, vice chairman of the Latin American Research Board, and he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Conference of Latin American Historians, which he also served as Chairman.

Throughout his career and travels, Griffith collected publications and primary research material regarding Central America, with a particular focus on Guatemala. William J. Griffith died in 2003.

Found in 3 Records:

A Collection of Posters from and about Latin America

 Collection
Call Number: Griffith Q109
Overview

This collection of posters from different Latin American countries covers a wide range of subjects relevant to the geographical region. The posters range in date from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Dates: 1970s-2010s

Manuscripts relating to Guatemala and Central America

 Collection
Call Number: MS 187
Overview

Miscellaneous unbound manuscripts removed from the William J. Griffith collection of printed Guatemalan source material. Contains some records of the University of San Carlos and the Protomedicato; the Guatemalan government; letters by Rafael Carrera; and some papers relating to the Rojas family. Although most of the manuscripts are Guatemalan in origin, some are Costa Rican or Honduran, and there is one document each from Peru, Cuba, San Salvador, Nicaragua, and Spain.

Dates: 1627-1973 (bulk 1640-1830)

Personal Papers of William J. Griffith

 Collection
Call Number: PP 422
Overview Dr. Griffith joined the faculty at the University of Kansas as the Director of the Center of Latin American Studies from 1970 to 1975 and retired in 1977. Throughout his career and travels, Dr. Griffith collected publications and primary research material regarding Central America with a particular focus on Guatemala. Griffith died in 2003. The William J. Griffith Personal Papers Collection contains correspondence from 1950-1995, research notes and notecards, class notes and lectures,...
Dates: 1939 - 2002

Additional filters:

Subject
Central America -- History 1
Costa Rica 1
Guatamala -- History 1
Latin America -- Posters 1