Personal papers of William A. Griffith
Overview
William A. Griffith joined the University of Kansas faculty in 1899 and served as head of the Art Department for 21 years. He then moved his family to Laguna Beach, Califonria and continued painting there. The William A. Griffith collection includes transcripts of letters from James M. Griffith (father) to son George, speech given before the Lawrence Old and New Club, sympathy letters to Mrs. Griffith, several art awards, a biography and letters about leaving the University of Kansas, reports of Griffith bringing the Thayer Collection to KU, co-founding of the Laguna Beach Art Association, and many photographs of his paintings.
Dates
- Creation: 1916 - 1978
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
No access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.
Biography of William A. Griffith (1866-1940)
William Alexander Griffith was born August 19, 1866 in Lawrence, Kansas, the son of James Monroe Griffith and Margaret Griffith. He studied art at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and at the Academie Julian in Paris, France. He joined the faculty at the University of Kansas in 1899.
In 1901, Griffith married Ida Greeley Smith. They had five children, two sons and three daughters. In addition to teaching drawing and painting at KU, Griffith designed residential and public buildings in Lawrence.
After retiring from KU in 1920, Griffith relocated his family to Laguna Beach, California, where he became a noted plein air painter. Griffith died on May 25, 1940.
Extent
.5 linear foot (2 document cases + 2 oversize folders)
Language of Materials
English
Physical Location
PP 503
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift, Larry Williamson; transfer from University Archives, 2022.
- Title
- Guide to the William A. Griffith Collection
- Subtitle
- Personal papers of William A. Griffith
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by cc, 2011. Finding aid encoded by cc, 2011. Finding aid revised by eje, 2022.
- Date
- 2011
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Finding aid written in English.
- Finding aid permalink
- http://hdl.handle.net/10407/5153583654
- Preferred citation
-
Personal papers of William A. Griffith, University Archives, PP 503, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas
Revision Statements
- 2022-09-01: Added .25 linear feet (1 box) addition to collection, eje
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository