Diary of daily life in Kansas during World War II
Overview
Daily history of home life during World War II, kept for the year of 1945 by Bruce Griffith, heavily detailed and closely written. At the bottom of most pages Griffith documents his personal life, describing activities with the American Legion and associated activities as a retired military officer.
Dates
- Creation: 1945
Creator
- Griffith, Bruce, 1867-1956 (Author, Person)
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 Bruce Griffith
Bruce Griffith was born on October 29, 1867 to Joseph H. and Margaret (Mock) Griffith of Union (Pavia) Township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Griffith attended local schools and continued his studies at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1886. He graduated from college in 1890 and entered the Reformed Church Seminary School, from which he graduated in 1893. He was sent to Wichita, Kansas and became pastor at the Brown Reformed Church November 12, 1893.
Griffith married Lola Dellena Faris on December 18, 1895. The couple had three children: Gladys K. (1896-1969), Joseph Irvine (August 5, 1898-May 19, 1965), and Perry Bruce (May 26, 1911-January 10, 1985).
Pastor Griffith remained with Brown Reformed Church until 1910, when he retired to enter the insurance business. He joined the Wichita National Guard in 1901 and was promoted to Lieutenant in World War I. During World War I, he fought in the 130th Field Artillery of the 39th division. He served in the military for 18 years before retiring from the Kansas National Guard in 1919.
Griffith became the first chaplain of the Thomas Hopkins Post of the American Legion in Wichita, Kansas and held this position for more than 10 years. In 1930, he was promoted by President Herbert Hoover to be postmaster of Wichita, a position he held for 4 years. Griffith was elected to the Wichita Board of Education, a position that he held for 20 years.
Bruce Griffith passed away February 17, 1956 at the age of 89. His wife Lola (Faris) Griffith passed away January 26, 1960 at the age of 87.
Extent
1 folder : 300 page daily diary.
Language of Materials
English
Physical Location
RH MS P929
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase, Charles Apfelbaum, 1998.
- Title
- Guide to the Bruce Griffith collection
- Subtitle
- Diary of daily life in Kansas during World War II
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by el, 2014; revised by mhr, 2015
- Date
- 2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Finding aid written in English.
- Finding aid permalink
- http://hdl.handle.net/10407/0375426637
- Preferred citation
-
Bruce Griffith collection, RH MS P929, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Libraries
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository