Gordon Griffiths papers - Archives West

Gordon Griffiths papers, 1960-2001

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Griffiths, Gordon, 1914-2001
Title: Gordon Griffiths papers
Dates: 1960-2001 (inclusive)
19602001
Quantity: 19.21 cubic feet (20 boxes)
Collection Number: 5261
Summary: Research materials on the Leonardo Bruni, the Italian Renaissance, and French and other European history of a former University of Washington professor of history
Repository: University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions: Open to all users, but access to portions of the papers restricted. Contact repository for details.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Gordon Griffiths was born in 1914 in Berkeley, California. He received a B.A. in Greek from UC Berkeley in 1936, B.A. and M.A. degrees in modern history from Balliol College at Oxford, and a Ph.D. in history from UC Berkeley in 1942. He taught history at Farragut College in 1947, UC Berkeley 1947-1955, Lawrence College 1955-1959, and at the University of Washington from 1959 unitl his nominal retirement in 1980.

At the University of Washington, he taught Renaissance, Reformation, and Dutch history, and his own research focused on the Italian Renaissance, especially the career of Leonardo Bruni. Griffiths had a long history of political activism. He joined the Communist Party in the 1930's and was an ardent opponent of fascism and Nazism. In the early 1950's, he was involved in a fight against the loyalty oath imposed by the regents of the University of California, and in the 1960's was involved in opposition to the Washington Loyalty Oath. He was also a strong opponent of the conflict in Vietnam. Griffiths died on January 13, 2001.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Biographical features, writings, course files, reference files, research files, subject files.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 2 accessions.

Accession No. 5261-001, Gordon Griffiths Papers, 1960-1998
Accession No. 5261-002, Gordon Griffiths Papers, circa 1990's-2001

Future Additions

Processing Note

Processing Level 1.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Accession No. 5261-001: Gordon Griffiths Papers, 1960-1998Return to Top

19.00 cubic feet (19 boxes)

Scope and Content: Notes, exams, and syllabi for classes that Griffiths taught; subject files; reference files for research projects; and research files on Leonardo Bruni.

View inventory/container list for this accession

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users, but access to portions of the papers restricted. Contact repository for details.

Acquisition Info: Received from Dr. Dauril Alden, February 1, 2001 and John Griffiths, May 10, 2001.

Processing Info: Processing Level 1.

Accession No. 5261-002: Gordon Griffiths Papers, circa 1990's-2001Return to Top

0.21 cubic ft. (1 box)

Scope and Content: Biographical features, writings.

Autobiography of Gordon Griffiths, entitled "Venturing Outside the Ivory Tower: The Political Autobiography of a College Professor," focuses on his political activities.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Received from Dauril Alden, March 10, 2005.