Griffith Family Papers, 1845-1973

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Summary

Abstract:
Griffith Jenkins Griffith (1850-1919) engaged in mining operations in Mexico. In 1882, he purchased Los Feliz Rancho near Los Angeles, and acquired extensive real estate in the city. In 1896, he donated most of his ranch to the city for a public park, and in 1912 provided money for the construction of an astronomical observatory on Mt. Hollywood. His son, Van Griffith, became president of the Los Angeles Park Board, and was manager of the Griffith Park Transportation Company. He was also a member of the Los Angeles Police Commission and an ombudsman for Mayor Fletcher Bowron. His wife, Constance Griffith, served on the Los Angeles board of directors of the League of Women Voters and on the state board. The collection contains manuscripts, documents, photographs, glass negatives, newspapers, maps, clippings, magazines, books, and miscellaneous memorabilia of the Griffith family, including Griffith J. Griffith, his son Van, and Van's wife, Constance Griffith, including material in the Citizens Research Institute, the Los Angeles city police commission, the Griffith Trust Fund, and the League of Women Voters.
Extent:
117 boxes (58.5 linear ft.) and 1 oversize_boxes
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Griffith Family Papers (Collection 2060). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection contains manuscripts, documents, photographs, glass negatives, newspapers, maps, clippings, magazines, books, and miscellaneous memorabilia of the Griffith family, including Griffith J. Griffith, founder of Griffith Park in Los Angeles. Also contains papers of his son Van, and Van's wife, Constance Griffith, including material in the Citizens Research Institute, the Los Angeles city police commission, the Griffith Trust Fund, and the League of Women Voters.

Biographical / historical:

Griffith Jenkins Griffith was born on January 4, 1850 in Glamorganshire, South Wales; attended Fowler Institute, New York City; came to California in 1873; engaged in mining operations in Mexico; in 1882 purchased Los Feliz Rancho near Los Angeles, and acquired extensive real estate in the city; in 1896 donated most of his ranch to the city for a public park, and in 1912 provided money for the construction of an astronomical observatory on Mt. Hollywood; died on July 6, 1919; his son, Van Griffith, became president of the Los Angeles Park Board, and was manager of the Griffith Park Transportation Company; he was also a member of the Los Angeles Police Commission and an ombudsman for Mayor Fletcher Bowron; his wife, Constance Griffith, served on the Los Angeles board of directors of the League of Women Voters and on the state board.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mrs. Van Griffith, 1975. Gift of Mrs. Harold Griffith, 1976. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Griffith, 1976-1977.
Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Griffith Family Papers (Collection 2060). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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