John Howard Griffin, born June 16, 1920, in Dallas, Texas, was a writer, journalist, humanitiarian, and social critic. Griffin was educated at the Institute de Tours, the University of Poitiers, and the Conservatory of Fontainbleau, all in France. He ultimately received a certificate in piano and composition. Griffin also spent time at the Abbey of Solesmes contemplating a religious vocation. His first work,
Griffin wrote a great number of books, articles, and reviews, the most famous and controversial of which was
A humanitarian, Griffin received many awards in his lifetime including the Pope John XIII Pacen in Terris Peace and Freedom Award in 1964, and the National Council of Negro Women Award in 1960. During the 1960s, Griffin also worked in communities throughout the South, trying to open a dialogue between the African-American and white communities.
Griffin was often ill in his later adult life and died of diabetes on September 9, 1980.
Two and a half document boxes of correspondence, photocopied manuscripts, and clippings comprise the John Howard Griffin Collection. Containing mainly correspondence, the collection reveals Griffin's interest in religious, social, and literary issues. The collection is arranged into three series: I. Works, nd, 3 folders; II. Correspondence, 1954-1980, 33 folders; and III. Decherd Turner Materials Relating to John Howard Griffin, 1952-1980, 3 folders. Because the collection arrived in two groups, the first a donation from then Ransom Center Director Decherd Turner, and the second a purchase from the Griffin estate, registration numbers have been added to each folder to identify the provenance of the materials.
Series I contains manuscript drafts by Griffin, all in photocopied form. Two versions of
Series II, which forms the bulk of the collection, contains correspondence to and from Griffin. Although the dates range from the 1950s to 1980, the bulk of the correspondence dates from the 1960s, a period of great productivity in Griffin's life. Divided between outgoing and incoming correspondence, the files are arranged alphabetically by correspondent, and chronologically within each folder. The bulk of the outgoing correspondence is addressed to Griffin's close friend Decherd Turner, and covers both personal and literary topics. With a few exceptions, these letters are photocopies whose originals are housed in the DeGolyer Library at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas (see file 3.4 for a letter from SMU sending Turner these photocopies). Subjects of note in these letters include religion, race relations (particularly after the publication of
The incoming correspondence subseries is rich in its depth and variety, spanning Griffin's youthful days in Europe to his later years as a writer in the United States. The letters pertain largely to religion, but they also document Griffin's interest in social issues, literature, and photography. Much of this correspondence is in French. The largest compilation of correspondence in this series came from American literary historian and critic Maxwell Geismar. Over 200 chatty and sometimes gossipy letters and postcards follow Griffin and Geismar's literary friendship from 1961-1977, and include such topics as Geismar's work at
Seventy letters from the Catholic philosopher Jacques Maritain are included in this subseries, as well as 96 additional letters written by his assistants, Sisters Anne de St. Jacques and Marie Pascale. Griffin considered Maritain his spiritual mentor, and the letters contain references to Maritain's ongoing works, as well as his responses to Griffin's books.
Another important correspondent of Griffin's was Nobel Peace Prize winner Father Dominique Pire, whose 68 letters were sent to Griffin between 1966-68. Pire and Griffin worked together through the University of Peace in Huy, Belgium, and their collaboration included several peace programs and publications, documented in this correspondence.
Other correspondents include Berenice Abbott, the famed American photographer; Anne Fremantle, who was interested in writing about Griffin; Jonathan Kozol, a young social and educational critic who looked to Griffin as a kind of mentor; composer Arthur Lourie, whose correspondence dates from Lourie's stay in Princeton, N.J., and who calls Griffin “mon seuil vrai ami dans ce pays” (my only true friend in this country); Francis Poulenc, who wrote to Griffin as he worked on his religious opera, Dialogue of the Carmelites; and Father Gerald Vann, a Dominican theologian who was instrumental in Griffin's conversion to Roman Catholicism.
Within Series III are three folders of materials collected by Decherd Turner pertaining to John Howard Griffin. Two folders of incoming and outgoing correspondence with Turner document his activities on behalf of Griffin, and particularly Turner's association with
Additional Griffin materials in the Ransom Center are found in the collections of Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.,
Gift and purchases, 1980-1988 (G718, R11424)
Open for research
Rebecca Altermatt and Jennifer Peters