Johnston and Griffin families collection, 1834-1904

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Abstract:
Papers belonging to American lawyer and Confederate soldier William Preston Johnston, and physician and early Los Angeles businessman John Strother Griffin.
Extent:
1.42 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Johnston and Griffin families collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains family matters, chiefly concerning Dr. Griffin and his brothers regarding the Seminole War in Florida and overseas navy cruises; William Preston Johnston, some regarding recruiting in the Spanish-American War; some materials on Southern California and family genealogy.

Biographical / historical:

William Preston Johnston (1831-1899), lawyer, soldier, and educator, the son of General Albert Sydney Johnston (who served in Texas, in Utah, and as commander of the Department of the Pacific in 1860, and as a Confederate general in the Civil War before his death at Shiloh), graduated from Yale University in 1852, and from the University of Louisville law school. He served as an aide to Jefferson Davis in the Civil War, helped found Tulane University and was its president until his death. John Strother Griffin (1816-1898), physician and early Los Angeles businessman, served as an army surgeon in Florida, then came to California in 1846 with General Stephen W. Kearny, participating in battles at San Pascual, and later sold part of the property, which became the city of Pasadena. Griffin's sister Eliza, wife of General Albert S. Johnston, developed Fair Oaks Ranch on part of the Rancho San Pascual property.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mrs. John H. Johnston, November 1965.
Processing information:

Processed by Huntington Library staff in the 1970s. In May 2024, Brooke M. Black created a finding aid.

Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Johnston and Griffin families collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Website