Guide to Rev. Alfred L. Griffiths and Ernestine C. Griffiths papers M2231

Malgorzata Schaefer

Department of Special Collections and University Archives

September 2017

Green Library

557 Escondido Mall

Stanford 94305-6064

specialcollections@stanford.edu

URL: http://library.stanford.edu/spc

Note

This is a listing of materials rather than a true finding aid.

Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: Department of Special Collections and University Archives

Title: Rev. Alfred L. Griffiths and Ernestine C. Griffiths papers

creator: Griffiths, Alfred L.

creator: Griffiths, Ernestine C.

source: Griffiths, Stephen L.

source: Meyer, Katharine Griffiths Yelas

Identifier/Call Number: M2231

Physical Description: 2.0 Linear Feet 2 MB, 1 half box, 2 flat boxes, 1 map folder

Date (inclusive): c. 1937-1963

Content Description

Materials include correspondence, photographs, unpublished typescript bound volumes, colored slides, telegrams, documents, newspaper clippings, and more. Most of the material relates to the Griffiths' life in the Philippines before, during, and after World War II, including their missionary work, the local landscape and population, and Alfred Griffiths' work to help Balbalasang men who served in the 121st company receive back pay.

Biographical / Historical

The arrangement and historical information was compiled by the son, Stephen L. Griffiths. His document is included in file 1/0.

Biographical / Historical

Reverend Alfred ("Al") L. Griffiths and Ernestine ("Nessie") C. Griffiths were Episcopal Missionaries in the Philippines stationed in Balbalasang, Kalinga, Luzon in the Philippines in the 1930s and 1940. They, along with their daughter Katharine (Katy), were captured by the Japanese during World War II and were imprisoned until the end of the war. Alfred and Ernestine had a son, Stephen L. Griffiths, in 1946. Stephen wrote a book about his family's experience: Guerrilla Priest: An American Family in World War II Philippines.

Conditions Governing Use

While Special Collections is the owner of the physical items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns. See: http://library.stanford.edu/spc/using-collections/permission-publish.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Stephen L. Griffiths and Katharine Griffiths Yelas Meyer; 2017. Accession MSS 2017-153.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Rev. Alfred L. Griffiths and Ernestine C. Griffiths papers (M2231). Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, California.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Griffiths, Alfred L.

Griffiths, Ernestine C.

Griffiths, Stephen L.

Meyer, Katharine Griffiths Yelas

box 1, folder 1

Letters from Ernestine Griffiths as POW in Camp Holmes to her father, Dr. Charles Coles, (8-1-42) and to her brother-in-law, Charles E. Perry (8-22-43)

box 1, folder 1

Letter from Ernestine Griffiths to Charles E. Perry 1943-12-13

box 1, folder 1

Letters - National Council Protestant Episcopal Church 1944-01-03-1945-03-22

box 1, folder 1

Letter from Headquarters Army Service Forces to Mrs. Charles E. Perry 1945-01-16

box 1, folder 1

Postcard from Ernestine Griffiths to Dr. Charles E. Coles 1944-06-30

box 1, folder 1

Letters from Ernestine Griffiths, POW, to her sister and to her father, Charles Coles, and stepmother, Kitty 1945-02-08

box 1, folder 1

Copy of letter from Ernestine Griffiths to her sister, Carey Perry 1945-02-08

box 1, folder 1

Typewritten copies of postcard messages from Ernestine Griffiths to family (4/27/44) with letter from Dr. Charles Perry to his children 1945-01-31

box 1, folder 1

A. L. Griffiths to Leonard and Louise 1945-02-11

box 1, folder 1

A. L. Griffiths to Elizabeth and Marion 1943-12-13

box 1, folder 1

Letters from Ernestine Griffiths to family members 1945-02-15-1945-03-14

box 1, folder 1

Copy of letters from Ernestine Griffiths to family members 1945-02-22-1945-03-01

box 1, folder 1

Copy of note from A. L. Griffiths (no date)

box 1, folder 1

Telegram from Provost Marshall General to Dr. Charles E. Coles re the release of Alfred, Ernestine and Katharine Griffiths from Bilibid Prison 1945-02-22

box 1, folder 1

Telegram from Carey Perry to Dr. Charles Coles re article in the New York Herald Tribune about the Griffith's release from prison camp

box 1, folder 1

Promissory note to the Philippine Mission of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ signed by Alfed L. Griffiths agreeing to pay the sum of one hundred (100) dollars U. S. currency one day after the day peace is declared or hostilities cease 1943-11-21

box 1, folder 1

Letter from Rosalio B. Bobil-o, 1st Lt Infantry, AFP, to Mrs. Alfred L. Griffiths returning a check for $14.53 because "I sincerely knew you had financially given aid to the guerrillas when our soldiers were harassed with hunger..." 1948-12-31

box 1, folder 2

A. G. Griffiths Army papers - relief from active duty, re physical exam, settlement of accounts 1945-08-1945-10

box 1, folder 2

Mountain Province Emergency Notes

box 1, folder 3

Concepcion's report to Colonel Nakashima - partial original copy

box 1, folder 3

Concepcion's report to Colonel Nakashima - copy of report

box 1, folder 3

A. L. Griffith's letter from Bilibid Prison to the Counter Intelligence Corps identifying Concepcion as the author of the spy report 1945-03-11

box 1, folder 4

Walter M. Cushing: Guerilla Leader and Hero of the Ilocos Provinces, by E. B. Ordun

box 1, folder 5

Copy of Col. Horan's Diary

box 1, folder 6

A. L. Griffith's induction paper with Captain Walter Cushing's original signature 1942-03

box 1, folder 6

General Orders from Headquarters 121st Infantry (PA) U. S. Army 1942-04-12

box 1, folder 6

Enlisted Record of Mark Bugnalen signed by A. L. Griffiths 1942-04-15

box 1, folder 6

Roster of Troops, Hq. Company, 121st Infantry, USAFFE 1942-04-30

box 1, folder 6

General Orders No. 1 from Headquarters Kalinga Guerilla Forces of Northern Luzon 1943-02-27-1943-02-28

box 1, folder 6

Roster of Troops, Headquarters, 1st En. "C" Co., Cagayan Guerilla Forces, USAFFE

box 1, folder 7

Correspondence: post-guerilla documents and letters documenting A. L. Grifith's efforts to ensure that men who served in the 121st company would reeive back pay 1942-1943

box 1, folder 8

Design for "Priest's Residence Balbalasang Kalinga," with handwritten comments by Ernestine Griffiths

box 1, folder 8

Map of Balbalasang and neighboring villages; sketch map of Balbalasang showing some of the Griffith's wartime hiding places

box 1, folder 8

Collection of Tinguian folktales

box 1, folder 8

Headquarters, United States Army Forces in the Far East re Award of Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon (Griffiths are among the awardees) 1945-04-25

box 1, folder 8

St. Paul's Day Celebration progam 1947-01-24

box 1, folder 9

Photographs - prewar of hunters and gatherers on a beach, probably north or northeastern Luzon. Caption on back of one written by A. Griffiths. Two photographs

box 1, folder 9

Photograph - children in village

box 1, folder 10

Photographs - trip to Balbalasang before the war (?)

box 1, folder 11

Photographs - Balbalasang and its environs 1947-1950

box 1, folder 12

Photographs - Balbalasang villagers 1947-1950

box 1, folder 13

Photographs - Balbalasang village scenes

box 1, folder 14

Photographs - Various scenes, some pre-war and some 1947-50

box 1, folder 15

Photographs - villagers 1947-1950

box 1, folder 16

Photographs - dance and fiesta

box 1, folder 17

Photographs - damage caused by 1947 typhoon

box 1, folder 18

Photographs - church and school

box 1, folder 19

Photographs - visitors to Balbalasang, including Bishops Binstead and Kennedy

box 1, folder 20

Photographs - Chief Puyao's funeral and festivities 1947-1950

box 1, folder 21

Photographs - Griffith's family photos, Balbalasang

box 1, folder 22

Photographs - considered for "Guerilla Priest" but not used

box 2, folder 1-2

Colored slides of churches and schools in Manila, churches and other scenes in Baguio, traveling to and from Balbalasang, and mostly scenes in Balbalasang, including villagers and Griffith family members 1946-1950

box 2, folder 3

Correspondence - Ernestine Griffiths and Seabury Press

box 2, folder 4-6

"Mrs. Padji" by Ernestine Griffiths, unbound original copy 1950-1953

half-box 3

Shanghailander Refuggy: Letters Written Home During the Summer of 1937 by Ernestine Griffiths, bound manuscript 1937

half-box 3

For God and Country by Rev. Alfred Griffiths, bound original manuscript 1946

flat-box 4

Photograph album - all photos taken by Alfred Griffiths. Photos include his graduating class (1931), summer in Maine, his trip to the Philippines on the Empress of the Orient, photos of Baguio City and Brent School, and photos of the Mountain Province and its people

flat-box 4

Photograph album - snapshots taken in the Philippine Islands by Alfred Griffiths 1932-1933

flat-box 5

Photograph album - photos taken by Alfred Griffiths, all pre-war, 8pp

flat-box 5

Photograph album - photos taken by Alfred Griffiths in Balbalasang 1947-1950

map-folder 1

Schematic Diagram Showing the Evolution and Growth of USAFIP North Luzon

map-folder 1

Front page of Tribune, a Manila wartime newspaper, several issues 1945-01-1945-02

map-folder 1

Newspaper articles from several U.S. newspapers; letter to the Editor of Life Magazine 1945-1960