Guide to the Sally Zentner family papers
Amanda G. DeWilde
Sacramento Room, Sacramento Public Library
Copyright 2017
828 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 264-2976
Fax: (916) 264-2884
Email: sacroom@saclibrary.org
URL: http://www.saclibrary.org
Sacramento Public Library. All rights reserved.
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento Room
Title: Sally Zentner family papers
Identifier/Call Number: MC 49
Physical Description:
3 Linear Feet
(6 Archival Boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1880-2004
Date (bulk): 1917-1962
Abstract: The Sally Zentner family papers are comprised of correspondence, photographs and printed material documenting Zentner's family
in Sacramento from the early 1900s through the 2000s. The bulk of the collectiong comes from her parents, Adele and Joseph
Griffith, and her great-aunt, Mary Ribzinski, who worked as a nurse for decades at Mercy Hospital and for Sacramento Civilian
Defense during WWII.
Collection is open for research.
Sally Zentner was born Sally Ann Griffith to parents Joseph A. Griffith and Adele (Gemmill) Griffith in Sacramento. Her father,
Joseph, was born in 1911 to E. A. Griffith of Willows and Helena (Ribzinski) Griffith, who died in 1914 at the age of 24.
Following his mother's death, Joseph returned to Sacramento with his older brother, Bertrand (Bert), and lived with his mother's
family – his grandmother, Jennie Ribzinski, uncles Joseph and Francis, and his aunt, Mary Ribzinski.
Mary Ribzinski graduated from a nurse training program at Mater Miscordiae Hospital in Sacramento (now Mercy Hospital) in
1907. She went on to work in nursing for over 50 years, spending many of those years at Mercy Hospital in the X-Ray department.
During World War I, she was chairman of the local Red Cross committee and head of nurse enrollment, recruiting nurses for
the war effort.
Joseph A. Griffith graduated from Sacramento Junior College in 1932 worked as a cost clerk and later as a salesman at Henderson
Bros. in Sacramento from the early-1930s through 1949. He then worked as a salesman for Langner and Rifkin in the 1950s, before
finishing his sales career at Capital Auto Parts. Griffith passed away in 1973. His brother, Bert, married Claris Holder and
had a son, Frederick, and daughters Jo Ann and Carol. In the 1930s, he joined the California National Guard as an officer.
He fought in the Pacific Theater during WWII and rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel by the end of the war. He then returned
home to Auburn, where he lived until his death in 1977.
Adele (Gimmell) Griffith was born in 1913 and attended Sacramento High School before working for the Employment Development
Department for the State of California. Adele was an active member of Young Ladies' Institute (later St. Francis Institute)
in her youth, and later attended Sacred Heart Church. After her retirement around 1980, she volunteered as a docent for the
California State Capitol Museum Association.
The Sally Zentner family papers are comprised of correspondence, photographs and printed material from Mary Ribzinski, Adele
Griffith, Joseph Griffith and Bert Griffith along with family photographs and Sacramento ephemera. Subgroup I. Mary Ribzinski
papers includes photographs, correspondence and ephemeral material documenting her work as a nurse in the X-Ray department
at Mercy Hospital and her role as a block plan leader for the Sacramento Civilian Defense Council during WWII. Subgroup II.
Adele Griffith papers is comprised of news clippings, photographs and records from Adele's theater performances, employment
at the Employment Development Department and volunteer work for the California State Capitol Museum Volunteer Association.
The bulk of Subgroup III. Joseph Griffith papers consists of a series of over 200 photographs taken by Joseph of family and
friends in Sacramento and other Northern California locations between 1931 and 1932. Subgroup IV. Bert Griffith letters consists
of photocopies of handwritten letters sent to family during WWII. Subgroup V. Photographs consists of views of family and
friends at Sacramento locations, bulk 1932-1962. Subgroup VI. General is comprised primarily of ephemera from Sacramento
establishments and events and includes theater programs and restaurant menus.
[Identification of item], Sally Zentner family papers, MC 49, Sacramento Room, Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento, California.
Mary Ribzinski papers Subgroup I 1907-1945
creator: Mary A. Ribzinski
This sub-group documents Mary Ribzinski's training and work as a nurse in the X-Ray department at Mercy Hospital and in her
role as a block plan leader for the Sacramento Civilian Defense Council during WWII. It includes nursing school group portraits,
a photograph album and glass slide of nurse recruitment posters (1917); letters and postcards addressed to Mary from fellow
nurses and regarding their assignments working for the Red Cross and U.S. military throughout the country and abroad during
the war (1917-1918); letters addressed to the X-Ray Department at Mercy Hospital and to Mary Ribzinski, written by doctors
who had worked at Mercy and been deployed overseas during WWII (1942-1945); and Sacramento Block Plan maternial, including
ration booklets and tokens, letters from the Sacramento Civilian Defense Council, war bond signs and other ephemera. Also
included are a nursing handbook; Mercy Hospital retrospectives (1975-1996); and a small tablecloth and ash tray from the Golden
Gate International Exposition (1939).
Adele C. Griffith papers Subgroup II 1931-2000
creator: Adele C. Griffith
This subgroup is comprised of news clippings and ephemera from early theater performances (1920s, 1931-1932); ephemera from
Sacramento High School including a theater program (1931) and Class of 1932 reunions (1957, 1987); newspaper clippings and
ephemera from the Young Ladies' Institute (later St. Francis Institute), 1937-2003; Sacred Heart Church history and newsletters
(1980-2000); staff portraits and newsletters from the California Employment Development Department (1971-1978) and docent
notes and training guides from the California State Capitol Museum Volunteer Association (1982-1996).
Joseph A. Griffith papers Subgroup III 1929-1934
creator: Joseph A. Griffith
The bulk of this subgroup is comprised of photographs of Sacramento and California locations taken by Joseph A. Griffith along
with family portraits and cards. Most photographs are small format (1.5" x 2.5") and labeled with dates and names of those
pictured. The photographs are ordered by Griffith's numbering and include views of family and friends posed at Sacramento
locations (1929-1934), including Veterans of Foreign Wars parade downtown, McKinley Park, St. Joseph's Academy and Sacramento
Junior College; other California locations include San Francisco, Berkeley and Vallejo, and Santa Clara University, Gold Canyon,
Los Angeles and Kezat Stadium in San Francisco.
Photographs Subgroup V 1920-1974
Physical Description: .5 Linear Feet(6 Archival Folders)
This subgroup is comprised of photographs of family and friends around Sacramento and Northern California, including portraits
of Joe Ribzinski (1920) and Mary Lou Griffith (1962); George Stupak in uniform at McKinley Park and Capitol Park (1944); Frank
and Elva O'Brien at the Golden Gate International Exposition (1939); and images removed from album showing parade on J Street
"After the War" (circa 1920s). Other individuals and families pictured include Tony and Ada Myzek, Jack Snowden, the Goyette
family, the Sweeney family, and the Fox family at 23rd and J Street in Sacramento (1932). Also included are 209 color Kodachrome
35mm slides with views of locomotives, Dorothy Clary and family at Northern California locations, 1962-1974.