John Howard Griffin papers, 1920-2004

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Series I: The Early Years, 1920-1947



Box 1 Folder 1 Biographical Sketch, 8 page t.m.s. (incomplete


Box 1 Folder 2 Bibliography of Books and Monographs, 5 page t.ms.


Box 1 Folder 3 Texas Department of Health Birth Certificate, 1 page (photocopy


Box 1 Folder 4 Coat of Arms and Genealogy, 1 page each (photocopy


Box 1 Folder 5 Moliere Les Femmes Savantes, Paris: Librairie Hachette,, 1936

[Inscribed "Howard Griffin, Lycée Descartes"


Box 1 Folder 6 American Conservatory Certificate of Attendance, [Paris], 1946, 1 page (photocopy


Box 1 Folder 7 Griffin, John Howard Handbook for Darkness, [Mansfield, TX], 1948, 34 page t.ms.

[Griffin's study "especially prepared for those who are in close contact with the blind". The text covers such areas as: "What Blindness Should Be to the Blind." "The Role of Those Who Live with the Blind." "The Role of Fear." "Potentialities for Overcoming the Handicap Ways to Financial Independence." "Marriage and Children." "The Intimate Life." "Religion." Plus notes for mini chapters on Interests, Travel, A House Guest, A Hotel Guest, Clerks in Stores, and Mechanical Aids. Unpublished. The text's last six pages contain a series of "Observations on. Blindness and Suggestions for Those Who See," which are short, compelling remarks that sum up his philosophy most effectively.


Box 1 Folder 8 Griffin, John Howard Review of Jacob Twersky's Blindness in Literature, The American Foundation for the Blind., [1948], 3 page t.ms. (carbon

[There is no record of this manuscript having been published


Box 1 Folder 9 Defense Passive Convocation, Tours, France, 30 September 1939, One 5" x 8" sheet Mimeograph document, with notes in pencil


Box 1 Folder 10 Defense Passive "Les Gaz de Combat", Two 8 1/2" x ll" sheets Mimeograph document, with notes in pencil

[Penciled notes are not in Griffin's handwriting


Box 1 Folder 11 Comite International de la Croix-Rouge To Howard Griffin, Geneva, 13 September 1939, 1 t.l., signed by Mlle. L. Odier, Membre due Comite International (and) Membre de la Commission des Oeuvres de Guerre


Box 1 Folder 12 Tours. School of Medicine Diploma awarded to John Howard Griffin, Tours,, 17 May 1946, 1 page (photostat


Box 1 Folder 13 United State of America. Army Military record and certificate of honorable discharge of John Howard Griffin, [n.p.],, 1945, 3 pages (photocopy


Box 1 Folder 14 United State of America. Department of State Passport of John Howard Griffin, Texas,, 26 June 1946, 6 page (photocopy


Box 1 Folder 15 Father Marie-Bruno, O.P. [Andre Hussar] To John Howard Griffin, [v.p.], 1 May 1945 - 19 May 1947, 10 a.l.s. 1 autograph saint card

[Monk and spiritual mentor to John Howard Griffin


Box 1 Folder 16 Casadesus, Robert To John Howard Griffin, [v.p.], 1941-1952, 18 a.l.s.

[French pianist and composer; musical mentor to John Howard Griffin. Five posted from Princeton, NJ; two on letterhead of the School of Music, American Art Schools of Fontainebleau; others posted from concert stops in St. Louis, Cleveland, and Miami; 25 pages (front and back combined); and four Autograph Envelopes


Box 1 Folder 17 Casadesus, Robert To Whom It May Concern, Palace of Fontainebleau, France,, 28 May 1964, 1 a.l.s.

[With photocopy of t.l., signed by Claude Levi-Strauss, French Ambassador and Minister of Culture, concerning Griffin's acceptance to study music; t.l., signed by Mary Crennan. on Columbia Concerts letterhead to Griffin, regarding his query as to Casadesus' concert schedule, November 30, 1945


Box 1 Folder 18 Casadesus, Jean To John Howard Griffin, New York, [17 April 1972], 1 t.n.s.

[With a carbon letter from Griffin to Jean Casadesus, July 28, 1963; form Letter of the Robert Casadesus Society to Griffin, signed by Therese Casadesus-Rawson, for the Organizing Committee; November 24, 1974 -Carbon of Typed Letter from Griffin to Therese Casadesus-Rawson, concerning his memory of her as the childhood daughter of Gaby and Robert Casadesus during which she nicknamed himle grand ours, November 30, 1974


Box 1 Folder 19 Treverton, James R. News Feature published in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, 11 Nov. 1943, based on an interview with Gaby Casadesus, pianist and wife of Robert Casadesus. Anecdotes about their friend and neighbor at Princeton, Albert Einstein; St. Louis Symphony conductor Vladimir Golschmann; the musical progress of the Casadesus children -- News Photo from an unknown and undated New York newspaper, concerning a concert to be given by the Casadesus for Russian War Relief, at Carnegie Hall -- Obituaries from the New York Times and the New York Post. Casadesus died 19 September 1972, after an operation for cancer of the pancreas; he was 73,, 1943-1972, 4 clippings


Box 1 Folder 20 Casadesus, Robert Four Music Programs, including one autographed by the pianist -- Photocopies of Two other Music Programs--one of the Casadesus Family (Robert, Gaby, and Jean) and the other of a concert by Gaby Casadesus and Pierre Bernac, tenor, [n.p.],, 1941-1946, 7 items


Box 1 Folder 21 Robert Casadesus: Four sheets of promotional material and news from the Robert Casadesus Society, including envelope addressed to John Howard Griffin -- Brochure for the Jean Casadesus Memorial Fund, Department of Music, State University of New York at Binghamton -- Article in Musical America, discussing the first Ravel/Casadesus International Piano Competition, held at the Cleveland Institute of Music, August 25-31, 1975; the December 1975 piece includes a photograph of Gaby Casadesus and winner John Owings, [n.p.],, 1972-1980, 4 items

[Jean Casadesus was pianist-in-residence at SUNY, from 1965 until his death in January of 1972, in an automobile accident; he was 44


Box 1 Folder 22 Reverdy, Pierre To John Howard Griffin, [Solesmes, France], 23 November 1953, 1 page a.l.s.

[In French. French poet, close friend of Picasso, Braque, etc.; he died in 1961.


Box 1 Folder 23 Szigeti, Joseph To John Howard Griffin, Eugene, OR, 15 January 1945, 1 page a.l.s.

[World-renowned violinist


Box 1 Folder 24 Rheiny, Arthur To John Howard Griffin, Solesmes, France, 21 January 1948, 2 page a.l.s.

[In French


Box 1 Folder 25 Reynal, Maurice To John Howard Griffin, Paris, 25 April 1949, 1 page a.l.s.

[In French


Box 1 Folder 26-30 Rattner, Abraham To John Howard Griffin, New York, 1943/1944, 18 a.l.s., 1 a.n.s., 1 telegram, 6 clippings, articles, etc.

[American painter who studied in Paris where he became friends with the Cubists and Surrealists. These letters were written in 1943 and 1944 while Griffin was a Sergeant in the Air Force 424 Bomber Squadron, serving in the South Pacific. The letters written from 1945 to 1949 cover the years of Griffin's return from the war, preparations for a trip to France (where he delivered packages of clothing for Rattner to the artist's friends in France), and also Griffin's return from France to live on a farm in Mansfield, Texas (then completely blind).


Box 1 Folder 31 Gentle, Esther To John Howard Griffin, [New York], [12 May 1975], 1 a.l.s.