John Howard Griffin papers, 1920-2004

After clicking 'Submit Request', users will login with their UNI and password (Columbia affiliates) or their special collections account (external users). Appointments are required and will be arranged according to each individual repository's policy.


Additions to the Papers, 2017, 2019, 2023

Photograph Archive purchased from Roberto Bonnazzi on behalf of Griffin Family 5/2015 From the Estate of John Howard Griffin and Elizabeth Griffin-Bonazzi



Box 38 Alpa Camera, in leather case, inside carrying bag, with additional lens and light meter.


Photographic Material:


8" x 10" prints and contact sheets (Group titles are taken from information written on box lids):


Photographs by Thomas Merton, Prints by Gregory Griffin:



Box 39 9 Photos taken by Merton, or by others using Merton's camera, during final journey, including photo of Merton and Dalai Lama.


Photographs of Thomas Merton, by John Howard Griffin:


Box 39 35 Photos taken at different times, including photos of Merton teaching, shots made during official portrait session, and made during their excursion to old Gethsemani train station.


Portraits of Thomas Merton in Hermitage, by John Howard Griffin, 1968


Box 39 23 Photos taken during Jacques Maritain's visit to Gethsemani, including inside Hermitage, picnic near Hermitage, Merton with Alpa camera, and Mass said by Thomas Merton for Jacques Maritain


Photographs of Merton Hermitage, by John Howard Griffin:


Box 39 10 Photos labeled on box Merton Hermitage


Photographs of Jacques Maritain, by John Howard Griffin:


Box 39 8 Photos of Jacques Maritain, some including other people.


Photographs of Michoachan, Mexico, by John Howard Griffin, 1960/61 (Views of Mexico):, 1960/61


Box 39 47 Photos, including Janitzio and Velacion de los muertos, with some night scenes


Return of the Spirit, Photographs and Scripted Text, Michoachan, Mexico, by John Howard Griffin, 1961


Box 39 13 Photos mounted on board with captions on front and script on back


Contact Sheets of Merton Portraits/pictures, by John Howard Griffin:


Box 39 27 Contact Sheets and 4 partial sheets, photos made at different times


Box 39 7 Contact Sheets of Thomas Merton's own photographs


Contact Sheets, Later Visits to Gethsemani, by John Howard Griffin


Box 39 8 Contact Sheets and 10 leaves with contact strips grouped by event.


Negatives:


Box 39 14 Envelopes of Negatives, grouped by type or by event. Should be put into inert sleeves


11" x 14" prints (Group titles are taken from information written on box lids):


Photographs by Thomas Merton, Prints by Gregory Griffin



Box 40 31 Photographs, including a few made on last journey and many meditation photos


Official Portrait of Thomas Merton, by John Howard Griffin, 1963


Box 40 13 Photographs, including official photo, other portraits including photo with Alpa and photo examining contact sheet, 1968 Maritain visit, and gravesite, 1968


Portraits of Jacques Maritain, by John Howard Griffin:


Box 40 19 Photographs, some of other people or including other people in photo


Photographs of Mexico, by John Howard Griffin:



Box 41 14 Photographs


Photographs of Belgium/Europe '70, by John Howard Griffin:


Box 41 25 Photographs (With envelope of 10 (8 x 10) prints of Belgium photos)


Portraits of Artists and Thinkers, by John Howard Griffin:


Box 41 31 Photographs


Oversize Prints:


Griffin's Studio Portraits, Signed & Dated on Mat Boards:



Box 42 14 Photographs (sized approx. 16 x 11) including


Box 42 15 Photographs (sized 20 x 16) including Dom Bede Griffith, Zara Nelsova, Lili Kraus, Roland Hayes, John Jacob Niles, Archie Moore



Box 43 5 Unmounted oversize prints (17 x 14)


Correspondence:



Box 44 Thomas Merton to Fr. Eudes Bamberger, 9 t.l.s.

(With tag that came back with Thomas Merton's body, and note written by Fr. Bamberger)


Box 44 Thomas Merton to John Howard Griffin, 70 photocopies of letters from, 1962-1968


Correspondence between John Howard Griffin and Brother Patrick Hart: 7 folders, 319 letters (originals, carbons, photocopies):


Box 44 1) 1966-1968 13 letters, 1966-1968


Box 44 2) 1969 62 letters, 1969


Box 44 3) 1970 53 letters, 1970


Box 44 4) 1971 51 letters, 1971


Box 44 5) 1972 40 letters, 1972


Box 44 6) 1973 48 letters, 1973


Box 44 7) 1974-1980 52 letters, 1974-1980


Books and pamphlets:



Box 45 Assorted books and duplicate pamphlets


2019 Addition:



Box 37 Uncommon Vison: The Life and Times of John Howard Griffin. DVD by Morgan Atkinson, 2010

(2019.2020.M068)


2023 Addition:



Mapcase 15-L-1 Official Portrait of Thomas Merton, KY, 20 March 1963, 1 photograph; In a 14.5" x 18" folder



Box 47 Portrait of John Howard Griffin, with cigarette, by George Curtsinger, 1975

© 2002 by George Curtsinger


Box 47 Portraits (2) of Thomas Merton by John Howard Griffin

© 2001 The Estate of John Howard Griffin


Box 47 Portrait of Jacques Maritain by John Howard Griffin

© 2004 by The Estate of John Howard Griffin


Box 47 Portraits (2) of Dwight Dumond by John Howard Griffin


Box 47 Black Like Me photographs (4) by Don Rutledge

© 2004 by Doc Rutledge


Box 47 Robert Bonazzi's Introduction to John Howard Griffin's Scattered Shadows, 2004, 12 pages; Typed manuscript


Box 47 Timeline of John Howard Griffin's Life, 5 pages



Box 45 Black Like Me Motion Picture lobby cards, 1964, 1 folder; (8 lobby cards)



Box 47 The Merton Seasonal. Vol. 18, Nos. 3 & 4, Summer-Autumn 1993


Box 47 "Courage & racism" (article on Robert Bonazzi discussing Black Like Me)


Box 47 "Backstory: A John Howard Griffin Revival?", 2004, 5 pages


Box 47 John Howard Griffin bibliography, 5 pages


Box 47 Blurbs for Man in the Mirror by Robert Bonazzi, 3 pages


Box 47 "Vita Nuova" a profile of Robert Bonazzi, 10 pages


Box 47 Press release re. Scattered Shadows


Box 47 Two letters from Robert Bonazzi to Jennifer B. Lee, 19 & 22 February 2004


Box 47 "Encountering John Howard Griffin" by Robert Bonazzi, 6 pages