|
Two and a half document boxes of correspondence, photocopied manuscripts, and clippings
comprise the John Howard Griffin Collection. Containing mainly correspondence, the
collection reveals Griffin's interest in religious, social, and literary issues. The
collection is arranged into three series: I. Works, nd, 3 folders; II. Correspondence,
1954-1980, 33 folders; and III. Decherd Turner Materials Relating to John Howard Griffin,
1952-1980, 3 folders. Because the collection arrived in two groups, the first a donation
from then Ransom Center Director Decherd Turner, and the second a purchase from the
Griffin
estate, registration numbers have been added to each folder to identify the provenance
of
the materials. |
|
Series I contains manuscript drafts by Griffin, all in photocopied form. Two versions
of
Black Like Me are present--the first is a near complete copy of the
manuscript, which appears to have been pulled together from two or three different
drafts,
and the second version is abridged and highlighted by stage directions and notes for
a
theatrical presentation. Of note in this folder is a drawing of a set design for this
presentation. The series concludes with a short draft of a essay titled "Publication Year," in which Griffin discusses his feelings about
being published. |
|
Series II, which forms the bulk of the collection, contains correspondence to and
from
Griffin. Although the dates range from the 1950s to 1980, the bulk of the correspondence
dates from the 1960s, a period of great productivity in Griffin's life. Divided between
outgoing and incoming correspondence, the files are arranged alphabetically by
correspondent, and chronologically within each folder. The bulk of the outgoing
correspondence is addressed to Griffin's close friend Decherd Turner, and covers both
personal and literary topics. With a few exceptions, these letters are photocopies
whose
originals are housed in the DeGolyer Library at Southern Methodist University in Dallas,
Texas (see file 3.4 for a letter from SMU sending Turner these photocopies). Subjects
of
note in these letters include religion, race relations (particularly after the publication
of Black Like Me), and Griffin's 1961 meeting with Anaïs Nin. Other
outgoing letters are addressed to Carl Brannin, Mrs. James A. Hiser, and Mrs. Goldie
Renfro. |
|
The incoming correspondence subseries is rich in its depth and variety, spanning Griffin's
youthful days in Europe to his later years as a writer in the United States. The letters
pertain largely to religion, but they also document Griffin's interest in social issues,
literature, and photography. Much of this correspondence is in French. The largest
compilation of correspondence in this series came from American literary historian
and
critic Maxwell Geismar. Over 200 chatty and sometimes gossipy letters and postcards
follow
Griffin and Geismar's literary friendship from 1961-1977, and include such topics
as
Geismar's work at Ramparts, new books, publishers, the literary scene
of the 1960s, family and personal news, and mutual literary acquaintances. |
|
Seventy letters from the Catholic philosopher Jacques Maritain are included in this
subseries, as well as 96 additional letters written by his assistants, Sisters Anne
de St.
Jacques and Marie Pascale. Griffin considered Maritain his spiritual mentor, and the
letters
contain references to Maritain's ongoing works, as well as his responses to Griffin's
books. |
|
Another important correspondent of Griffin's was Nobel Peace Prize winner Father Dominique
Pire, whose 68 letters were sent to Griffin between 1966-68. Pire and Griffin worked
together through the University of Peace in Huy, Belgium, and their collaboration
included
several peace programs and publications, documented in this correspondence. |
|
Other correspondents include Berenice Abbott, the famed American photographer; Anne
Fremantle, who was interested in writing about Griffin; Jonathan Kozol, a young social
and
educational critic who looked to Griffin as a kind of mentor; composer Arthur Lourie,
whose
correspondence dates from Lourie's stay in Princeton, N.J., and who calls Griffin
“mon seuil vrai ami dans ce pays” (my only true friend in this country); Francis Poulenc,
who wrote to
Griffin as he worked on his religious opera, Dialogue of the Carmelites; and Father
Gerald
Vann, a Dominican theologian who was instrumental in Griffin's conversion to Roman
Catholicism. |
|
Within Series III are three folders of materials collected by Decherd Turner pertaining
to
John Howard Griffin. Two folders of incoming and outgoing correspondence with Turner
document his activities on behalf of Griffin, and particularly Turner's association
with
The John Howard Griffin Reader. No correspondence with Griffin is
present in this series. A third folder contains newspaper clippings about Griffin,
documenting the publication of his first book, the restoration of his sight, and the
reaction of his hometown to the publication of Black Like Me. |
