Martin I. J. Griffin papers

The Martin I. J. Griffin papers document the life, work, and research of Martin I. J. Griffin (1842-1911). This collection dates from 1842 to 1950, with the bulk of materials dating from 1870 to 1911, and contains mostly correspondence, research files, notes, clippings, ephemera, and assorted personal records. The clippings are organized by subject and deal principally with Griffin's research on the Catholic Church in America. Researchers should bear in mind that this collection contains materials which predate Griffin and also some materials which were created decades after Griffin’s death. Additionally, it should be noted that the majority of the dates are approximations due to the fact that many of the materials contain handwritten dates that reflect the date of the subject and not of the document itself. There is also a significant amount of undated materials.

This collection is divided into three series: “I. Correspondence, 1804-1933,” “II. Subject files, 1805-1942,” and “III. Personal papers, 1842-1911.”

Series “I. Correspondence” spans from 1804 to 1933 and contains alphabetically arranged letters written to Griffin, followed by alphabetically arranged letters from Griffin. Following these letters are pieces of correspondence involving the American Catholic Historical Society, and the series ends with documents involving assorted correspondents. Researchers should note that correspondence can also be found throughout other areas of the collection as it pertains to specific topics.

Series “II. Subject files” contains clippings, notes, correspondence, copies of letters, and drafts of Griffin’s writings; this series spans from 1805 to 1942, although the majority of the records are undated. Many of these subject files retain their original folder titles to preserve the context of their arrangement. This series is divided into three sections of research files. The first two sections of this arrangement reflect the original arrangement, with the third section added to this arrangement system.

The first section contains subject files that are arranged alphabetically by subject, and within these subjects the arrangement reflects the order previously established.

The second section is also arranged alphabetically by subject, and includes subject files that contain a significant amount of records for each subject. As with the first section, each subject is arranged according to its previous order. Included in this section is a significant body of research regarding Commodore John Barry, Bishop John Carroll, Bishop Henry Conwell, Bishop Francis Patrick Kenrick, John Paul Jones, Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Stephen Moylan, the St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s parishes, and the involvement of Irish and Catholics in the American Revolution.

The third group of research files is mostly comprised of assorted printed materials, writings, notes, clippings, and research files on assorted subjects dating from 1856 to the 1920s. These materials are grouped by document type, with assorted letters, articles, notes, and indices from various sources preceding assorted notes and writings. These are followed by assorted clippings, and then assorted subject files which are arranged alphabetically and then numerically. This arrangement reflects the previous order of the collection, and preserves past attempts at organization. Users of the collection should note that this section would benefit from further organization, and may or may not contain materials directly related to other areas of the collection.

Series “III. Personal papers” dates from 1842 to 1911. This series is arranged topically, and contains family correspondence; the obituaries of both Martin I. J. Griffin and Mrs. I. J. Griffin; records documenting Griffin’s involvement with various societies, associations, and guilds; academic records; photographs, clippings, drawings, and assorted notes; diaries, maps, and travel documents; poems; address lists; and scrapbooks.

This collection documents the life, work, and historical research of Martin I. J. Griffin. As such, the collection reveals Griffin’s research methodology and contains a wealth of information on subjects of his interest. This collection will thus prove especially valuable for researchers interested in Martin I. J. Griffin himself, the history of Philadelphia Catholic parishes, and the history of Irish Catholics and the Catholic Church in the United States during the 18th and early 19th centuries.