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Collection: Clarence W. GRIFFIN Papers
Rutherford County
1920-1957
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Physical Description: 19 black MS boxes and 12 grey fibredex boxes containing
correspondence; typescripts; original documents such as indentures, tax lists
receipts, certificates, notices of appointment, and Confederate money; news¬
paper clippings; scrapbooks, and so forth.
Acquisition: Gift of Clarence W. Griffin, Forest City, N.C.
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Description: Clarence Wilbur Griffin (1904-1958) was the son of Lewis W. and
Naomi Johnson Greene Griffin. Having studied engineering at North Carolina
State College of Agriculture and Engineering in
1923/24,
Griffin was employed ,
as an engineer by the North Carolina State Highway Commissior from 1924 to 1925. ,
In the latter year, at age 21, he became editor of the Forest City Courier,
subsequently the Forest City Courier-Spindale Sun. Beginning in 1942 he
was editor, general manager, and secretary-treasurer of the newspaper, and
it remained under his guidance until Griffin's death. As editor of the paper
Griffin was active in the North Carolina Press Association, the National
Editorial Association, and the Western N.C. Weekly Newspaper Association.
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Griffin's interest in local history was coeval with his Involvement
with the local newspaper. He was appointed Rutherford County historian in
1927 and held the assignment until his death. In addition to his work as
manager and editor of the Historical and Genealogical Record, Griffin authored
the following books and pamphlets: The Bechtlers and Bechtler Coinage (1929),
Colonel John Walker and Family (1930), Descendants of Chisholm Griffin (1931),
Public Officials of Rutherford County, 1779-1935 (1935), History of Old Tryon . ’
and Rutherford Counties, 1730-1936 (1938) * Western North Carolina Sketches
(1939), The Story of Our State (1942), Essays of North Carolina History (1951),
and History of Rutherford County, 1937-1951.
From 1933 to 1935 Griffin, who was:. an officer of the Rutherford County
Democratic executive committee, represented his county in the North Carolina
General Assembly. Additionally, he was 'a member of the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park Museum Commission, National Youth Administration (advisory
council), Rutherford County Radio Company, Rutherford County Red Cross,
and trustee and director of the Rutherford County Library from 1939 to 1958.
Active in many civic organizations and affairs, Griffin was a member of the
Methodist Church.
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