Griffith Walter Patrick (1 results)

An album of 134 original photographs and 16 documents and newspaper clippings providing glimpses into the life of an intrepid jack of all trades who served in both World Wars. Born in Cripple Creek, Colorado, Griffith (1900-60) attended Pueblo City Schools and appears to have spent part of his adolescence in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where he enlisted for service in the First World War in 1917. The first image in the album is a studio portrait of a youthful Griffith in full uniform, and another shows him with seven fellow soldiers. According to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania records, he served with the 282nd Aero Squadron from December 13, 1917 to December 14, 1918. After the war, Griffith was employed as a trucker in a Pennsylvania steel mill, before moving to California and taking work as a riveter near Bakersfield. It was about this time he visited Yosemite and captured the 20 snapshots included in the album. Other images from this period show mining, ranching, and oil exploration, presumably in Kern County. The newspaper clipping included herein depict Griffith as cool and resourceful. The brief story "Kills Coyote With Rock" reads: "W.P. Griffith, who probably has had more experience with rattlers this summer than any one else in the community, had a new one this week. While working in the hay fields for John Tarped he spied a coyote intently watching something hidden in the tall meadow. Walking around to the far side of the animal he was approaching it when suddenly it ran at top speed toward him. Quickly picking up a rock he hurled it at the coyote and killed it." Another piece, published shortly after his move to Wenatchee, Washington, tells of the measures he took when a truck loaded with watermelons burst into flames: "Griffith wasted several minutes looking for water. Then he had an idea. He hurled watermelons at the blazing truck. They burst and water spouted out. The twenty-third melon put out the fire." Census records indicate Griffith worked as a self-employed tree surgeon in Los Angeles prior to his enlistment for service during the Second World War. The photographs and documents in the album suggest he joined the U.S. Navy, and later served as an electrician in the U.S. Coast Guard. There is also some indication that he visited the The Universities' Mission to Central Africa in Zanzibar, and also spent some time in Palm Springs, California. The photographs, which range in size from 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" to 6 1/2" x 8 1/2" (most are 4 1/2" x 2 3/4"), are mounted to black leaves, which are bound in a decoratively embossed oblong brown buckram album. A few of the images are labeled in the margins. Some minor edgewear, with a few faint spots to the front panel of the album; otherwise very good.