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Preferred Citation:

Charles H. Griffings Diary, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary

Acquisition Information:

Purchase.

Biographical Information:

Charles H. Griffings lived in Northampton, Fulton, New York in 1930. His parents were Harris P. and Vera F. Griffings. He had a younger sister, Vera M. Griffings. In 1931 he was an eighth grade student, then a freshman in high school. He was a member of the baseball and football teams. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .

Scope and Contents

Diary of a 14 year old boy in the 8th and 9th grades who lived near Groversville, New York. Entries center around his school and extracurricular activities though he sometimes mentions his father and mother. He is on the baseball team and gives quick rundowns of the games, plus the results of professional team games. After school activities usually involve playing sports – football, baseball, tennis, basketball, marbles - with his friends or his school teams. In the evenings he goes to movies, usually giving the title and his opinion, and listens to fights or Sherlock Holmes on the radio. He is a Boy Scout. He attends Sunday School. During the summer he swims, takes a trip to Portland, Maine, reads and plays baseball, tennis and croquet. Gives weather for many days.

Inside front cover and first page:

Lists "Girls I have Liked" from the 1st to the 8th grade, positions on sport teams, "president of 8th grade" and "2nd Class Boy Scout."

Begins January entries with accounting of money made doing shoveling.

February 11

"Jumped off roof with Don and Ray.

February 17

"Went to Catholic supper before movie with Dad last night."

March 12

"Pimples worse."

April 5

"Lot of girls joined church."

June 8

"Got sent to office by Miss Woodely. I have to see…after school. Only 1 week more."

June 14

"Aunt Mary died. Gosh I'm sorry, but she would have suffered had she lived."

June 19

"Went to graduation…12 graduated…Dad says its one of the milestones of your life."

July 20

Took trip to Portland, Maine and a beach.

Aug 3

"…only weighed 127. Got some apples and played croquet after supper. Listened to the radio. Went to bed. So long."

August 27

"Put up heavy punching bag. Lot of fellows down."

September 28

"Mom's birthday. She's 41. One darn good Mom."

November 17

Vivien S….stayed with her awhile. She's not so bad."

December 25

"...went up to Bebes. Dad drunk. Broke promise to me with a week to go. Made me feel bad. Sort of spoiled Christmas."

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Diaries
• Groversville (N.Y.) -- Social Life and customs
• Teenagers--United States--Diaries
• Young men--United States--Diaries