Dates: 1800-1944.

Biography:

B. W. Griffith was born in Hinds County on January 2, 1852. His father, Richard Griffith, and his mother, Sally Whitfield Griffith, were of Welsh descent. Griffith’s early education was in local private schools. He entered Mississippi College in 1870 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1872. Griffith then entered Eastman Business College and completed a commercial course in eight weeks. He returned to Mississippi College to teach mathematics. Griffith was hired as bookkeeper of the Capital State Bank of Jackson in 1878 and was elected as cashier of that bank in 1884. He became the first president of the First National Bank of Vicksburg in 1893 and was named chairman of the board in 1928.

Rondo A. Westbrook enlisted as a sergeant in the Mississippi National Guard on July 1, 1911. He was promoted to second lieutenant on August 3, 1915, and to first lieutenant on July 25, 1917, when he entered the United States Army during World War I. He was later promoted to captain.

Scope and Content:

This collection includes the papers of B. W. Griffith; his father, Richard Griffith; and B. W. Griffith’s father-in-law, J. C. Griffing; and the papers of Rondo A. Westbrook. Also included are a book belonging to Griffith, seven pamphlets belonging to Westbrook, sheet music, and a photograph.

Folder List:

Correspondence related to B. W. Griffith, March 7, 1891–February 5, 1924 and undated correspondence (folders 1–2).

Laws relating to state banks (folder 3).

Addresses by B. W. Griffith, 1911 and 1914 (folder 4).

Statement to the people of Mississippi (folder 5).

Military material belonging to B. W. Griffith's father, Richard (folder 6).

Various poems (folder 7).

Material concerning Benjamin Whitfield, the father of B. W.'s mother, 1800–1872 (folder 8).

Anonymous writing entitled "Helping the Southern Farmer" (folder 9).

Cotton book for 1858 (folder 10).

Founder's certificate for Griffith, 1916 (folder 11).

Tax statement from the Sheriff's Office, St. Joseph, Louisiana, March 5, 1852 (folder 12).

Correspondence related to J. C. Griffing, the father of B. W. Griffith's wife, May 14, 1857–July 13, 1863 (folder 13).

Account papers belonging to J.C. Griffing, 1945 (folder 14).

Tax-in-kind forms for J.C. Griffing, March 16, 1865 (folder 15).

Sales receipts for cotton, November 20, 1853 (folder 16).

Agreement concerning a crop, January 11, 1866 (folder 17).

Tax and sales receipts, 1859 and 1866 (folder 18); amnesty papers (folder 19).

Testimony for Griffing (folder 20); a patent belonging to Ben Hatch, May 1, 1828 (folder 21).

Correspondence related to R. A. Westbrook, December 5, 1917–January 19, 1920 (folder 22).

Military material belonging to Westbrook, June 17, 1918–January 24, 1944 (folders 23–24).

Physical examination reports, October 27, 1934–March 5, 1942 (folder 25);

Appointment papers and a diploma belonging to Westbrook, January 26, 1940 and December 26, 1942 (folder 26).

Telegrams (folder 27); a letter from the Local Board No. 1, Hinds County, to Westbrook, May 24, 1944 (folder 28).

News clippings concerning B. W. Griffith (folder 29).