The collection documents the career of Senator Robert P. Griffin, who was a lawyer, U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator (including the role of Minority Whip), and Justice on the Michigan Supreme Court. It consists of administrative materials, correspondence, political materials; including constituent correspondence, Michigan-related, press-related, legislative-related and campaign materials; as well as personal materials. Collection contains paper materials as well as photographic, audio, video and other multi-media materials.
While processing the various series, all duplicates, generic correspondence (Exs. May I have a photograph, a job, a flag, Washington, D.C. brochures?, For the information of all senators..., To whom it concerns..., etc.) and peripheral materials used for reference only, were discarded in large numbers from almost every series. Widely available publications, such as the Congressional Record and Michigan Manuals were similarly discarded from every series. Newsletters and related materials of other major politicians were discarded since they may be found in other archives. Information of a personal nature, such as resumes, intern files, and staff files were discarded because of personal privacy issues. Generic office, staff, and visitor materials, blank forms, and stationery were discarded. These materials were discarded because they do not document how or what Griffin or his staff did or thought and they are not used by historians and researchers. Out of the original 1061 boxes (approximately an equal number of cubic feet) 407 boxes (approximately 410 cubic feet, including one portrait) were retained. Processing time took approximately one year, with additional months spent compiling and writing the finding aid, and cataloging the collection. It is not the plan of the Clarke Historical Library to convert all the older videotapes which cannot be played or viewed on VCRs to current VHS videotape. This media is very fragile due to the various chemicals in its composition, which makes it difficult or impossible to convert the information, as well as an expensive process. The Clarke Historical Library plans to concentrate on converting Griffin's 1972 campaign ads to modern VHS videotapes as this was his closest race and will presumably be of greatest interest to future researchers.
The collection is organized into twelve series: Administrative, Campaign, Correspondence‑Enclosures, Correspondence‑Issues, Legislative/Voting, Personal Series, Political, Press, Whip Office, Books, Memorabilia, and Exhibit Materials.
The collection includes items such as notes, correspondence, documents, memos, manuals, work policies, procedures, announcements, newsletters, an oral history interview with Griffin, photographs, negatives, videotapes, cassettes, reel‑to‑reel tapes, speeches, statements, remarks, news releases, brochures, press kits, briefing books, schedules, campaign memorabilia, pins, headbands, bumper stickers, testimony, finances, campaign strategies, ads, studies, questionnaires, mailings, acts, bills, research, notebooks, analysis, and personal effects (ex: vest, matchbook, guest books, cookbooks, and Christmas cards).
Additions to the collection include Abe Fortas materials (Boxes 418-421), Senate Historical Office Negatives of Senator Griffin either by himself or with various people (Boxes 422-423), and Obituaries (Box 423).