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This is an addition to the papers of Senator Robert P. Griffin, consisting mostly of Correspondence Issues or Personal/Biographical Materials.

This is an addition to the papers of Senator Robert P. Griffin, 1957-1979, and undated (2 cubic feet in 5 boxes) from Gary Russell. The collection is organized according to the original order of the original deposit of Senator Griffin’s papers. Please see the Senator Robert P. Griffin finding aid for a detailed description of the series and their contents. Most of the materials in this addition are Correspondence Issues or Personal/Biographical Materials of Senator Griffin’s. Some of these materials are duplicated in the original deposit. The first folder in Box 1 includes administrative memos to/from Gary Russell and Senator Griffin and a brief biography of Gary Russell.

In Box 3, the Blue Books document Senator Griffin’s work on various issues, notably Civil Rights, while the Ivory Book outlines his distinguished service and leadership.

Processing Note: Two cubic feet of materials of a duplicate or peripheral nature were withdrawn from the collection during processing. Acidic materials were photocopied and the copies were retained in the collection.

Box 1-3 are .5 cubic foot letter-size boxes, Box 4 is .25 cubic foot letter-size and Box 5 is .25 cubic foot legal-size. Where topics are split between two folders, one is letter-size and the second, legal-size, is found in Box 5.

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).

Wife of Chase S. Osborn, leader in the Atlantic Union Movement, and officer in the Atlantic Union Conference, the International Movement for Atlantic Union, and Federal Union, Inc. Correspondence, diaries and other materials concerning her professional interests, especially her work for world peace through international cooperation.

The Stella Osborn collection was received in multiple accessions. The bulk of the papers were received from her home in Georgia (1958) and her office in Washington D.C. (1972). These materials documenting her entire career were organized into seven series: Biographical; Correspondence; Personal and miscellaneous; Atlantic Union Committee and related; Business and Professional Women's Club; Sound recordings; and Index card files. An extremely active woman with many interests and causes, Stella Osborn continued to add to her papers with a later accession in 1983. Following her death, the executor of her estate and other friends added to the collection with materials which she had retained for whatever reason or which had been in storage. There is obviously some overlap in these later materials and the files received previously. The purpose of the Summary Contents List (see below) is to draw like materials together.

The 1992 accession was more fully described than the earlier papers. This accession includes biographical notes and clippings about Stella Osborn and Chase Osborn. There is, in addition, personal and organizational correspondence, financial and estate records (1970-1988), land deeds for the Osborn holdings in Georgia and Michigan, organizational material for the Federal Union and the Atlantic Union Committee, manuscripts of poetry, prose, and political essays (including some material by Chase Osborn), and Stella Osborn's diaries (1982-87). The collection includes childhood photographs of Stella Osborn and photographs of her parents and grandparents. Two copies of a videotape about the Osborn farm in Georgia, Possum Poke, are included here as well.

Much of this accession documents the last few years of Stella Osborn's life, after her move to a retirement home in Sault St. Marie Michigan, years during which she maintained an interest in people and world peace organizations, and in documenting her own and Chase Osborn's place in history. While the bulk of correspondence here is for 1982, 1983, and 1987, some earlier correspondence is included as well. Of interest to university historians is the topical correspondence file on Robert Frost's visit to Michigan. Stella Osborn's lifelong friendship with Yuki Otsuki is documented by their extensive correspondence, a series of letters beautifully written and presented that recall earlier days, including student life.

The collection contains some material of interest to researchers interested in Chase Osborn, including the series of land transfers and deeds which document Chase and Stella Osborn's extensive holdings in Georgia and Michigan, and their gifts of land to various charities and institutions. Also included is some Chase Osborn correspondence and copies of articles he wrote about his extensive travels in Africa. Chase Osborn's 1938 "Longfellow Birthday Book" contains the birth dates of his ancestors. Several letters from 1936 pertain to Chase Osborn's involvement in the movement to build the Mackinac Bridge.

Of special interest to researchers interested in Stella Osborn and her role in various world peace organizations are her unpublished autobiographical manuscripts and files. Also of interest are her diaries, where she continued to record her ideas about politics and her memories.

1. Accessions, 1958 and 1971-1972 [boxes 1-27]
   • Biographical material [box 1]
   • Correspondence, 1916-1982 [boxes 1-13]
   • Personal and miscellaneous
     • Schedules, notes on telephone conversations, various writings [box 14]
     • Personal press releases [box 15]
     • Speeches [box 15]
     • Clippings [box 15]
     • Poetry [box 15]
     • Income tax files [box 15]
     • Diaries [box 16]
     • Student notebooks, account books, etc. (U-M and others) [box 16]
   • Atlantic Union Committee and related [boxes 17-24]
   • Business and Professional Women's Club activities [box 24]
   • Sound tapes [box 25]
   • Card files [boxes 25-27]
2. 1983 Accession [boxes 28-34]
   • Biographical material [box 28]
   • Correspondence, 1918-1983 [boxes 28-31]
   • Organizations [box 31]
   • Topical file [boxes 31-32]
   • Writings (autobiography, poetry, prose) [box 32]
   • Diaries [box 33]
   • Visual materials [box 34]
3. 1992 Accession [boxes 35-38]
   • Biographical and Autobiographical Material (including Chase Osborn) [box 35]
   • Correspondence, 1960-1987 [box 35]
   • Financial and Business Affairs, 1920-1985 [boxes 35-36]
   • Peace Organizations, 1970-1983 [box 36]
   • Manuscripts and Research Notes [box 36]
   • Chase Osborn materials, 1913-1949 [box 37]
   • Diaries, account books, day books, 1930-1987 [box 37-38]
   • Card Indices [box 38]

Public opinion research pollster, aide to Michigan governor George Romney. Polling materials prepared for various Republican campaigns, notably the gubernatorial campaigns of George Romney in 1962 and 1966, Romney's campaign for president, 1967-1968, and the gubernatorial campaign of William Milliken, 1970; and polls conducted on state issues including detailed demographic information on the views of ethnic, religious, and racial minorities; also survey done for Senator Robert Griffin in 1971, and on attitude of state voters towards abortion in 1972. A small collection of material donated in 2013 is related to George Romney's son and the 2012 Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney.

The papers of Walter De Vries reflect primarily his work for Romney and Milliken from 1962 until 1970. The papers are divided into two series, De Vries office files and polling data.

This collection includes photographs, typed speeches, election campaign publications, event invitations, public relations reference documents, and other materials related to Senator Robert P. Griffin created by McMaster Associates Public Relations records.

This collection includes photographs, typed speeches, election campaign publications, event invitations, public relations reference documents, and other materials related to Senator Robert P. Griffin created by McMaster Associates Public Relations records. Photographs in this collection include Robert P. Griffin with various U.S. political figures such as President Eisenhower, President Nixon, Senator Ted Kennedy, Henry Kissinger, Governor William Milliken, and Michigan Senator Carl Levin, and photographs of Robert’s wife, Marjorie Griffin, including one of Marjorie with Pat Nixon. Additionally, there are several re-election campaign publications, press releases, a published Griffin family cookbook, a packet outlining the accomplishments under the Landrum-Griffin Act, a copy of Senate bill 103 (“Labor Court Act”), an informational pamphlet on the Senate of the 92nd Congress, excerpts of Griffin’s remarks before The Rotary District Governors’ Conference on June 3, 1978, his remarks before the Republican State Convention on August 26, 1978, his statement on the extension of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) ratification period, a Detroit Free Press article (copy) about Griffin published March 13, 1969, Griffin’s daily schedule for November 6, 1978, a business conference schedule, an invitation from Governor Milliken to a dinner honoring Griffin, an invitation from the committee for Senator Griffin to a dinner honoring Henry Kissinger, and a biographical sketch of Marjorie Griffin.

There are also several materials related to the Economic Club of Detroit’s “Senatorial Debate” luncheon that was hosted on October 30, 1978, featuring Robert Griffin and Carl Levin. This collection includes the program, Griffin’s opening remarks, concluding statement, and a photograph of Griffin and Levin together at the event.

There are also materials related to the opposition to desegregation busing, including a copy of Senate Joint Resolution 164 that proposed an constitutional amendment (“The Griffin Amendment”) that would make desegregation busing unconstitutional, a statement by Senator Griffin’s Office arguing the amendment’s constitutionality, and two Congressional Records dated May 31 and June 13, 1972 in which are printed two letters received by Senator Griffin’s office that advocated against desegregation.

Researchers may be interested in the Senator Robert P. Griffin Papers and Addition, or in other separately cataloged materials about him in the Clarke Historical Library.

Processing Notes:

During processing a handful of duplicates and miscellaneous materials were withdrawn. Acidic materials were photocopied, and the originals were retained in the collection.