WILLIAM ELLIOT GRIFFIS (1843-1928) FILES,, 1858-1928

Summary: WEG's correspondence to his family members not only describes his current activities, but also reflects his innermost thoughts and feelings. Early letters to his sister Margaret reveal his church activities and the growing importance of religion to him. His letters written while a Union soldier in Maryland describe army life and his opinions of it. WEG's college years, 1865-1870, at Rutgers College and, afterwards, New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, New Jersey, are detailed in weekly letters home. His letters written from Japan between 1871 and 1874 are filled with social and political observations and comments. Correspondence during his later years are primarily from colleagues and regard his research interest in colonial Dutch America, among other things.