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Relics of the Mound BuildersThe following correspondence belongs to William J. Griffing, son of James and Augusta Griffing, and pertains to his interest in the Mound Builders and his fascination with paleontology. Many of his observations helped to solidify the theory of Coronado's journey into present-day Kansas in search of the cities of gold. His collections in the vicinity of Wildcat Creek near Manhattan earned him some recognition in a book that was later published by J. V. Brower on "Quivera" and "Harahay." See Griffing Village Site link at the top of this page. This picture of William J. Griffing was taken about the time that these letters were written.
Kansas
State Historical Society Wm J. Griffing My Dear Sir: Your letter is received, inclosing two neat little flint arrowheads for the State Historical Society. You have the thanks of the Society for the contributions. I was very much pleased with your collection, so kindly shown me by your mother. I regretted much that you were not present. This Society aims to make a record of prehistoric discoveries and researches in Kansas. I hope you will keep a record of your explorations. I shall try to see you soon and procure from you an account of the mounds you have examined and to visit some of them with you. Would it be convenient for you some time within a month to spend a little time with me? Please write me at your convenience. Yours truly, -- F[ranklin] G. Adams, [Secretary]
Kansas
State Historical Society Wm J. Griffing My Dear Sir: Your favor was received mentioning the stone circles seen by you. I am much interested in what you are seeing and doing and will by next week visit you and go out with you. I hope you will make memoranda of all your observations: marking the localities of the tunnel, opened, their size and form, and the situation of each object taken out. Note the material of each mound. Make a drawing – no matter how made – of each mound. I mail you for your reading a small book on the Mound Builders belonging to our library. You can keep it till I see you. Yours, -- F. G. Adams, [Secretary]
Kansas
State Historical Society I will come up to Manhattan next week, most any day towards the latter part that will be most convenient for you to go out with me. I will spend two days with you looking at points you have visited and making openings. I could not well come sooner and hope you are not tired of waiting or me. – F. G. Adams
Columbus,
Ohio Mr. W. J.
Griffing Dear Sir, Your welcome letter of the 2nd inst. reached me here yesterday evening only. You addressed it through on to the Smithsonian Institution; and though I have some indirect connection with the Institution, I never lived at Washington but at Columbus, Ohio. I am now preparing the text for the VIII’th Volume of the U.S. Geological Reports of which I suppose you have the VI’th and VII’th. This eighth volume which will be the last of my contributions to Hayden’s Surveys, begins with descriptions and figures of the Cretaceous plants discovered since the publication of the 6th volume are what refers to the flora of Cretaceous, is therefore of the greatest interest to me just now. Just through the plates, all are ready and printed (60 including those of the tertiary). I give descriptions of all the new recently found species. I would therefore be very glad to see anything you may have found which you think is not figured in the VIth Vol. I have no collection of specimens myself as I have no place for them and generally return specimens to the owners except if they dispose of them in any other way, either by sale or donation. The Smithsonian Institution would like to have yours, I am sure, for the National Museum. Also Professor Agassiz of Cambridge for his own museum. Also another friend of mine – a Mr. Leuse – who makes large collections. This lad and perhaps also Mr. Agassiz would buy them if they are valuable. But they must be determined first and nobody can do that but myself. Now, if you will send me your specimens for determination, I will tell you after examination what should be done with them, or if you desire it, will return them immediately after examination. In this case you will have to pay expenses of transportation. If you will dispose of tem in any other way, the purchaser will have to pay costs. That’s not much if the specimen’s are heavy and as many as they may be sent per freight and in this care. I will advance a pay cost. But per express, I could not pay charges, as I have no means whatever and have always worked science without adequate remuneration. If you send the specimens, I may also afford to exchange them for books. I have lately examined for the Museum of Prof. Agassiz, Cambridge, a large number of vegetaceous specimens got by Mr. Charles H. Sternberg. I found some new species in the lot. Of course, if you have found something new and if I describe the species, as I like to do, the discovery will be credited to you. Even your name may be given to a new species if there is any. Yours truly, -- Leo Lasquereux
Kansas
Historical Society My Dear William, I enclose you two dollars, which you ought to and must accept for your services and on account of the accommodations given me by your folks. You see the Society has a fund to meet just such expenses incurred in such trips as I made, and it would not be right for me to receive gratuities for the Society [for] all that your kind mother and yourself did for me in the trip last week. I don’t think it will be best for you to take a membership of the Society in the way I mentioned. You can have all the privileges of the Society for our gifts made to it. I have picked out an “axe” for you. Yours truly, -- F. G. Adams
Kansas
Historical Society William J. Irving [Griffing] Dear Sir: The Kansas Historical Society acknowledges receipt from you of the following relics of the mound builders. Lot of shell beads found in a mound on Mount Prospect, four miles below Manhattan on the south side of the Kansas River; also one large shell bead found at the same place; also two large stone beads found in mound on Gov. N. Green’s farm near Stockdale, Riley County. Lot of long bone beads, found in mound on Mount Prospect. Also piece of bone instrument found at same place. Also 10 flints found by you in Governor Green’s field during our trip October 22 & 23 instants; also other relics found in mounds and fields during the trip. The Society is under great obligations to you for favors in connection with the trip spoken of. Yours truly, -- F. G. Adams, Secretary
Kansas
Historical Society My Dear William, I find that in the address of my letters written you a week ago I made a singular mistake. I addressed you as “Wm. J. Irving.” And you will find the letters, two of them, in one envelope at your post office so directed. Call and inquire for letters to Wm J. Irving and get the package out. They are intended for you. Owing to some kind of freak, the name of my friend Wm Irving slipped off my pencil while making a memorandum the evening I left your home and so it seems into my letters to you. You must have expected to have heard from me before this time. Please give my best regards to your parents. Yours truly, -- F. G. Adams
Topeka,
[Kansas] Wm J. Griffing Dear Sir, I received your postal some time ago and & as I have been traveling the greater portion of the time, I have deferred writing. I collected some very perfect shells in the Cottonwood Falls country. I failed to find any stone relics. They are very scarce there and also at Topeka. Those that are found at Topeka and vicinity are found in many eastern states. My brother spent some three months in New Mexico and found many fine specimens of arrow points – some very small, some not larger than this. He found a fine war club blade in perfect condition of red agate. I have about 50 arrowheads, 10 scrapers, 5 or 6 spearheads made from flint – Agates, Moon Agates, Jaspers, flints in colors, and Quartz. 1 pipe, 2 pestles, 6 or 7 Axes and Wedges & many small ornaments of stone. Skin dresses &c, &c. I have some fine old pottery, one piece just obtained from a friend on my last trip. If you wish, I can spare you some small pieces of old Agates pottery made from India Clay. I would like to purchase one bone hook, 1 flint knife, and 1 fine pipe. I will pay a reasonable price or will give minerals & fossils in exchange. I hear that Manhattan has made a wonderful discovery lately. Please send me particulars &c &c. Are the spears for sale? Please state what you have and describe locality found, shape & material & condition. Very truly, -- George H. Hughes, North Topeka
Ellsworth,
Kansas W. J. Griffing Dear Sir, Yours of the 7th inst. is just at hand. In reply, I would say that I conduct a party into Western Kansas this summer for Prof. Agassiz, but am sorry to say that I will be unable to enlarge my party. I have employed two men to act as general assistants. Besides, I could not in justice to Prof. Agassiz have any one who collected for himself. As he would doubtless get specimens that I would procure myself, I think I can get you an Indian Skull. They are worth $7 each – at least that is what Prof. [Henry Augustus] Ward of Rochester pays. Do you want one at that price? I am glad [your brother] John is doing so well. I also am a married man. Yours truly, -- Charles H. Sternberg My kind regards to your parents & [brother] John when you write. C. H. S.
Kansas
Historical Society My Dear William, Yours received. I am greatly pleased with your proposal. We must try and set you at work in some way. The pay is the only thing in the way. Not many in our Society appreciate the value of such work. But I can get you passes over some of the roads I think, and must contrive in some way to pay a small amount for expenses and services. What do you think you could work for, for a few months? My aim is to take a run up the Blue [River] this month. When can you go with me? My best regards to your parents. Yours, -- F. G. Adams
Kansas
Historical Society My Dear William, Will it be so that you could collect for us during your vacation in connection with some other work we may perhaps get for you to do? I had a conversation the other day with an agent of the Chicago Inter Ocean with reference to correspondence and the obtaining of subscribers – the correspondence to be made to be made up by you and me jointly and to be devoted mainly to showing up mound builders work in Kansas. You to make say $25 per month over your expenses to be paid in part by subscriptions which might procure for the paper. What you collect would go into our collection. I would aid you in making up the correspondence. You might sometimes travel by railroad, sometimes by pony, soliciting among farms in the neighborhoods you might visit. Would you like to do something of this kind? Could you do such canvassing for subscribers as a part of your work not to interfere very much with your time in exploring? If you feel like undertaking such a thing, I will run up and talk it all over with you and your folks. Kind regards
to your father and mother. Yours truly, -- F. G. Adams Kansas
Historical Society My Dear William, I inclose you passes so that you may come down here to make our arrangements. I hope you can come for I am too busy to get away from home just now. I have sent a proposition to the Inter-Ocean folks, which I think will enable you to make the wages I mentioned and I hope to hear of their acceptance soon. If you can spare a couple of days in the meantime to come down, we will write up an introductory letter on the mound builders of Kansas. Come by Monday and bring with you data as to the mounds and collections in Riley County. Write me at once if you can come. You can take the horse car at the depot and it will bring you to 9th Street, within a square of the State House. Yours truly, -- F. G. Adams
Kansas
Historical Society My Dear William, I have just received the inclosed. Please to return it to me or send me a copy of it. The terms are quite as favorable as I expected, though the commissions are rather low. I hope you will be able to start out next week. I have just heard of a locality in Douglas County near Shawnee County, which I would like to visit with you soon. We will see when I can go with you. You had better retain the letter as a kind of credentials. It might be well for you to find out at your post office who are subscribers to the Inter-Ocean and see at once if you can add to the list. Yours truly, -- F. G. Adams
Kansas
Historical Society Dear William, Yours of the 22nd was duly received. You seemed to have done very well for the time you had been out. I hope this will find you at home, having made a successful trip, both as to collections and subscribers. I have written to Mr. Robbins to ask him to get a pass for you over the Kansas Pacific Railroad. The general ticket office of the company is at Omaha and he lives there. You should address him at that place. We should get up another letter and as I can not well leave home for a few days to come, perhaps you had better come down again for that object. I will try and send you passes tomorrow – [or] Monday I should say – so that you can come down Tuesday. We will go right to work at the letter so that you can return Wednesday unless we should go out to make an exploration together here. Please to have as full memoranda as possible of your trip, explorations, notes of crops, description Garrison &c. &c. Yours truly, -- F. G. Adams
Kansas
Historical Society Dear William, Inclosed find passes to Topeka. I have not yet heard from my application for pass for you over the Kansas Pacific [Rail] Road. It is time we should prepare another letter and probably you had better come down at once. I will be at the State House so that no time need be lost to you this time. Maybe you can do some exploring from this place while you are down. Bring all the information you can for letter. Yours truly, -- F. G. Adams
Kansas
Historical Society My Dear William, I inclose you a monthly pass on the Union Pacific Railroad and branches in Kansas to August 11th. My own pass has but just now come. I have been quite discouraged about our enterprise for want of these passes. I put that paragraph in the Commonwealth about your contribution for the object of influencing the Railroad officials. I have not yet completed and sent the letter to the Inter-Ocean, waiting to see whether we could get passes. I will now send it off in a day or two. Can you make that exploration near Louisville [Kansas] early next week? If so, I will get ready and meet you there Monday. I fear you must be uneasy about the compensation you should be getting. Do the best you can in the matter of subscriptions and next week we will get about the letter writing in earnest. I think we can yet make our enterprise succeed. Have you saved the rest of the Kaw skeleton? If necessary to visit the locality again for that object, please do so. At the same time you might see if you can get that manuscript of Mrs. Allen. I inclose a note for you to use when you see her. Yours truly, -- F. G. Adams
Kansas
Historical Society Dear William, Your received. I hope you have had a good trip. Do you not think we had better work up the matter near Louisville [Kansas] first, or the mounds you saw near Junction City, or go to some other point on the Union Pacific Railroads. – this while you have your pass on these roads? I can spend some days with you next week, if you want me to do so. Write me what you think best. It will be best to examine the mounds near Burlingame [Kansas] as you suggest at no distant day. Yours truly, -- F. G. Adams
Kansas
Historical Society Mr. Wm J.
Griffing Dear Sir, I think perhaps you had better come down to Topeka and we will decide whether you had better go on with your work; and if not, make a settlement in some way for the work you have already done. Yours very truly, -- F. G. Adams
Kansas
Historical Society My Dear William, I do not see that I shall have any time for sometime to come to investigate the Rollins Mound, so you had better let your club attend to it, or do it yourself in any way you think best. I am very busy and shall be all this spring at work here and some necessary traveling. I hope you will have good luck in your search through the mound. Let me know what you find. We are not yet moved into our new room. When we do get moved, I hope we will get all your things, and everything else in order. When your vacation comes, maybe I can help you in the way of traveling again. Yours truly, -- F. G. Adams
Kansas
Historical Society My Dear William, Your kind favor is received. I was pained to hear of the death of your father and sincerely sympathize with you all in your affliction. A brief acquaintance had served to give me a very high estimate of your father’s character and to enable me to learn of the sacrifices he had made in good works in the pioneer days of Kansas. I hope a very full account of his life and services will be written by somebody for preservation as a part of the history of Kansas. The article to which you refer, and which I shall embrace the first opportunity to get, may in part cover the ground, but of course many things, which ought to be written, he would not write himself. You will I hope find it congenial employment to work your pleasant little farm in the society of your good mother and sister and in a home, though bereaved, must be one whose associations and memories will continue to be such as to provoke to good works and the forming of a stable and upright character. I trust you will yet have opportunity to pursue at some time your favorite archaeological researches. Remember me kindly to your mother and convey to her from me my heartfelt sympathies. Yours truly, -- F. G. Adams
Kansas State
Historical Society Dear William, I have received your card of April 19, and the manuscript. I will give the latter to the editor of the “Methodist” for publication as you request. Your brother has not yet called. Hoping that you are well. I am. Yours truly, -- F. G. Adams
Columbus,
Ohio Mr. W. J. Griffing Dear Sir, The few specimens you sent with those of Mr. Mason have been delivered to Mr. R. D. Lowe of Pittston. If matters may be satisfactorily arranged, I intend to have all what has been found in the Cretaceous of Kansas through last year described in a separate paper as a contribution to the American Cretaceous flora. Mr. Mason, like Sternberg, have collected a large number of specimens, the first for Mr. Lowe [and] the second for the Museum of Cambridge. I do not profit of any specimens sent to me. I determine them and publish new species but return specimens to the owner or dispose of them for good collections where they may be preserved for science. Of my own work, I receive only 20 copies for distribution and as I have a great many correspondents and friends, the copies are very soon distributed. I could procure for you the VIII volume in putting your name upon that list of contributors. [Yours truly, - Leo Lasquereux]
Kansas
Historical Society My Dear William, Your mother has just called and brought in the interesting relic you spoke of sending – the blade of stone ax. Many thanks for it. Its form is perfect in symmetry, much more so than usual in these implements. Your proposition about work and travel is a very generous one and I wish I could give you encouragement that I could get you passes. But I cannot. In going east, I have to pay my own fare. Only Senator Ingalls got me a pass as far as Chicago last summer. I had to pay all the rest of the way. It used to be that our [rail] roads here would help us with the roads east, but they won’t do it at all now. I hope time will develop some way that our society may avail itself of your talents and zeal in antiquarian research, and pay you for it. Let us live in hopes that the new Dem-anti-anti legislation will give us an extra thousand dollars to use for all the good objects we want to. We are now in our new room and will in time get in order, and will get yours and Mason’s things out of the boxes. Yours truly, -- F. G. Adams
United
States Senate Mr. W. J.
Griffing My Dear Sir, I reply to your favor of August 5th, I would say that I regret I can only supply you with Smithsonian Reports for 1879-80. All others on my list have been long since distributed. I shall be very glad to serve you at any time in forwarding to you any publications ordered by Congress. Very truly
yours, |
