John J. Griffin papers

Father John J. Griffin, born in 1859, was a Catholic priest and academic. Griffin earned his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in 1895. He was a professor of chemistry at Catholic University and Notre Dame of Maryland. He taught at Notre Dame from 1891 until his death in 1921. He was the sole professor of chemistry during most of his tenure at both Notre Dame and Catholic University. Students were often treated to Father Griffin's illustrated lectures, where he projected and discussed slides depicting various countries and regions.

Much of Griffin's life outside of the classroom was devoted to the development of young men at his camp in New Hampshire, Camp Namaschaug. Griffin was also very interested in photography and documented the camp through numerous photographs. Father Griffin's goal at Camp Namaschaug was to develop the campers' mind, body, and soul. This included physical work to make them stronger, classes on courses like English and Latin, and spiritual exercises. Camp applicants had to prove their good moral behavior to be accepted to the summer camp.

When he died in 1921, he left the camp to the sisters of the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. He is buried in the mausoleum of the cemetery on the Notre Dame of Maryland University campus.