Alameda
County
Biographies
FARNHAM P. GRIFFITHS
Farnham P. Griffiths, lawyer, was born in Alturas, California, on November 25, 1884; the son of Reverend Griffith Grittiths and Hester (Horder).
He obtained his early education in the public grade and high schools in Eureka, California; his preparatory education at the University of California, where he graduated with the B.L. degree in 1906. His legal education was obtained at Balliol College, Oxford University (England; Rhodes Scholar), where he received the B.A. degree in 1910 and the M.A. degree in 1925; received the LL.D. degree from Kenyon (Ohio) College in 1941; admitted to the California bar, at San Francisco, in 1913.
Mr. Griffiths began practice of the law in San Francisco, California, as an associate with the firm of McCutchen, Thomas, Matthew, Griffiths & Green, and predecessor firms, 1913-19, and partner since 1919. The firm also has offices in the Roosevelt Building, Los Angeles, California. He served as secretary to the president of the University of California, 1906-07, secretary to president and lecturer in law, 1910-13, and lecturer in law, 1915-20.
Mr. Griffiths is director of the Palace Hotel, also Hobart Estate Company; served as assistant to chairman of committee on scientific personnel, Office of Scientific Research and Development, Washington, D.C., August to December, 1942, and as acting chairman from January to February, 1943; chief of District Seven, Recruiting Service, United States Shipping Board, during World War I; regent of University of California; trustee of Hospital for Children, also of the Training School for Nurses (San Francisco), and San Francisco Law Library; member of distribution committee, The San Francisco Foundation.
Member of the International Law Association (president of American Branch, 1938-39), American Law Institute, Maritime Law Association of the United States (vice president, 1938-41), American Bar Association, Bar Association of San Francisco (president, 1944), The Maritime Exchange of San Francisco (president, 1941); Musical Association of San Francisco (member of Board of Governors); Century Association; and the following clubs: Faculty (Berkeley); Bohemian (president, 1938-40), Pacific-Union, Cercle de L’Union, Commercial (San Francisco); The Players (New York City); Cosmos (Washington, D.C.).
On May 21, 1913, Mr. Griffiths married Marjorie Morse. They have three children: Gordon, born in 1914; Penry, born in 1918; and Quentin, born in 1922. Their home is at 1590 La Verda, Berkley 8, California.
Offices: 1500 Balfour Building, San Francisco 4, California.
Transcribed by Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: Eminent
Californians 1953, by Lee E. Johnson & C. W. Taylor. Pages 391-392, C. W. Taylor
Publ., Palo Alto, California, 1953.
© 2014 Joyce Rugeroni.
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