CARROLL WARDLAW GRIFFIN
1900 - 1959
Carroll Wardlaw Griffin died on May 4, l959 after twenty-
seven years of service at Vassar College. The faculty
record his sudden and untimely death with a keen sense
of loss and a deep appreciation for what he did for the
college during these years. Almost half his life was
spent as a member of this faculty and during this time,
he so lived as to have gained the friendship and respect
of his colleagues, his students and his friends in the
community outside of the college.
He began his teaching in the South after graduating from
Clemson College in South Carolina. He studied at the
University of Virginia where he earned the degree of.
Doctor of Philosophy. His particular field was analytical
chemistry, though most of his research up to ten years ago
had to do with the adsorption of gases by solids and with
some phases of extraction equilibria. The soundness and
worth of these studies havebeen recognized by investigators
in the field of contact catalysis and analytical procedures,
for one finds references to his researches in treatises on
these subjects. His textbooks in analytical chemistry deal
with both qualitative and quantitative aspects. They reveal
his concern with the logical development of ideas and with
the exact expression of them. At the time of his death, he
was in the midst of preparations for a third book.
Carroll had a vital interest in his profession of scientist
and teacher. His membership in various professional societies
attests to this; he was a fellow of the American Association
for the Advancement of Science and a member of Phi Lambda
Upsilon and Sigma Xi, honorary scientific societies. As
a member of the American Chemical Society, he did everything
within his power to draw together chemists and chemical
engineers of this community for the discussion and considera-
tion of their common interests and problems. Carroll was
one of the founders of the Mid-Hudson Section of the American
Chemical Society, served as its second Chairman, and at the
time of his death was a member of the High School Liaison
Committee for promoting the teaching of science in high
school. Membership in the American Association of University
Professors was not a passive matter to him, for he had con-
tinuing interest in the actions of this organization and
CARROLL WARDLAW GRIFFIN (Continued)
applauded any movement which tended to dignify the pro-
fession of teaching. That he cared about affairs at
Vassar College was evidenced by his willingness to serve
on many academic committees; and his long period of service
as a member of the Committee on Research and finally as its
Chairman demonstrated how devoted he was to doing the very
best that he could for Vassar and the Vassar faculty.
Carroll Griffin's liking for people and his interest in
teaching and research combined with his friendliness, humor
and courage, made him a rare teacher. His present and former
students, in letters which they have written in these last
weeks, speak of their admiration and respect for him and
the things for which he stood; and they describe him as we
all know him. They all refer to him as "a fine man, anzble
leader, and a friend." They speak of his influence in stimu-
lating an interest in chemistry and of what this interest has
meant to them in their years at college and the years that
followed. One of his graduate students writes of her "two
good years at Vassar" and goes on to write "certainly I was
a long way from being his most brilliant student but I doubt
if any of the others derived more personal satisfaction from
the accomplishment or a deeper respect for Carroll as a teacher
and a friend." As an alumna put it, "I felt that when I really
needed (to) talk, I could go to him. _He gave me much needed
advice on many problems." Other students recall his spirit
of fun and his humor. Still others recognized the demands
that he made on himself and others to maintain what he con-
sidered to be a good way of life. One needs only to read
such statements as the following to understand this. "He
not only imparted his knowledge of chemistry to us but by
his presence the knowledge of warmth and goodness in people
"Those of us who have known him have benefitted from his
uncompromising struggle for truth and honor and from his
living example of patience and understanding."
One cannot forget two totally different aspects of Carroll
Griffin's personality. He got a great deal of pleasure
out of some of the simple activities on campus and many
people recall the fun that he had in taking a Very active
part in the student-faculty baseball game on Founder's Day.
Even more one remembers that Carroll could disagree with
one and yet never lose a sense of friendship and regard
for the other person.
CARROLL WARDLAW GRIFFIN - (Continued)
It seems fitting to close this Memorial Minute with his
own words taken from the introduction to one of his books,
an introduction on which he lavished much care, thought
and time and in which unwittingly he characterized himself.
"Here then is the opportunity for joy; the joy of
finding the tasks which lie ahead worthy of the
effort, the joy of constructing a pathway cleanly
penetrating what was once strange land, and the
joy of commanding new knowledge aid new skills.
Here, at last, we shall find the satisfaction
that, having crossed this barrier, we are better
seasoned for the further travels. And as each
such barrier is met and crossed the disclosure
becomes ever clearer that the ultimate goal
beyond is no mirage, but is reality itself,
worthy of all the labor - and all the joy."
Respectfully submitted,
Richard A. E. Brooks
Mary Alys Plunkett
Edward R. Linner, Chairman
XV - 168-170