Adolphus D. Griffin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adolphus D. Griffin
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| Born | June 11, 1868 Kingston, Louisiana, US
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| Died | June 2, 1916 (aged 47) Kansas City, Kansas, US
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| Occupation | Newspaper editor and publisher |
| Years active | 1888–1916 |
| Known for | The New Age (Portland, Oregon) |
Adolphus Dyonisius Griffin (born June 11, 1868 – died June 2, 1916) was an important American newspaper editor and publisher. He worked in places like the Pacific Northwest, Los Angeles, and Kansas. He focused on helping African-American communities, especially with issues in business and politics. He was also known as A. D. Griffin.
In 1896, he started The New Age, which was Portland, Oregon's first newspaper for Black residents. He was friends with famous leader Booker T. Washington and was part of the National Afro-American Council in Portland. He also invested in real estate.
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Early Life and Family
Adolphus D. Griffin was born on June 11, 1868, in Kingston, Louisiana. His parents, Fannie and Tillman Griffin, were farmers. When he was 20 years old, he moved to California.
Griffin was married to Emma K. Griffin. He later moved to Topeka, Kansas in 1907.
He then moved to Kansas City, where he passed away on June 2, 1916. He was buried in Shreveport, Louisiana.
His Work as a Publisher
Starting in California and Washington
While living in California, Griffin helped to start the California Eagle newspaper in Los Angeles. Later, he moved to Spokane, Washington. There, he became an editor for a newspaper called The Northwest Echo.
The New Age in Portland
In 1896, Griffin moved to Portland, Oregon. This is where he started The New Age. This was an eight-page newspaper published every week from 1899 to 1907.
The New Age was the very first newspaper for Portland's Black residents. At that time, there were about 700 Black people living in Portland. The newspaper was very important because it wrote about issues facing the Black community. It was also special because, at that time, the state of Oregon's constitution did not allow African-Americans to have certain rights.
Griffin also started a land development company called Enterprise Investment Company.
Political Involvement
Adolphus D. Griffin was elected as a Republican delegate. He represented Oregon at the state convention two times.
Work in Kansas
Later, in Topeka, Kansas, Griffin worked as an editor for The Topeka Plaindealer. He also worked as a city detective there.
In 1913, Griffin became a trustee and board president for Western University. This was a historically Black college located in Quindaro, Kansas. In 1916, in Kansas City, he started another newspaper called The Kansas Elevator.
