Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Harley Griffiths
Harley Morris Griffiths was born on June 25, 1908, in Brooklyn, New York, according to his transcribed birth certificate at Ancestry.com and World War II draft card. His parents were Harley Bradley Griffiths and Mary Marquerite Mulcahy who lived on Carlton Avenue in Brooklyn.
In the 1910 United States Census, Griffiths, his parents and three-month-old brother, Edgar, were Buffalo, New York residents at 166 Fourteenth Street. His father was a piano salesman.
The 1915 New York state census recorded Griffiths, his parents and three siblings, Edgar, Gloria and Muriel, in Brooklyn at 137 Sixth Avenue.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October 3, 1917, published a death notice for Griffith’s father.
Griffiths—On October 3, 1917, Harley Bradley Griffiths, beloved husband of May Mulcahy Griffiths. Funeral from his late residence 28 St. Mark’s place, at the convenience of the family. Interment Cypress Hills Cemetery.
According to the 1920 census, Griffiths mother was head of the household that included her four children, brother, Thomas Mulcahy, and three sisters, Helen, Dorothy, Loretta. They lived in Brooklyn at 397 Flatbush Avenue.
In 1925 New York state census, the Griffiths family resided at 127 Sixth Avenue in Brooklyn. Griffiths’ mother was a telephone switchboard operator.
The 1930 census said Griffiths was a designer who worked in manufacturing. He lived with his mother and two sisters in Brooklyn at 209 Underhill.
A death notice for Edgar Griffiths appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle, February 5, 1935.
Griffiths—On Sunday, Feb. 3, 1935, at 349 St. John’s Place, Edgar Charles Griffiths, beloved son of Mary M. And the late Harley Bradley Griffiths and brother of Harley M., Gloria J. and Muriel J. Griffiths. Funeral Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.; solemn mass of requiem St. Teresa’s R. C. Church. Interment in St. John’s Cemetery.
On April 5, 1937, Griffiths enlisted in the New York National Guard. He was assigned to Company M, 107th Infantry.
Griffiths contributed spot illustrations to the magazine, The Sign, including the issues dated August 1939, October 1939, and March 1943.
The 1940 census said the Griffiths made their home at 349 St. Johns Place in Brooklyn. Griffiths completed four years of high school was a designer of light fixtures.
Griffiths signed his World War II draft card on October 16, 1940. His address was the same. He worked at the Lovis Smith Company. Griffiths was described as six feet, 165 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair.
The Brooklyn Eagle, June 27, 1943, reported Griffiths’ engagement.
Miss Maher to Wed on July 10Is Bride-Elect of WesternerMrs. Francis Langford Maher of 395 Clinton Ave. announces the engagement and approaching marriage of her daughter, Miss Elizabeth Maher, to Harley Griffiths of Coronado Beach, Cal.Miss Maher, daughter of the late Francis L. Maher, is president of the Alumnae Association of the College of New Rochelle, She is also a graduate of St. Angela Hall and received her Masters Degree from Fordham University.Mr. Griffiths is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Harley Bradley Griffiths of Brooklyn. He is a graduate of. St. Augustine’s Academy and attended Pratt Institute and the National Academy of Design. Mr. Griffiths is associated with Consolidated Aircraft Company in San Diego, Cal.The wedding will take place on July 10.
On July 7, 1943, Griffiths and Elizabeth Maher obtained, in Manhattan, marriage license number 15367.
Their marriage was covered in the Brooklyn Eagle, July 11, 1943.
Cathedral Is Scene of Miss Maher’s BridalMiss Elizabeth Maher, daughter of Mrs. Francis Langford Maher of 885 Clinton Ave. and the late Mr. Maher, was married yesterday to Harley Griffiths, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Harley Bradley Griffiths of Coronado Beach, Cal. The ceremony was performed in the Lady Chapel of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Manhattan, by Monsignor Joseph F. Flannelly and a reception followed at Sherry’s.Miss Maher was attended by her sister, Mrs. Edward T. Kelly of Kew Gardens, and Mrs. Amedeo Giorando of Manhattan. Francis L. Maher gave his sister in marriage. The bride wore a gown of white satin made with a sweetheart neckline. Her tulle veil was fastened by a braided satin cap and she carried her mother’s prayerbook with a marker of white orchids. The attendants wore turquoise blue crepe gowns and carried bouquets of pink delphinium and wore headdresses of similar flowers and blue tulle. White stock and blue delphinium decorated the chapel.William E. Frost of Forest Hills was best manned the ushers were Dr. Edward Brennan of Brooklyn and Ensign Daniel Sullivan of Cedarhurst.The bride received her education at St. Angela Hall and the College of new Rochelle and received her masters degree at Fordham university. She is president of the Alumnae Association of the College of New Rochelle. The bridegroom attended St. Augustine’s Academy, Pratt Institute and the National Academy of Design.Following a trip to Canada, the couple will reside in Allentown, Pa.
Most of Griffiths’ comic book work was published in 1946 and 1947 by EC and Gilberton. Editor and Publisher, March 1, 1947, announced the launch of the New York Post Syndicate’s Illustrated Classics series which was produced by the Gilberton Company. Griffiths was one of four artists named. American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Griffiths drew Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The House of the Seven Gables which ran from September 14, to October 5, 1947. The comic book version appeared in 1948.
Griffiths was listed in the Official Directory, American Illustrators and Advertising Artists (1949).
Harley Griffiths386 Weaver St. 2-1150Larchmont, N. Y.
In 1950, Griffiths, his wife and five children lived in Mamaroneck, New York, at 386 Weaver Street. He was a commercial artist working for a department retail clothing store.
The Herald Statesman (Yonkers, New York), April 25, 1986, said
Mr. Griffiths exhibited his work at galleries in Larchmont, Pelham, New York City and Nantucket His shows included the annual show of the Greenwich Art Association and the 50th annual show of the Hudson Valley Art Association.For more than 25 years, he was a commercial artist and illustrator for B. Altman & Co. He retired in 1975 and became a free-lance artist. Mr. Griffiths lived in Larchmont for 46 years and spent most of his summers on Nantucket. In Larchmont he was a parishioner of St. Augustines Church. Mr. Griffiths was a member of the Nantucket Artists Association and the National Arts Club of New York.
Griffiths passed away on April 24, 1986, in New Rochelle, New York. He was laid to rest at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
