Griffin, Martin I. J. (Martin Ignatius Joseph), 1842-1911

Martin Ignatius Joseph Griffin was born on Oct. 23, 1842 in Philadelphia, Pa., the son of Terrence J. and Elizabeth (Doyle) Griffin. During his long career in Catholic journalism Griffin served as editor of 'The guardian angel' (1867-1870), assistant editor of 'The Catholic standard' of Philadelphia (1870-1873) , founder and editor of 'The Irish Catholic Benevolent Union journal' (1873-1894), and editor of 'Griffin's journal' (1894-1900). A lifelong supporter of the temperance movement, Griffin participated in the formation of the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of America as well as promoting a number of other Catholic temperance societies. In addition to serving as a Knignt of Columbus, he introduced the Catholic Knights of America into Philadelphia. Griffin's most notable and lasting contributions, however, were not in Catholic journalism or the temperance movement but in the field of American Catholic history. He was a founder of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia and served as one of its first vice-presidents. In 1886 he acquired 'American Catholic historical researchs', a quarterly journal which he published until his death. In addition to regularly contributing essays to scholarly journals, Griffin published a number of monographs, including 'History of Rt. Rev. Michael Egan, D.D.' (1893), 'Commodore John Barry' (1903), 'Stephen Moylan' (1909), and, most notably, 'Catholics and the American Revolution' (1907-1911). In 1870 he married Mary A. E. MacMullen. They had six children, only four of whom survived him: the Rev. Martin I.J., Dr. William L.J., Sister Dorothea, and Philomena. Martin I.J. Griffin died on Nov. 10, 1911 and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Philadelphia.