John Griffin Olmstead (1882-1957) was born to Icabod Allen Olmstead (d. 1927) and Mary Christeen Olmstead (d. 1927) in Wayne, New York. After attending Elmira Free Academy, Olmstead enrolled at Oberlin College in 1902, and graduated in 1906. Dedicated to public service, Olmstead worked for nearly 20 years as an administrator for the YMCA (1909- 25). Other positions included Executive Secretary of the Oberlin Alumni Association (1925-32), director of several Ohio based New Deal programs (1934-43), and head of the Citizenship Council of Cincinnati (1943-57). In June of 1909, Olmstead married Suzanna Louise Hutchinson (1883-1956). This union produced four children; John Griffin Olmstead Jr. (b. 1911), Louis Hutchinson Olmstead (1913-14), Gardiner Hutchinson Olmstead (b. 1915 and died as an infant), and Allen McConnel Olmstead (b. 1918).
From the description of Papers. (Oberlin College Library). WorldCat record id: 34300266
