c. 1880-1960
Mrs. (Lena) Parker O. Griffith (c. 1880-1960) created the Griffith Music Foundation which brought nationally recognized musicians to Newark and sponsored educational programs and a yearly student music contest.
Lena was active in promoting music from the 1930s and organized the foundation in 1938. She was also an organizer of the Essex County Symphony Society in 1935. She also had a Symphony Series each year at the Mosque Theater.
Lena was also a former Essex County freeholder briefly from 1946 to 1947, but it was reported she did not enjoy the press.
Lena was the former treasurer of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, as well as co-chairman of the Women’s Advisory Committee. She was also a board member of the Job Haines Home for the Aged and a member of several women’s’ clubs in Orange and Newark (including the Newark Contemporary Club) and the Music Study Club of Newark and the Oranges. She was also a trustee of the Newark Museum and a former trustee of Newark University.
Lena was named “Newark’s outstanding citizen” in 1939 and honored again by multiple groups in 1941, as well as receiving an honorary degree from Upsala in 1943 and numerous other awards.
Born Lena Donaldson in Iowa, she attended Upper Iowa University, where she received a Ph. B and taught for three years. In 1907, she married Mr. Parker O Griffith, also of Iowa, and came to East Orange. Her husband founded the Griffith Piano Company, from which the foundation was created.
Bibliography
“Mrs. Griffith Dies” Newark News Dec 8, 1960
Extensive Star Ledger coverage including, Newark’s forgotten music center – NJ.com
Mrs. Griffith Builds Newark’s Musical Life – New York Times
Guy Sterling Collection, Newark Public Library
Griffith Music Foundation Scrapbooks, Newark Public Library
Newark Music Collection, Newark Public Library
G-29, Griffith, Mrs. Parker O., Newark News Morgue, Newark Public Library
Griffith Building – National Register of Historic Places
“Wright Won’t Run Again for Senate” Newark News Sept 27, 1947