Dwight Palmer Griswold, 1893-1954 [RG1596.AM]

NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG1596.AM: Dwight Palmer Griswold, 1893-1954

Scrapbooks: 1931-1939
Gordon, Sheridan County, Neb.: Senator; Governor
Size: 1.0 cu.ft.; 1 box

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Dwight Palmer Griswold was born November 23, 1893, in Harrison, Nebraska. He was the son of Dwight Hubbard and Clarissa Palmer Griswold. He received his early education in the Harrison, Ainsworth, and Gordon Public Schools. He graduated from Kearney Military Academy in 1910, entering Nebraska Wesleyan University in the fall. Two years later, Griswold transferred to the University of Nebraska where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1914.

After leaving school, Griswold became a clerk with the First National Bank of Gordon. As a Sergeant with Company I of the Fourth Nebraska Infantry, he served on the Mexican Border in 1916. Following the outbreak of World War I, Griswold enlisted in the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant with the 127th Field Artillery, being discharged in 1918 as a Captain. Griswold returned to Gordon and served as cashier and later as a director of the First National Bank. In 1922 he became editor of the Gordon Journal, a post he held until 1940.

Dwight Palmer Griswold entered politics in 1920, winning a seat in the Nebraska House of Representatives on the Republican ticket. He served three successive terms in the State Senate from 1925-1931. Griswold was the Republican nominee for Governor in 1932, 1934, and 1936.but~lost in the general elections. In 1940 he won the nomination for the fourth time. He defeated Terry Carpenter and won re-election to two successive terms. In 1946, Griswold made an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, being defeated by incumbent Hugh Butler in the primary.

Following his service as Governor, Griswold joined the Military Government in Germany. He served until June, 1947 when he joined the American Mission for aid to Greece. He retired from this post in 1948 and was elected to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents two years later. In 1951, he became the President of the Gering National Bank. With the death of U.S. Senator Kenneth S. Wherry in 1951, Dwight Griswold entered the race for the unexpired term and won the 1952 election.

Griswold was also active in civic affairs. He was a member and President (1931) of the Nebraska Press Association, a member and State Commander (1930) of the American Legion, a Mason and Shriner, and a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and the Presbyterian Church.

Dwight Palmer Griswold was married to Erma Elliott of Yorkville, Illinois on September 25, 1919. His family also included a daughter, Dorothy Helen (Mrs. John H. Gayer), and a son, Dwight, Jr. Dwight Palmer Griswold died on April 12, 1954.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection consists of one box containing six scrapbooks relating to Dwight Palmer Griswold’s political campaigns for Governor from 1931-1939. The scrapbooks mostly contain newspaper clippings, but some correspondence, speeches and other ephemera are also included.

Note: See the photo component [RG1596.PH] for related images. See RG0001, SG32 for records relating to Griswold’s time as Governor of Nebraska.

INVENTORY

Box 1
Volume

1. Scrapbook, 1931-1932
2. Scrapbook, 1932-1934
3. Scrapbook, 1934
4. Scrapbook, 1935-1936
5. Scrapbook, 1936
6. Scrapbook, 1937-1939

Subject headings:

Griswold, Dwight Palmer, 1893-1954
Political campaigns
Politicians
Politics and government
Scrapbooks

Acc. 1993.0285

TMM 05-15-2025