Griffis, Stanton, 1887-1974

Dates

• Existence: 1887 - 1974

Biography

Stanton Griffis was born May 2, 1887 in Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Cornell University in 1910. He was an American businessman and diplomat. Griffis began his business career in 1919 after serving the Army General Staff with the rank of captain during World War I. He worked with Hemphill, Noyes & Co., Griffis to finance Adolf Kroch's acquisition of Brentano's in 1933. He also helped the Atlas Corporation manage Madison Square Garden. Griffis was named a trustee of Cornell in 1930 and led Paramount Pictures from 1935 to 1942. He became involved with diplomacy and non-governmental organizations during World War II, serving as special envoy to several western European nations from 1942 to 1943, and directing the Motion Picture Bureau, a division of the Office of War Information, between 1943 and 1944. Griffis was appointed the United States Ambassador to Poland in May 1947 by President Harry S. Truman. Griffis stepped down in April 1948 and was named ambassador to Egypt shortly thereafter, serving until March 1949. Truman named Griffis ambassador to Argentina later that year. He remained in that position until 1950, and succeeded chargé d'affaires Paul T. Culbertson as ambassador to Spain in 1951. He died on Augsut 29, 1974.

Found in 1 Collection or Record: