Call Number:

12

Repository:

American Swedish Historical Museum

Extent:

2.0 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

circa 1860-1947

Creator:

Dale, Ida Dudley

Abstract:

Thomas Jefferson Griffin (1834-1867) was an engineer for the Union Navy during the Civil War, who helped build Ericsson's Monitor and witnessed its infamous battle with the Merrimac. He made approximately 80 voyages with Charles Gideon Dale, a Swedish American naval engineer born circa 1831. Griffin's granddaughter, Ida Dudley Dale, was a resident of Staten Island, New York. The Ida Dudley Dale family papers, circa 1860-1947, include research compiled by Ida Dudley Dale on her genealogy, especially her grandfather, Civil War naval engineer Thomas Jefferson Griffin and his associate Charles Gideon Dale. The collection features some primary materials associated with Griffin and Charles Dale.

Ida Dudley Dale was the granddaughter of Thomas J. Griffin. She was born around 1891 and lived in Staten Island, New York.

Thomas Jefferson Griffin was born in Philadelphia in 1834 to John and Amy (Dilkes) Griffin. He became and engineer and worked on one of John Ericsson's ships. At the start of the Civil War he joined the U.S. Navy, and was served as a naval engineer. He helped build Ericsson's Monitor and witnessed its infamous battle with the Merrimac. Griffin also worked with Admiral John A. Dahlgren. He invented several improvements to Ericsson's ironclad designs, and was named Superintendent of Ironclads. In 1866, Griffin sailed to Peru to work on torpedo development, and there he died of Yellow Fever in 1867.

Charles Gideon Dale was also a naval engineer. He was born in New York City in 1831 to Jonas D. Dale, an officer of the Royal Swedish Navy, and Mary Hyde (Wanzer) Dale. He studied mechanical engineering and served as an on-board engineer, making approximately 80 voyages with Thomas Jefferson Griffin.

Bibliography:

Notes by Ida Dudley Dale, found in collection.

This collection includes research compiled by Ida Dudley Dale on her genealogy, especially her grandfather, Civil War naval engineer Thomas Jefferson Griffin and his associate Charles Gideon Dale. The collection features some primary materials associated with Griffin and Charles Dale.

The bulk of the collection is comprised of genealogical research compiled by Ida Dudley Dale. The genealogical research includes notes, drafts of essays, and correspondence. There are also annotated scrapbooks with primary materials, such as certificates, photographs, invitations, and ephemera, as well as a scrapbook of Civil War newspaper clippings. There is also some of Ida Dudley Dale's personal correspondence, ephemera, and materials relating to her involvement with the Delamater-Ericsson Memorial Committee.

The collection features a large amount of original materials from Thomas Jefferson Griffin, including: a logbook, 1861-1862; correspondence, circa 1860-1865; and reports. There is some original material from Charles Gideon Dale (less than from Griffin), mostly letters received by Charles Dale dated circa 1870.