Washington D.C.   1933-1934

During my first year at George Washington University, I took freshman english and had to submit a theme every week during the year. It became quite a burden. The class I enjoyed most was one in geology taught by the assistant Director of the Smithsonian Institute. He took us on several field trips which were very interesting. I recall that he told us that someday the West Coast cities were likely to fall into the Pacific Ocean.

DOROTHY GRIFFIN - THE CAPITAL REVIEW CLUB
In 1933 Dorothy sought membership in the Capital Review Club, probably because some of the wives of John and Dorothy's friends were in this social club. Dorothy was an active member of this club for all of the years that she lived in Washington D.C.

YEAR (FILE ) SUBJECT
---- ------- ---------------------------------
1933 (5005) Letter of Acceptance as Member of Capital Review Club
1933 (50201) (50202) Capital Review Club 1933 Program
1933 (5000) Capital Reviwe Club banquet program
1934 (50211) (50212) Capital Review Club 1933/34 Program
1935 (50221) (50222)(50223) Capital Review Club 1934/35 Program
1936 (50101) (50102)Capital Review Club 1936 Program
1937 (50231) (50232)(50233) Capital Review Club 1936/37 Program
1938 (50241) (50242)(50243) Capital Review Club 1937/38 Program

LETTERS
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(L330616) John Griffin to Father / Washington D.C.

After completing a year in the undergraduate school, I finally entered law school in the fall of 1933. I found the classes to consist of anywhere from 75 to 150 students. You were assigned a certain seat and a monitor came around and marked you present if someone was in that seat. The professor had a chart of the room with your name assigned to a chair. You were called upon to give a summary of a case about 2 or 3 times a semester and in the larger classes only 3 or 4 times in the whole year. Your grade depended almost entirely on the mark you made on the final examination which in the semester courses, were given at the end of the semester, and at the end of the year in the year courses. There was only one exam given in each course so you had no opportunity to make up a poor exam grade and little opportunity to become known to any of the professors.



YEAR (FILE ) SUBJECT
---- ------- ---------------------------------
1932 (1351) Marsheta Apartments, 1933 to 1936

I really learned to study for the first time while attending law school. As exam time approached we would have small study groups where we would get together and discuss the various subjects and sample exams. I found these very helpful. I finished the first year's work with a 79 average (55 was passing and 80 was considered an "Af"). Several of the fellows that I was going to school with from Utah failed to get passing averages their first year and finally had to drop out of law school and finish up at one of the 3-year schools.

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