Griffin, Dorothea Cresswell 1975-25-05
Mrs. Griffin gives biographical information and the history of her father’s ranch, along with her acquisition and methods of raising cattle.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Dorothea Cresswell Griffin
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: December 5 and 12, 1975
Location: Lawn, Texas
Interviewer: Richie Cravens
Length: 3 hours
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Personal biography,
Born and raised in West Texas,
Education,
St. Mary’s College (Dallas Texas),
New England Conservatory of Music (Boston
Massachusetts),
Married and divorced Bill Griffin,
Father’s biography (Jared O. Cresswell),
Born in England,
Moved to ranch near Oplin Texas on Jim Ned Creek
(1880s),
Living conditions in early West Texas,
Mother’s biography,
Visits by paternal grandmother,
Father’s business,
Angus cattle,
Marketing method,
Location of shows,
Acquisition of herd,
Personal ranching business,
Marriage (1922),
Original herd from C. W. Largen of Merkel Texas,
Lifestyle,
Evaluation of ranch.
Tape 1, Side 2: Father first Angus breeder in Southwest,
Business destroyed by drought,
Attempts to save cattle,
Road system,
Curing beef and pork,
Lawn, Texas, a railroad town,
Other railroad towns,
Oplin and other off-railroad towns,
Death of small town,
Highways built near Griffin ranch,
Water pollution of Jim Ned Creek,
Social life,
"Old families",
Movement,
Sale of area land,
Price increase,
Dunham ranch (formerly Morris).
Tape 2, Side 1: Beginnings of present herd, 15 head of C. W. Largett’s cattle, Bull from Ellison of Fort Worth, Steer business, Age at time of sale—past and present, Griffin stock winners at American Royal (1952), Future Farmers of America calves selection, Hereford standards—past and present, Griffin stock awards at American Royal (1955), Alteration of shape of cattle, Care of show herd, Breeding registered cattle, Herdsman’s job, Care of cattle.
Tape 2, Side 2: Personal preferences in calves,
Sale of calves,
Choice of cattle,
Good breeders,
Better calves,
Expense of cattle,
Markets,
West Texas Hereford Association,
Sale,
Private sales,
Labor problems on ranches,
Conditions creating good and bad bulls,
Cattle cheaper I large lots,
Age at which bulls are sold,
Few summer calves,
Steers sold at seven months,
Cows given time to rest,
Calves gain more weight,
Typical weight at six months,
Problems with creek feeding,
Supplemental feeding.
Tape 3, Side 1: Marketing of heifers,
Registration of herd,
Maintenance,
Record of parentage and fees,
Transfer of papers and fees,
Personal system of records,
Ancestry of Griffin herd,
Cudgel Simpson,
Anxiety IV,
Requirements for registration,
Difference between purebred and registered,
Buying bulls,
Attempt to weed out weaknesses in present herd,
Uncertainty of breeding,
Other animals raised on Griffin ranch,
Horses,
Cavalry,
Polo,
Sheep,
Hogs.
Tape 3, Side 2: Pasture size and rotation,
Uncertainty of ranching business,
Cattle feeding schedule,
Supplemental feedings,
Good condition of cattle at winter’s beginning
essential,
Amounts of food,
Types of supplemental food,
Factors in successful breeding,
Cultivation of land,
Hay (Johnson grass),
Wheat and oats production,
Never sells oats,
Feeding oats to calves,
Problem of raccoons near creeks,
Advantages of feeding oats,
Feeding schedules,
Acquisition of cattle raising knowledge,
Gentle disposition of Griffin herd,
Professional affiliations,
Publications in cattle industry,
Innovations in cattle industry.
Range Dates: 1880s-1975
Bulk Dates: 1922-1975
Access Information
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Transcript:
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