History of the College

Emily's Early Years

Emily Griffith was born February 10 in the 1860s, in Cincinnati Ohio. The eldest of four children, with a frail mother and crippled father, Emily went to work at an early age to help supplement the family income.

At 14, she started teaching in a sod schoolhouse in Broken Bow, Nebraska. It was here that she first discovered that many of her students' parents did not know how to read, write or figure their bills. Many were immigrants and did not know the English language.

These realizations made a profound impression on Emily. Her dream of a school for adults was born. She envisioned a place where students could attend classes day or night and receive as much education as they wanted or needed. In 1895, the Griffith family moved to Denver, Colorado. Denver Public Schools hired Emily. She continued to work for the district until her retirement in 1933. Emily's warmth, sense of humor and teaching competence made her loved and respected by students and peers.

A History of Serving Soup

"A bowl of soup is served in the basement from 5:30-7:30 Free. This saves you time."

This was written on a blackboard inside the entrance to Opportunity School.

For two years the soup was prepared at home by Emily's mother and carried to the school in a water pail by Emily and her sister, Florence. The custom began in response to a boy fainting in class one evening. Emily felt he fainted because he was hungry, and that if he was hungry, there were probably others who were as well. Later on, a wealthy woman arranged for meat to be delivered daily to the school. Florence arrived at 2:00 in the afternoon to prepare the evening's soup. Two hundred bowls of soup were served each evening. Emily and Florence washed all the dishes themselves. Eventually, a woman was hired to do this.

Emily Griffith's Accomplishments

• 1904-1908 Deputy State Superintendent of Schools
• 1910-1912 Deputy State Superintendent of Public Instruction
• 1927 Founded # 9 Pearl Street, a residence for homeless boys; now the Emily Griffith Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado
• 1985 Inducted into Colorado Business Hall of Fame
• 2000 Recipient of Mayor Wellington Webb's Millennium Award Selected as "Denver's Most Useful Citizen"
• Honored at the Colorado State Capitol building for her contribution to Colorado history; she is the only woman

Emily Griffith's Accolades

The Denver Kiwanian gave Emily this tribute in 1946, "Under the inspiration of her spiritual vision and work, the Emily Griffith Technical College was founded 'for all who wish to learn.' Her heart, as large as humanity, her generous, creative spirit, quickened the soul of Denver to high achievements. Because of its power to inspire, we keep the memory of what she has done vivid.

Because the way she pointed is now so clearly essential, we walk in it with increasing purpose." When visiting the Colorado capital building, you will find Emily standing humbly in her stained glass window among all the men selected for their contributions to Colorado history. She is the only woman. She was chosen for her impact upon the educational process, especially for adults. Her compassion, hard work, and vision made her a force able to change the futures of many.

Even after her death, Emily continues to earn accolades for what she accomplished. The Colorado Business Hall of Fame honored her as one of five people who "possess qualities of commitment, dedication and success to the business community and the state of Colorado". She was the only woman in the group. The award was for outstanding business achievement and leadership exemplifying the spirit of community giving. There would be few, if any, in the Denver community who have touched more lives than Emily Griffith.