The Julia Ellingson Griffis Papers include correspondence from Julia Griffis to Oscar and Emma Ellingson, her brother and sister-in-law, in Reynolds, North Dakota. In her letters, she discusses life in California during the depression. She mentions the free food provided to people in California and seeing people sleeping in the auditorium at Long Beach, California. She writes about times being hard with no food, no work, and no clothes available.

She took a trip to Florida in 1930 and some of the letters discuss the traveling and economic conditions experienced during the trip. She also mentions the Olympics held in Long Beach in 1932.

In her letters from 1937 to 1941, she writes about World War II. She discusses being afraid of war and hoping that the United States would not become involved. The remaining content of the letters is mostly concerned with family issues and personal information. A brief history of Julia's life and an eulogy are also included in this collection.