Eben and Bessie Griffiths, both proud Laurentians, cultivated an appreciation of the arts and art education throughout their marriage. Eben Griffiths began his career as a journalist and later became an executive with Mobil Oil. His support of the arts at his alma mater was aided by his role as a trustee for more than 35 years and culminated in an honorary doctorate from SLU in 1965. A substantial gift to the university in 1964 by Eben Griffiths in memory of his wife became the seed for the Arts Center, which opened in 1967 and created modern spaces for teaching and exhibition of music, drama, dance, and the visual arts.