she attended university of wisconsin, class of 1917. in 1918, griswold became the assistant to the faculty. in 1920, she resigned to accept the position of administrative assistant in the attorney general john j. blaine's office. after blaine became governor in 1921, he appointed griswold executive clerk in charge of office administration. she was blaine's confidential secretary from 1927 to 1933, while he was a u.s. senator.