ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

HELEN NORMAND MURPHY PAPERS

COLLECTION: OGL #1249

DATES: 1920-1973 [BULK DATES, 1937-1973]

SIZE: 4.25 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: The Helen Normand Murphy Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection by Charles "Tim" Murphy, Helen Murphy's son, on January 21, 1992 (Acc.# 92-1805).

ACCESS: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

RELATED MATERIALS:

Murphy Family Papers, OGL #575
Charles McCanna Papers, OGL #636
McCanna Farming Company Collection, #1255
Grand Forks County Heritage Book

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Helen Normand Murphy was born on April 5, 1888 at Oakwood, Dakota Territory. She attended high school in Grafton, ND. Later she studied home economics at North Dakota State University in Fargo. There she met her husband, Charles Murphy of Niagara, ND. They were married on November 27, 1912 in Fargo. They lived and farmed in the Niagara area for 47 years. During these years Helen was a member of St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Larimore, ND. Following her husband's death in 1958, Helen moved to Grand Forks, ND. She was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church and Altar Society, the Legion of Mary, and St. Michael's Hospital Auxiliary. She was also involved in the Daughters of America and a Red Cross Gray Lady. In 1970 Helen became a resident of Sunshine Terrace in East Grand Forks, MN and was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Altar Guild. Helen Murphy died at the age of 85 on July 14, 1973.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Helen Normand Murphy Papers consist of four calendar pads (1920-1922 and 1924),thirty- six diaries (January 1937-June 1973), and the minutes of the Red Cross Gray Ladies for approximately a year and a half. These however are undated.

Helen Murphy wrote about a variety of things in her diaries: the weather, her daily routine, what was served at mealtime, and household chores. She also wrote about special events such as weddings, commencement ceremonies, special programs, births, deaths, and weddings. Entertainment was another main topic as she wrote about popular plays, books, radio programs, music, movies, and television shows. World happenings and issues are also mentioned. Some of these include World War II, the war in Vietnam, John Glenn's space orbit, and Watergate. She did not write much about the Great Depression; however, she commented on World War II because her son was involved in it. In later diaries Helen wrote more about her personal feelings and her involvement in the church and other organizations.

Materials that were found interleaved within the pages of the diaries have been separated and placed in folders chronologically. The items include newspaper clippings, correspondence, and other miscellaneous items. Within the folders, these items are filed according to their placement in the diaries.

BOX/FOLDER LISTING

BOX 1

 Folder  1.  Calendar pad, 1920
         2.  Calendar pad, 1921
         3.  Calendar pad, 1922
         4.  Calendar pad, 1924
         5.  Diary, 1937
         6.  Diary, 1938
         7.  Diary, 1939
         8.  Diary, 1940
         9.  Diary, 1941
        10.  Diary, 1942
        11.  Diary, 1943
        12.  Diary, 1944

BOX 2

 Folder  1.  Diary, 1945
         2.  Diary, 1946
         3.  Diary, 1947
         4.  Diary, 1948
         5.  Diary, 1949
         6.  Diary, 1950
         7.  Diary, 1951
         8.  Diary, 1952
         9.  Diary, 1953
        10.  Diary, 1954
        11.  Diary, 1955
        12.  Diary, 1956
        13.  Diary, 1957
        14.  Diary, 1958
        15.  Diary, 1959

BOX 3 

 Folder  1.  Diary, 1960
         2.  Diary, 1961
         3.  Diary, 1962
         4.  Diary, 1963
         5.  Diary, 1964
         6.  Diary, 1965
         7.  Diary, 1966
         8.  Diary, 1967
         9.  Diary, 1968
        10.  Diary, 1969
        11.  Diary, 1970
        12.  Diary, 1971
        13.  Diary, 1972
        14.  Diary, JAN 1973-JUN 1973
        15.  Gray Lady Minutes, undated

BOX 4

Folder 1. 1937

Folder 2. 1938

Folder 3. 1939

Folder 4. 1940

Folder 5. 1941

Folder 6. 1942

Folder 7. 1943

Folder 8. 1944

Folder 9. 1945

Folder 10. 1946

Folder 11. 1947

Folder 12. 1948

Folder 13. 1949

Folder 14. 1950

Folder 15. 1951

Folder 16. 1952

Folder 17. 1953

Folder 18. 1954

Folder 19. 1955

Folder 20. 1956

Folder 21. 1957

Folder 22. 1958

Folder 23. 1959

Folder 24. 1960

Folder 25. 1961

Folder 26. 1962

Folder 27. 1963

Folder 28. 1964

Assassination"

Folder 29. 1965

Folder 30. 1966

Folder 31. 1967

thank you card postmarked AUG 14

Folder 32. 1968

NOV 1968-NOV 1-newspaper clipping-"Herald Mail Bag"

Folder 33. 1969

Folder 34. 1970

Folder 35. 1971

Folder 36. 1972

Folder 37. 1973

Folder 38. Minutes from Gray Ladies

Folder 39. Information on Helen's family taken from the Grand Forks County Heritage Book and the location of her farm taken from the Grand Forks County Plat Book

SEPARATIONS RECORD

Ten photographs were separated and added to the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection. The pages between which these photographs were found are listed behind the description.

 OGL #1249-1  woman in living room - JUN 9-10, 1938
 OGL #1249-2  woman in a garden - AUG 10-11, 1943
 OGL #1249-3  winter, 1950 - MAY 12-13, 1950
 OGL #1249-4  ballerina-front cover, 1961
 OGL #1249-5  young girl, 1960 - OCT 18-19, 1961
 OGL #1249-6   group of women - 1962-AUG 11-12, 1962
 OGL #1249-7  2 Sisters - JUL 6-7, 1964
 OGL #1249-8  woman and child - 1913-JAN 3-4, 1968
 OGL #1249-9  bedroom, 1968 - front cover, 1969
 OGL #1249-10  Pat Majors, 1955 - APR 22-23, 1972

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