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

SISTER ELLEN MURPHY PAPERS

COLLECTION: OGL#512

DATES: 1924-1979

SIZE: 6.25 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: The Sister Ellen Murphy Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection by Sister Ellen Murphy on June 19, 1979 (Acc.#78-548).

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

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Sister Ellen Murphy was born on February 16, 1916, at the Murphy homestead near Niagara, North Dakota, in Agnes Township, Grand Forks County; the second child of Charles J. and Helen Normand Murphy. She attended her first year of school at the Dominican Convent School in Grafton, North Dakota, entering in September, 1922. Sister Ellen attended various schools, graduating from the eighth grade in May 1930, from a one-room rural school in District 102 of Agnes Township. In June, 1934, she received her high school diploma from St. James Academy, Grand Forks, North Dakota.

On September 8 of that year, Sister Ellen entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in St. Paul, Minnesota. As a candidate for the Sisterhood, she attended the College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, Minnesota. Sister Ellen received her religious vows on March 19, 1937, at St. Joseph's Novitiate in St. Paul, Minnesota. Sister Ellen attended several colleges and universities including the University of Notre Dame, the University of North Dakota and DePaul University in Chicago. Her primary field of study was elementary education, religion and literature. Sister Ellen contributed to these fields by writing educational articles, poetry and short stories, many of which were published.

Sister Ellen Murphy died on April 16, 2004, at Bethany Convent, St. Paul, Minnesota.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Sister Ellen Murphy Papers date from 1924-1979, and are divided into three series as follows:

Series I consists of diaries, dating from 1931 to 1934 and 1962 to 1977, family history information, and newspaper clippings. Series II contains Sister Ellen's publications, including both her poetry and short stories. Series III consists of correspondence, both business communications with editors, and personal correspondence with other Catholic sisters and priests, and with her parents and other family members.

117 photographs were separated and added to the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection.

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

Box 1
Folder
SERIES I

1. Diary 1931-1934
2. Diary 1962-1963
3. Diary 1964
4. Diary 1965
5. Diary 1966
6. Diary 1967
7. Calendar Notebook, 1967, Diary 1967
8. Calendar Notebook, 1968, Diary 1968
9. Diary 1969
10. Diary 1970
11. Diary 1971
12. Diary 1972
13. Diary 1973
14. Diary 1974
15. Diary 1974

Box 2
Folder

1. Diary 1975
2. Diary 1975
3. Diary 1976
4. Diary 1976
5. Diary 1977
6. Diary Clippings 1931-1977
7. Murphy Family History
8. Four Audio Tapes: 1.) Father Robert J. Mullins (speaking) to Sister Ellen Murphy; 2.) Robert J. Mullins (speaking) to Sister Ellen Murphy; 3.) Charles J. Murphy talking to family at the Murphy farm April 42, 1947; 4.) Recollections of Charles J. Murphy about his children April 24, 1947

SERIES II

9. Publications Poetry, Short Stories--1938-1943
10. Publications Poetry, Short Stories--1943-1949
11. Publications Poetry, Short Stories--1950-1951
12. Publications Poetry, Short Stories--1952-1959
13. Publications Poetry, Short Stories--1960-1964
14. Publications Poetry, Short Stories--1965-1967
15. Publications Poetry, Short Stories--1968-1975
16. Publications Poetry, Short Stories--1975

Box 3
Folder

1. Publications Poetry, Short Stories--1976
2. Publications Poetry, Short Stories--1976-1978
3. Other Publications
4. Publications containing Sister Ellen's work 1947-1976
5. Newspaper: Beginnings, Catherine Wheel, Mascot
6. Books: This Narrow World, John Moffitt.
   Body of Time, Sister Ellen Murphy C.S.J.
7. Books: Helmets, James Dickey.
   A Good Man Is Hard to Find, Flannery O'Connor.
8. Book: The Violent Bear It away, Flannery O'Connor
9. Poetry 1934-1940-1944-1954
10. Spiritual Notes 1934-1937.
    Creative writing 1939-1940
11. Notebooks: 1954-1964 Literature and Spiritual Notes.
    1954-1964 Literature and Spiritual Notes
12. Poems for Christmas Issue, Body of Time
13. Poetry
14. Poetry
15. Poetry
16. Early Poems--Children
17. Early Poems--Religious (General)
18. Early Poems--Saints
19. Early Poems--The Virgin Mary
20. Early Poems--Miscellaneous
21. Short Stories: "The Boston Fern", "The Voyage."
22. Papers written for literature and poetry courses

Box 4
Folder
SERIES III

1. Correspondence--America Editors 1942-1978
2. Correspondence--Commonweal Editors 1958-1979
3. Correspondence--Sign Editors 1941-1958
4. Correspondence--Today Editors 1949-1976
5. Correspondence--Editors': Miscellaneous 1942-1976
6. Correspondence--regarding "Passage a la Poe."
7. Correspondence--regarding Body of Time
8. Correspondence--Walter F. Mondale, Hubert H. Humphery Minnesota State Senator Ronald B. Sieloff
9. Correspondence--Minnesota State representative Richard Cohen
10. Correspondence--The Bush Foundation
11. Correspondence--Raymond Bechtle
12. Correspondence--Sister Angele
13. Correspondence--Sister Michele Murphy
14. Correspondence--Kathleen Donobue and Richard Mann (Emmaus)
15. Correspondence--David Kirk
16. Correspondence--Students 1971-1978: Leeselson Bellfield, Vida M. Essien, Azadeh Ekremeh, Noriko Sera.
17. Correspondence--Sister Alice (Sister Maris Stella)
18. Correspondence--Sarah (Sally) Peirson
19. Correspondence--Sister Mary Henry 1970-1971
20. Correspondence--Sister Marie Shawn
21. Correspondence--Sister Mary Ann Hanley
22. Correspondence--Brother Casey, C.F.X. 1975-1976
23. Correspondence--Catherine Lupori
24. Correspondence--Nancy Belbas
25. Correspondence--(Rev.) Chester A. Soleta, C.S.C. 1955-1965
26. Correspondence--William and Adelaede Abraham 1970-1975
27. Correspondence--St. Ann's Indian Mission
28. College of St. Catherine Annual Evaluations and Recommendations 1973-1979
29. Lab School 1973-1977
30. Correspondence--Miscellaneous
31. "Fan Mail" Albert Eisele and Thomas D. Coyne
32. Correspondence--Sister M. Rosalie, C.S.J. 1952-1978
33. Correspondence--Sister Magdalen 1959-1978
34. Correspondence--Ann Tvedten
35. Correspondence--Flannery O'Connor, Mrs. Edward F. O'Connor, James Dickey
36. Correspondence--(Rev.) Robert J. Mullins 1961-1965
37. Correspondence--(Rev.) Robert J. Mullins 1966-1969
38. Correspondence--(Rev.) Robert J. Mullins 1970-1979 and Miscellaneous
39. Correspondence--(Rev.) Robert J. Mullins (including poems) 1961-1969
40. Correspondence--(Rev.) Robert J. Mullins (including poems) 1970-1978
41. Correspondence--William A. O'Connell 1969-1978
42. Correspondence--Herbert and Lois Slusser
43. Correspondence--Mary E. and Charles J. McNeill
44. Correspondence--Mary E. and Charles J. McNeill
45. Correspondence--Greg and Alice Marquez
46. Correspondence--Brother Thomas More (Richard Schoeck)

Box 5
Folder

1. Correspondence--Jim, Jerry and Robin
2. Correspondence--Tim
3. Correspondence--Mr. Francis J. Majors (Brother-in-law) 1974- 1976
4. Correspondence--Colleen (Mrs. Francis J. Majors)
5. Correspondence--her Father (Charles J. Murphy) 1957
6. Correspondence--her Mother (Mrs. Charles J. Murphy) 1968-1971
7. Correspondence--her Mother (Mrs. Charles J. Murphy) 1972-1973
8. Correspondence--John, Sandra, and Nora Murphy
9. Correspondence--Lucille and Arnie, Sister and Brother-in-law
10. [Removed to Photograph Collection - See Separations Record Below]
11. Correspondence--Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Murphy 1930-1936
12. Correspondence--Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Murphy 1937-1939
13. Correspondence--Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Murphy 1940-1942
14. Correspondence--Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Murphy 1943-1945
15. Correspondence--Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Murphy 1946-1947
16. Correspondence--Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Murphy 1948-1949
17. Correspondence--Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Murphy 1950-1952
18. Correspondence--Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Murphy 1953-1955
19. Correspondence--Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Murphy 1956-1957
20. Correspondence--Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Murphy 1958-1959
21. Correspondence--Mrs. Charles J. Murphy 1960-1965
22. Correspondence--Mrs. Charles J. Murphy 1966-1967
23. Correspondence--Mrs. Charles J. Murphy 1968-1969
24. Correspondence--Mrs. Charles J. Murphy 1970-1973

SEPARATIONS RECORD

117 photographs were separated and added to the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection.

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