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 (addition)

DATES: 1912-1996

SIZE: 1.25 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: This addition to the Sister Ellen Murphy Papers was deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection by Sister Ellen Murphy, St. Paul, Minnesota, August 14, 1996 (Acc.#96-2086).

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

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This addition to the Sister Ellen Murphy Papers dates from 1912-1996. Included in the personal documents are old expired passports, transcripts from college, and a summary of Sister Ellen's life and works. Sister Ellen's high school scrapbook from 1932-1934 contains her own poetry and drawings she produced while in high school. There are many certificates from when she participated in a workshop or class, the Montessori Primary Diploma, and an Appreciation Award from Sisters of Saint Joseph for 52 years of ministry.

Included in this collection are several short stories and poetry all written by her. Several of them were published in well known magazines. Because of her poetry writing skills, Sister Ellen received the first Maris Stella Poetry Prize at the College of Saint Catherine in 1993. The Maris Stella Poetry Prize documents as well as correspondence she received because of her award are found in this addition.

Letters from her Canadian cousins, Ellen Murphy Klym, and Helen and Charles N. (Tim) Murphy are included in the family correspondence folder. There is also correspondence from friends including the Mary and Charlie McNeill, Monsignor William McNamee, the Griess's, and the Richard and Lois Slusser as well as sympathy cards from family, friends, and fellow Sisters after the death of her brother, Charles N. (Tim) Murphy.

The Bachelor's Grove section includes notes of the Bachelor's Grove Community Neighbors. This addition contains an O'Donnell-Donohue family tree which the Murphy's were a member of along with a Murphy family time line and a brief history of the Murphy Farm Home. The marriage certificate of her parents, Charles J., and Helen (Normand) Murphy is also included. Lastly, there are some miscellaneous documents including an article on Larimore, North Dakota, and Catholic Schools in Grand Forks by Monsignor William McNamee.

12 photographs were separated and placed in the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection.

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

Box 11
Folder
Personal Documents

56. Summary of Sister Ellen Murphy's Life and Works: 1916-1980
57. High School Scrapbook: 1932-1934
58. Expired Passports: 1971 and 1979
59. Letter about information for a certified copy birth certificate: 1971
60. Monthly Planner: 1995
61. Address books
62. Acceptance letter to Notre Dame graduate school: 1954
63. Transcripts and Report Cards: 1937, 1952, 1963-1967
64. Certificates and Awards: 1966-1990
65. Newspaper clippings about Sister Ellen: 1970, undated

Poetry and Short Stories

66. "The Boston Fern"–Original by Sister Ellen
67. "Elegy" by Sister Ellen--Published in Sign: June 1959
68. Of Time and Eternity: Early and Late Poems (Section I to III) by Sister Ellen
69. Of Time and Eternity: Early and Late Poems (Section IV to end) by Sister Ellen
70. "The Piano" by Sister Ellen (two drafts)
71. Published Poetry
72. "Rest time: Fields-into-Prairie, and Then...": 1987
73. Original and draft of "The Voyage" by Sister Ellen Murphy
74. "Who We Are and Why We Do Not Die" by Sister Ellen. Published in Justice News: 1993
75. Correspondence regarding Sister Ellen's poem "Tuition" & drafts of "Tuition": 1979

Professional Documents

76. Maris Stella Poetry Prize Documents: 1993
77. Congratulatory correspondence for the Maris Stella Poetry Prize: 1993
78. Professional Documents and Correspondence
79. Correspondence regarding Sister Ellen's poetry publishing: 1955, 1982, 1992
80. Sister Ellen's Poetry Recording
81. Continuing Education credits: 1996
82. SCAN: Saint Catherine Alumnae News: Summer 1993
83. Permission letters to use documents from the Sister Ellen Murphy Papers: 1980

Correspondence

84. Correspondence from family: 1995, 1996, undated
85. Correspondence from friends: 1966, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1980s
86. Correspondence from friends: 1996, undated
87. Correspondence to and from James O'Leary
88. Poems and card from Sarah Peirson
89. Correspondence about Sister Ellen's Poetry from family and friends: 1984, 1986, 1989-1996, undated
90. Correspondence from Sister Ellen: 1984, 1990, undated
91. Sympathy cards and letters after Charles N. (Tim) Murphy's death: 1996
92. Correspondence written to Mary about Sister Ellen's leave from Sister Alice: 1973
93. Postcard of Orr, North Dakota Main Street with correspondence from her mother, Helen Murphy: 1992
94. Letter to Sister Ellen and eulogy of Sister Alissa Marie Scanlan: 1990

Bachelor's Grove

95. Bachelor's Grove Community Neighbors
96. Correspondence about Bachelor's Grove
97. Pictures and captions of Saint Michael's Hospital and Saint Bernard Academy
98. The O'Donnell-Donohue family tree
99. Murphy family time line: 1934-1945
100. A brief history of The Murphy Farm Home: 1903-04 to 1994
101. Charles J. Murphy and Helen Normand's Marriage Certificate: 1912
102. Baptismal certificate for Charles N. (Tim) Murphy: 1918
103. Charles J. Murphy's prayer book

Box 12
Folder

1. Military Record & Reports of Separation for Charles J. Murphy: 1942 & 1945
2. Jerry Murphy's Knights of Columbus traveling card: 1922
3. Comments about Kristin Lavansdatter by Sister Ellen
4. Documents pertaining to LeBourdais
5. Five poems written by Sister Ellen about childhood at Bachelor's Grove
6. William Donohue's Obituary prayer card: 1970
7. Miscellaneous documents relating to Bachelor's Grove

Miscellaneous

8. Saint Stephen's Church documents: 1982 & 1994
9. Article about Larimore
10. Sister Ellen's nephew's engagement announcement (Jerry Murphy and Lori Brokke): 1992
11. Catholic Schools in Grand Forks by Monsignor William McNamee: 1987
12. New York Subways

SEPARATIONS RECORD

12 photographs were separated and placed in the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection.

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