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University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library

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1150 Beal Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2113, USA
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George Murphy papers, 1911-1961

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Summary

Creator:
Murphy, George, 1897-1961
Abstract:
Judge of the Recorder's Court in Detroit and Frank Murphy's brother; contain correspondence, legal briefs, newspaper clippings, and other materials concerning Detroit politics, 1935-1961, the grand jury investigation of Detroit street railways, 1936, arbitration of labor disputes, 1936-1941, investigation of the Charles Street housing project, 1939-1940, as well as materials illuminating the careers and personal affairs of both George and Frank Murphy, especially in relation to Detroit and the Philippine Islands.
Extent:
15 linear feet
1 volume
1 oversize folder
Language:
English
Call Number:
86484 Aa 2; AA; UAm
Authors:
Finding aid created by Michigan Historical Collections staff

Background

Scope and Content:

The George Murphy papers, which encompass the years 1911 to 1961, are most comprehensive for the decade following 1932. During this period - the most politically active in Murphy's career - the correspondence is especially useful in illustrating George Murphy's role in his brother's emergence as a politician, especially his role as dispenser of patronage in the depression years. The papers, of course, illuminate the social function performed by the Recorder's Court and contain voluminous correspondence with state and federal judges, attorneys, prisoners, prison officials, probation officers, etc. Judge Murphy also maintained close contact with affairs in his home town, Harbor Beach. Included in the collection are significant materials on affairs in the Philippines during his brother's governorship there, particularly correspondence during the years 1933 to 1936 with his sister, Marguerite, Eleanor Bumgardner, and with leading Filipinos concerning conditions there.

Biographical / Historical:

George Ignatius Murphy was born January 20,1894, at Harbor Beach, Michigan, to John T. and Mary (Brennan) Murphy. He attended the University of Michigan where he received the A.B. degree in 1917 and the LL.B degree in 1922. While at the University he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity and served on the University's world record breaking two-mile relay track team. During both World Wars he served in the United States Naval Air Corps. During the years of peace, he served in the Naval Reserves. He entered private law practice with his brother, Frank, and Edward Kemp in the early 1930's and served as assistant attorney general of Michigan from 1932 to 1934 and as judge of the Recorder's Court in Detroit from 1935 to 1961. Long active in Democratic Party affairs, Murphy was a delegate to the 1924 Democratic National Convention, and ran at various times for prosecuting attorney of Huron County, for Wayne County Circuit Court commissioner, and for state senator from Wayne County. In 1932 he became state chairman of the Veteran's Division of the Democratic Party, In 1946 he married Brigid McKenna; they had two children., Frances Anastasia born in 1950 and Marguerite Mavoureen born in 1952. Murphy died in Detroit, July 11, 1961.

Acquisition Information:
The collection was the gift of the estate of the Hon. George Murphy (donor no. 3074 ) and came to the library in 1965.
Physical Location:
Portions located in offsite storage; prior notification required for access.
Rules or Conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Subjects

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Subjects:
African Americans -- Michigan.
Courts -- Michigan.
Depressions -- 1929 -- Michigan -- Detroit.
Housing.
Labor -- Michigan.
Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1932.
Public welfare -- Michigan -- Detroit.
Street-railroads -- Michigan -- Detroit.
Sit-down strikes -- Michigan.
Formats:
Drawings.
Oral histories.
Photographs.
Names:
Democratic Party (Mich.)
Detroit (Mich.). Recorder's Court.
Murphy, George, 1897-1961.
Aguinaldo, Emilio, 1869-1964.
Moody, Blair, 1902-1954.
Murphy, Frank, 1890-1949.
Abbott, Horatio J. (Horatio Johnson), 1876-1936.
Black, Eugene F., 1903-1990.
Black, Hugo LaFayette, 1886-1971.
Bowles, Charles, 1884-1957.
Brennan, William J. (William Joseph), 1906-1997.
Brown, Edmund G. (Edmund Gerald), 1905-1996.
Brown, Prentiss M. (Prentiss Marsh), 1889-1973.
Brucker, Wilber Marion, 1894-1968.
Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925.
Bumgardner, Eleanor M. (Eleanor Margaret)
Bushnell, George E. (George Edward), 1887-1965.
Carr, Lowell Juilliard, 1885-
Cobo, Albert E. (Albert Eugene), 1893-1957.
Comstock, William Alfred, 1877-1949.
Coughlin, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1891-1979.
Couzens, Frank, 1902-1950.
Cramton, Louis C. (Louis Convers), 1875-
Cromwell, James Henry Roberts.
Cunningham, Leon Max, -1930.
Darrow, Clarence, 1857-1938.
Davis, John W. (John William), 1873-1955.
De Maggio, Andrew.
Dethmers, John R., 1903-1971.
Dewey, John, 1859-1952.
Dingell, John D. (John David), 1894-1955.
Douglas, William O. (William Orville), 1898-1980.
Edwards, George, 1914-
Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969.
Eliasohn, Jack, 1908-
Farley, James A. (James Aloysius), 1888-1976.
Ferguson, Homer, 1889-1982.
Ford, Henry, 1917-1987.
Foy, Byron Cecil, 1893-1970.
Frankensteen, Richard T. (Richard Truman), 1907-1977.
Frankfurter, Felix, 1882-1965.
Fulbright, J. William (James William), 1905-1995.
Garner, John Nance, 1868-1967.
Gillein, Hilmer.
Gomon, Josephine Fellows, 1892-1975.
Green, Fred W. (Fred Warren), 1872-1936.
Griffiths, Hicks G., 1910-
Hannah, John A., 1902-1991.
Harding, Ann, 1904-1981.
Hart, Philip A. (Philip Aloysius), 1912-1976.
Hatcher, Harlan, 1898-1998.
Hayden, Joseph Ralston, 1887-1945.
Hill, Norman Llewellyn, 1895-
Hoover, J. Edgar (John Edgar), 1895-1972.
Howe, Louis McHenry, 1871-1936.
Jayne, Ira Waite, 1882-
Jeffries, Edward, 1900-1950.
Kelly, Harry F. (Harry Francis), 1895-1971.
Kemp, Edward Gearing, 1887-1962.
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963.
Kennedy, Joseph P. (Joseph Patrick), 1888-1969.
Kennedy, Robert F., 1925-1968.
Larned, Abner E.
Lehman, Herbert H. (Herbert Henry), 1878-1963.
Levin, Saul R.
Lewis, John Llewellyn, 1880-1969.
Lincoln, Burr, 1880-1937.
Louis, Joe, 1914-1981.
Lowery, Percival C., 1885-1978.
McAllister, Thomas Raymond, 1905-
MacArthur, Jean Faircloth.
McNamara, Patrick Vincent, 1894-1966.
Madrigal, Pacita.
Martel, Frank Xavier, 1888-
Mead, Harry L., 1893-
Miriani, Louis C.
Moley, Raymond L., 1886-
Murphy, Irene Ellis, 1900-
Murphy, Marguerite.
Osmeña, Sergio, 1878-1961.
Parker, Frank, 1872-1947.
Picard, Frank A., 1889-1963.
Pollock, James K. (James Kerr), 1898-1968.
Potter, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1916-1979.
Quezon, Manuel Luis, 1878-1944.
Quirino, Elpidio, 1890-1956.
Rabaut, Louis Charles, 1886-1961.
Reuther, Walter, 1907-1970.
Romulo, Carlos P. (Carlos Peña), 1899-1985.
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945.
Roosevelt, James, 1907-1991.
Rutledge, Wiley Blount, 1894-1949.
Smith, Gerald L. K. (Gerald Lyman Kenneth), 1898-1976.
Smith, Talbot.
Staebler, Neil, 1905-2000.
Sugar, Maurice, 1891-1974.
Swainson, John B. (John Burley), 1925-1994.
Voelker, John D. (John Donaldson), 1903-1991.
Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972.
Tuttle, Arthur J., 1868-1944.
Vandenberg, Arthur H. (Arthur Hendrick), 1884-1951.
Van Wagoner, Murray Delos, 1898-
Waite, John Barker, 1882-1967.
Walker, Moses L.
Warren, Earl, 1891-1974.
Whittaker, Alfred Heacock, 1894-
Williams, G. Mennen, 1911-1988.
Williams, G. Mennen., Mrs.
Yost, Fielding Harris, 1871-1946.
Places:
Detroit (Mich.)
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1929-1938.
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1939-1945.
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1946-1960.
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1961-1970.
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1837-1950.
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1951-
Philippines -- History -- 1898-1946.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1933-1945.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1929-1933.
Philippines -- History -- 1898-1946.

Contents

Using These Materials

Info for Visitors

How to Request

Ordering Reproductions

Download PDF Finding Aid
RESTRICTIONS:

Researchers must sign the Murphy contract before access to the papers will be permitted.

USE & PERMISSIONS:

George Murphy has transferred any applicable copyright to the Regents of the University of Michigan but the collection may contain third-party materials for which copyright was not transferred. Patrons are responsible for determining the appropriate use or reuse of materials.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[item], folder, box, George Murphy papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan

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Collection

George Murphy papers, 1911-1961
Call Number 86484 Aa 2; AA; UAm
Total components 40
Last indexed 2023-12-08