Sister Ellen Murphy Papers, 1904-2002

Sister Ellen Murphy Papers

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Collection Overview

Title: Sister Ellen Murphy Papers, 1904-2002

ID: OGLMC512

Primary Creator: Murphy, Ellen (1916-2004)

Extent: 16.5 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 06/19/1979. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Literary - Poetry, Religion - Catholic Church, Women's History

Languages: English

Abstract

Contains the personal correspondence, diaries, and other materials pertaining to Sister Ellen Murphy, a Catholic nun and educator.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Sister Ellen Murphy Papers have been divided into six series:

Series 1: Diaries, 1931-1934 and 1962-1998

Series 2: Publications, 1934-1997

Series 3: Correspondence, 1930-2002

Series 4: Personal Materials

Series 5: Murphy Family Records

Series 6: Photographs

Collection Historical Note

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

A few months later, 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 in St. Paul and received her religious vows on March 19, 1937, at St. Joseph's Novitiate, also in St. Paul. Sister Ellen attended several colleges and universities including the University of Notre Dame, the University of North Dakota and DePaul University. Her primary fields of study were elementary education, religion and literature. Sister Ellen contributed to these fields by writing educational articles, poetry, and short stories, many of which have been published. She taught at several schools, including St. Michael's Catholic School in Grand Forks, as well as teaching catechism in Thompson, North Dakota.

She died April 16, 2004, at Bethany Convent, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Subject/Index Terms

Literary - Poetry
Religion - Catholic Church
Women's History

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Accruals:

Sister Ellen Murphy donated additional material on December 29, 1993 (93-1932), in May 1995 (95-2001), in August 1996 (96-2085 and 96-2086), and on November 4, 1997 (98-2215).

Additional material was also donated by Father Robert Mullins, UND, on January 27, 1982 (82-956) and December 20, 1982 (82-1051), as well as by Sister Mary Louise Matt, St. Cloud, Minnesota, on June 23, 2004 (2004-2678).

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Sister Ellen Murphy

Acquisition Method: Donation; 78-548

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Sister Ellen Murphy Papers. OGLMC 512, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in October 2015.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Diaries, 1931-1934 and 1962-1998],
[Series 2: Publications, 1934-1997],
[Series 3: Correspondence, 1930-2002],
[Series 4: Personal Materials],
[Series 5: Murphy Family Records],
[Series 6: Photographs],
[All]

Series 5: Murphy Family Records

This series consists of material related to the Murphy family.

Box 2

Folder 7: Murphy Family History

Folder 8: Four Audio Tapes

Item 1: Father Robert J. Mullins(speaking) to Sister Ellen Murphy.
Item 2: Robert J. Mullins(speaking) to Sister Ellen Murphy.
Item 3: Charles J. Murphy talking to family at the Murphy farm April 24, 1947
Item 4: Recollections of Charles J. Murphy about his children April 24, 1947.

Box 8

Folder 1: Scrapbook

Box 11

Folder 26: Part of Bachelor's Grove
Folder 27: Copied pictures for Bachelor's Grove
Folder 28: Notes about next door neighbors for Bachelor's Grove
Folder 29: Miscellaneous information to put in Bachelor's Grove
Folder 30: Orr, North Dakota, Centennial Short History and pictures: 1982
Folder 31: Correspondence from Charlie McNeill about Bachelor's Grove
Folder 32: Marriage certificate of Helena Normand & Carolus Murphy
Folder 33: Magazine & newspaper clippings: 1966 & 1970
Folder 34: Academic Material from Charles Murphy: 1903, 1906, 1947
Folder 35: Correspondence to & from Sister Ellen about her grandparents wedding: 1989
Folder 36: Correspondence to & from Sister Ellen's parents to Sister Ellen's brothers & sisters: 1935-1936, 1942-1943, 1947, 1956, undated
Folder 37: Miscellaneous documents for Murphy family
Folder 38: Correspondence regarding Catherine O'Donnell (Sister Ellen's cousin): 1993
Folder 39: Postcards from Maggie M. to Miss Annie O'Donnell
Folder 40: Miscellaneous correspondence to & from Murphy family
Folder 41: Section Map of Eastern North Dakota
Folder 42: Map of Grand Forks County: 1893
Folder 43: Maps of North Dakota
Folder 44: Maps of Eastern Canada
Folder 45: Maps of Southeast Ireland
Folder 46: Sketches of Down Home House, Grandpa Murphy's House and Farm
Folder 47: Sketches of School District #102
Folder 48: History of Grand Forks County
Folder 49: Newspaper clippings
Folder 50: Brenna township census for the United States: 1900
Folder 51: Brochure of Wilder Grade School 100th Anniversary: 1991
Folder 52: Poems by Lawrence Thomas Kennedy
Folder 53: Le NauFrage DU "Wasp" by M. Augustin Lebourdais
Folder 54: Miracle of a Living Snowman by Eileen Bigland: 1951
Folder 55: French settlers in North Dakota (article)
Folder 95: Bachelor's Grove Community Neighbors
Folder 96: Correspondence about Bachelor's Grove
Folder 97: Pictures and captions of Saint Michael's Hospital and Saint Bernard Academy
Folder 98: The O'Donnell-Donohue family tree
Folder 99: Murphy family time line: 1934-1945
Folder 100: A brief history of The Murphy Farm Home: 1903-04 to 1994
Folder 101: Charles J. Murphy and Helen Normand's Marriage Certificate: 1912
Folder 102: Baptismal certificate for Charles N. (Tim) Murphy: 1918
Folder 103: Charles J. Murphy's prayer book

Box 12

Folder 1: Military Record & Reports of Separation for Charles J. Murphy: 1942 & 1945
Folder 2: Jerry Murphy's Knights of Columbus traveling card: 1922
Folder 3: Comments about Kristin Lavansdatter by Sister Ellen
Folder 4: Documents pertaining to LeBourdais
Folder 5: Five poems written by Sister Ellen about childhood at Bachelor's Grove
Folder 6: William Donohue's Obituary prayer card: 1970
Folder 7: Miscellaneous documents relating to Bachelor's Grove
Folder 8: Saint Stephen's Church documents: 1982 & 1994
Folder 9: Article about Larimore
Folder 10: Sister Ellen's nephew's engagement announcement (Jerry Murphy and Lori Brokke): 1992
Folder 11: Catholic Schools in Grand Forks by Monsignor William McNamee: 1987
Folder 12: New York Subways
Folder 29: Charles J. Murphy and Helen Normand's wedding invitation: 1912
Folder 30: Ledger for Charles J. and Helen Murphy: 1919
Folder 31: 3rd, 4th, 6th & 8th grade report cards & Certificate of Attendance for Colleen Murphy: 1927-1929, 1931
Folder 32: 5th, 6th, freshman, & sophomore report cards & Certificate of Attendance for Charles N. (Tim) Murphy: 1927-1929, 1932-1934
Folder 33: Graduation Announcements and programs: 1965, 1968-1970
Folder 34: Wedding invitations: 1947, 1967, 1970, 1995

Box 13

Folder 1: In Memory of Charles N. (Tim) Murphy from US Air Force: 1996
Folder 2: Charles N. (Tim) Murphy business card
Folder 3: Horoscope of Arthur P. Murphy by Professor Leo Amzi
Folder 4: Correspondence from Mrs. Charles J. Murphy to Bellevue Cemetery Association: 1960
Folder 5: Funeral guest book for Clarence G. Lowe--relative of Mr. and Mrs. Charles N. (Tim) Murphy: 1960
Folder 6: "Life in the Army"
Folder 7: UND patch

Box 14

Folder 18: Sister Ellen's Obituary: April 18, 2004
Folder 19: Obituaries of Tim Murphy (brother) & Helen Murphy (mother) & funeral program: 1988 & 1996
Folder 20: A Family Tree in Bachelor's Grove by Sister Ellen
Folder 21: Part of A Family Tree in Bachelor's Grove (rough draft)
Folder 22: Miscellaneous Bachelor's Grove information
Folder 23: A Family Tree in Bachelor's Grove printing costs

Department of Special Collections
Digital Finding Aids