Sister Ellen Murphy Papers, 1904-2002
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
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
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
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 4: Personal Materials
- This series consists of personal material to Sister Ellen, as separate from the materials in the first three series.
- Box 6
- Box 7
- Box 9
- Folder 1: Sister Ellen's baptismal certificate: 1916
- Folder 2: Article when Sister Ellen took postulate vows in The Catholic Bulletin: 1935
- Folder 3: Certified copy of Sister Ellen's birth certificate & affidavit of personal knowledge of a birth: 1971
- Folder 4: Driver's License (paper copy): 1975
- Folder 5: Sister Ellen Murphy's places of residence
- Folder 1: Sister Ellen's baptismal certificate: 1916
- Box 10
- Folder 22: College of Saint Catherine Map
- Folder 23: Correspondence about Sister Ellen's sabbatical
- Folder 24: Letter in response to Sister Ellen's intent to retire: 1983
- Folder 25: Brochure for pre-kindergarten licensure program
- Folder 26: Lecture notes
- Folder 27: College of Saint Catherine Faculty & Staff members of Delta Phi Lambda & mail numbers
- Folder 28: Delta Phi Lambda invitation: 1995
- Folder 29: Photo Album of the University of Notre Dame trip
- Folder 30: Photo Album from Europe visit
- Folder 31: List of London, Dublin, and Amsterdam elementary schools
- Folder 32: Materials from Relationships for Mission Congregational Study: 1996
- Folder 33: Thoughts on Language of Worship by Sister Ellen
- Folder 34: Notre Dame English Association Meeting Report: 1959
- Folder 22: College of Saint Catherine Map
- Box 11
- Folder 12: Obituaries, prayer cards, & funeral programs from Sister Ellen's deceased neighbors, friends, and fellow Sisters: 1959-1993
- Folder 13: Prayer card from Father Donahue's ordination: 1970
- Folder 14: Prayer card from Father Donahue's ordination: 1970
- Folder 15: Napkins from Saint Stephen's Catholic Church Centennial Celebration: 1982
- Folder 16: A song when someone is leaving Bethany Convent
- Folder 17: Church of Saint Columba bulletin with an insert about Sisters of Saint Joseph: 1990
- Folder 18: Church Bulletins: 1990
- Folder 19: Newspaper clippings from Jim O'Leary: 1991, undated
- Folder 20: Marriage Program of Jeremiah Murphy & Lori Brokke: June 1992
- Folder 21: Wedding invitation & program of Janice Burmeister & Michael Alm: 1994
- Folder 22: Program: A ritual of Thanksgiving and Farewell with our Sisters: 1994
- Folder 23: Mementos of Sister's past students and neighbors
- Folder 24: Bethany Newsletter: Summer 1994
- Folder 25: Chapel of the Rosary brochure
- Folder 56: Summary of Sister Ellen Murphy's Life and Works: 1916-1980
- Folder 57: High School Scrapbook: 1932-1934
- Folder 58: Expired Passports: 1971 and 1979
- Folder 59: Letter about information for a certified copy birth certificate: 1971
- Folder 60: Monthly Planner: 1995
- Folder 61: Address books
- Folder 62: Acceptance letter to Notre Dame graduate school: 1954
- Folder 63: Transcripts and Report Cards: 1937, 1952, 1963-1967
- Folder 64: Certificates and Awards: 1966-1990
- Folder 65: Newspaper clippings about Sister Ellen: 1970, undated
- Folder 76: Maris Stella Poetry Prize Documents: 1993
- Folder 77: Congratulatory correspondence for the Maris Stella Poetry Prize: 1993
- Folder 78: Professional Documents and Correspondence
- Folder 79: Correspondence regarding Sister Ellen's poetry publishing: 1955, 1982, 1992
- Folder 80: Sister Ellen's Poetry Recording
- Folder 81: Continuing Education credits: 1996
- Folder 82: SCAN: Saint Catherine Alumnae News: Summer 1993
- Folder 83: Permission letters to use documents from the Sister Ellen Murphy Papers: 1980
- Folder 12: Obituaries, prayer cards, & funeral programs from Sister Ellen's deceased neighbors, friends, and fellow Sisters: 1959-1993
- Box 12
- Cassette Tape 2058: Interview with Kathleen Donohue by Sister Ellen Murphy, June 25, 1990
- Separated and placed in the Audio Tape Collection
- Box 6
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]