Collection Summary
David Murray Papers
1866-1930
1873-1879
1866-1930
1873-1879
MSS33985
Murray, David, 1830-1905
250 items
5 containers
2 linear feet
3 microfilm reels
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Educator. Mainly writings and notes by
Murray on education and the history and culture of Japan based on Murray’s observations
while superintending the educational reform of that country.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC
Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and
by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Murray family--Correspondence.
Murray, David, 1830-1905.
Murray, Martha A.--Correspondence.
Subjects
Arts--Japan.
Education--Japan.
Education--United States.
Educational change.
Ethnology--Japan.
Indians of North America.
Lotteries.
Wampum.
Places
Japan--Description and travel.
Japan--History.
Japan--Politics and government.
Japan--Social conditions.
Occupations
Educators.
Acquisition Information
The papers of David Murray, educator, apparently came to the Library of Congress in two
installments. Nearly a hundred manuscripts of Murray’s lectures, articles, and notes
were given by his widow, Martha Neilson Murray, circa 1915. Hamilton Fish Armstrong,
editor of
Foreign Affairs
and a cousin of Mrs. Murray, gave additional material in 1946.
Processing History
The papers of David Murray were processed and prepared for microfilming by Robert W.
Storm, Jr. in 1980. The finding aid was revised in 2009. The finding aid was updated in
2023 by Maria Farmer as part of a division-wide remediation project by the Inclusive
Description Working Group.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of David Murray is governed by the
Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The David Murray Papers are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the
Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and
advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Microfilm
A microfilm edition of these papers is available on three reels. Consult a reference
librarian in the Manuscript Division concerning availability for purchase or
interlibrary loan. To promote preservation of the originals, researchers are required to
consult the microfilm edition as available.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container or reel number, David Murray Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress,
Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1830, Oct. 15
Born, Bovina, N.Y.
1852
Graduated, Union College, Schenectady. N.Y.
1857
1863
Principal, Albany Academy, Albany, N.Y.
1863
Ph.D., University of New York
1863
1873
Professor of mathematics, Rutgers College, New Brunswick, N.J.
1867
Married Martha A. Neilson
1873
1879
Superintendent of educational affairs, Japan
1880
1889
Secretary, Board of Regents, University of New York
1892
1905
Member and secretary, Board of Trustees, Rutgers University, New Brunswick,
N.J.
1894
Published
The Story of Japan.
New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons
1899
Published
History of Education in New Jersey
. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office
1905, Mar. 6
Died, New Brunswick, N.J.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of David Murray (1830-1905) span the years 1866-1930, with the bulk of the
material in the period 1873-1879. The collection contains notes on education,
government, history, art, social conditions, and ethnology in Japan made while Murray
was superintending the educational reform of the country. It also contains addresses and
scholarly papers based on the notes; letters written from Japan by David or his wife,
Martha A. Nielson Murray, to relatives in the United States; and addresses and papers on
education in the United States, Native American wampum, lotteries, and other subjects.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is organized by type of material.
Container List
Available on microfilm. Shelf no. 18.047
Container
Contents
1
1
Personal papers
1
1
Family correspondence, 1873-1879
1873-1879
(7 folders)
1
1
Invitations received, 1873-1878
1873-1878
1
1
Genealogies, undated
undated
1
1
Contract with and commission from the Japanese
government, 1873-1875
1873-1875
1
1
W. I. Chamberlain,
In Memoriam: David Murray, Ph.D., LL.D.
, 1915
1915
2
1
Papers and addresses upon Japan
2
1
Lists of papers and addresses in collection,
undated
undated
2
1
Notes
2
1
circa 1877-circa 1878
circa 1877-circa
1878
2
2
circa 1878
circa 1878
(2 folders)
2
2
Drafts of
The Story of Japan
, circa 1892
circa
1892
2
2
Chapter XIII
2
2
Chapter XIV
2
2
Chapter XV
3
2
Other drafts
3
2
1875-circa 1880
1875-circa
1880
3
2
circa 1895-1904
circa
1895-1904
3
2
Addresses and lecture, 1873-circa
1880
1873-circa
1880
3
2
Lectures
3
2
circa 1880
circa
1880
3
2
1897-circa 1900
1897-circa
1900
4
3
Reports, 1877-1878
1877-1878
4
3
Other writings, circa 1876-circa
1892
circa 1876-circa
1892
4
3
Miscellany, 1878-1879
1878-1879
4
3
Papers and addresses in America
4
3
Notes upon lotteries, 1890-1893
1890-1893
4
3
Addresses, circa 1866-1885
circa
1866-1885
4
3
Address as honorary chancellor of Union College,
Schenectady, N.Y., 1885
1885
4
3
Lecture upon lotteries, 1890
1890
4
3
Addresses, 1895-1901
1895-1901
4
3
Lectures upon wampum, 1900-1902
1900-1902
4
3
Other writings, 1882-1896
1882-1896
4
3
Labels and portion of newspaper, 1930,
undated
1930, undated