Albertha Johnston Murray (1889-1969) Papers (ca. 1909-1970)

 

Avery Manuscript Number 1020

 

Biographical Note: 

 

Albertha Johnston Murray was born October 26, 1889 in Charleston, SC to William Henry and Mary Ellen Virgin Johnston.  She was educated at Claflin High School and attended Claflin University as a Normal school student, gradating in 1909.  In 1949, Murray received her B.S. in Education from the State Agricultural and Mechanical College, Orangeburg, SC. She married Richard Gailliard Murray and had one daughter, Hazel Albertha Murray Stewart.

Murray taught at numerous private and public schools in Charleston County, beginning with Humbert Wood Public Elementary School on Johns Island.  She was also a teacher at Dart Private School, Avery Normal Institute and Four Mile Public Elementary School.  In 1927, Murray was hired as principal at Cut Bridge Elementary School on James Island,   remaining there for thirty two years.  Murray’s insistence prompted the renovation and expansion of the original five room school.  In 1955, a new school was built named Murray-LaSaine Elementary School, which bore her name and Dr. Mary Alice LaSaine, former supervisor of Negro Schools in Charleston County.

Murray retired from the teaching profession in 1959, and remained active in numerous educational, social, and humanitarian organizations. She served as president and life member of the South Carolina Retired Teacher’s Association; treasurer of the Charleston County Principal’s Association, and was a former president of the Palmetto Education Association, South Carolina Education Association, and a life member of the American Teacher’s Association.  Murray’s civic involvement includes Board of Directorship on the Charleston Chapter of the American Red Cross, Charleston County Tuberculosis Associations and McClennan Banks Memorial Hospital, and membership with the South Carolina Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs; National Council of Negro Women; League of Women’s Voters; the Poinsetta Chapter #129 of the Order of Eastern Star, the Coming Street YWCA (Charleston SC); Founder of the Grey Ladies; and the Robert Gould Shaw Boys Club of America. Murray passed away on September 13, 1969, at the age of seventy nine.

 

Scope and Content:  Approx ¾ linear ft. (1908-1970; bulk 1920-1965)

 

Papers consist of letters, speeches, programs, newspaper clippings, certificates and photographs reflecting Murray’s work as a student, teacher, and principal at Murray-LaSaine Elementary School on James Island, Charleston, SC, along with her affiliations with professional and civic organizations.  Includes materials on Dart Grammar and Primary School, Avery Normal Institute and others.  Murray’s writings relate to the education of teachers and parents of young children, virtues and religious themes.  The series of schools and colleges include letters and programs from the institutions Murray attended, and where she taught or spoke.  The educational, church, women and volunteer affiliations series contains letters, speeches, programs, and certificated from the various national, state and local teacher and civic organizations to which Murray belonged including the SC Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, Central Baptist Church, and others such as the McClennan-Banks Memorial Hospital.  Murray’s papers also include a series with her relatives, parents, William Henry and Mary Ellen Virgin Johnston; sister, Arnolta J. Williams; daughter Hazel Albertha Murray Stewart; son-in-law, James W. Stewart II; and nephew, William E. Johnston, Jr.  Photographs depict Murray with her family; students, and faulty at Claflin College (now University), Cut Bridge School, Bettis Academy and Murray-LaSaine Elementary School, along with group pictures of Murray in numerous teacher and civic organizations.  Includes photographs of Susan Dart Butler and Mary Alice LaSaine.

 

 

Suggested Subject Headings

 

Sarah Dart Butler (1888-1959)

Mary Alice LaSaine

Alice Norwood Spearman Wright (1902-1989)

McClennan Banks Memorial Hospital

Order of Eastern Star

Palmetto Education Association—South Carolina

South Carolina Education Association

South Carolina Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs

Charleston Chapter of the American Red Cross

Charleston County Tuberculosis Association

Charleston Chapter of Links, Inc.

 

 

Albertha Johnston Murray Papers

 

 

Avery Manuscript Number 1020

 

 

Inventory

 

 

 

 

 

 

Box #/

I

Biographical Papers

Folder#

 

 

 

1

Biographical sketches (nd) re Albertha Johnston Murray

1-1

 

 

 

2

Obituary and obsequies (1969) re Murray

1-2

 

 

 

II

Works:  Writings, Talks, Lectures and Speeches

 

 

 

 

1

Handwritten index cards (nd) of speech given to future teachers of Gresham Meggett

1-3

 

High School

 

 

 

 

2

Handwritten speech on index cards and mimeographed program (nd) re Negro History Week program at Haut Gap High School, John’s Island, SC

1-4

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

Handwritten essay (nd) re the importance of punctuality

1-5

 

 

 

4

Handwritten essay (1929) re teacher's involvement in the Charleston County Colored

1-6

 

Fair

 

 

 

 

5

Handwritten essay (nd) re childrearing; and typescript (nd) on various subjects;

1-7

 

disciplining children, women with jobs, ministers and deacons wives hour, and

 

 

responsibility to our children

 

 

 

 

6

Handwritten index cards (nd) of speech entitled "Strengthen Schools for 60" re parental involvement in children’s education

1-8

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

Handwritten index cards (nd) of speech entitled, "Stepping Stones to Success in Life," given at the Wallace High School

1-9

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

Original and photocopies of typescripts (1927, nd) re parent teacher association

1-10

 

involvement.  Includes handwritten index cards of Murray's speech entitled "Diet

 

 

Kitchen" re the importance of providing a healthy lunch for children

 

 

 

 

9

Typed index cards (c. 1950) entitled "Adult Education;" and Handwritten index cards

1-11

 

(nd) of speech entitled "Why Go to College?"

 

 

 

 

10

Original and photocopied typescripts (nd) re the virtues of the teaching profession and rural school unit training

1-12

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

Handwritten index cards (nd) re Murray's talks on religion, including "Partnership with God,” and “Following Jesus;” handwritten original and photocopied essay (nd)

1-13

 

“Short Rules for Young Christians;” typescripts (nd) entitled “An Appeal;” and

 

 

 'Meditation"

 

 

 

 

12

Typescript of speech (1964) given by Murray entitled, "Our Golden Age," re retirement and remaining active in service

1-14

 

 

 

 

 

 

III

Correspondence

 

 

 

 

1

Handwritten and typed letters (1934, 1941, 1964) from nephews and friend re

1-15

 

personal regards

 

 

 

 

2

Letter (1933) from Secretary to the Mayor of Charleston, appointing Murray as a

1-16

 

member of the "colored swimming pool commission;" and original and photocopied

 

 

letter (1959) from Alice Spearman, South Carolina Council on Human Relations re

 

 

conferences sponsored by SCCHR and Penn Center

 

 

 

 

IV

Affiliations:  Schools and Colleges

 

 

 

 

1

Letters and programs (1909-1959) re activities at Claflin University.  Includes

1-17

 

Murray's commencement program (1909) from Normal School

 

 

 

 

2

Broadside (1918) from The Dart Grammar and Primary School

1-18

 

 

 

3

Programs (1943-1954) re commencement and activities at Avery Institute

1-19

 

 

 

4

Letters, report, mimeographed programs and photocopied newspaper clippings

1-20

 

(1931-1960, nd) re activities at Cut Bridge School and Murray-LaSaine Elementary

 

 

School, James Island, SC

 

 

 

 

5

Miscellaneous letters (1943-1960) re Murray's school involvement.  Includes letters

1-21

 

from Tuskegee Institute (1943) re a scholarship for summer school; verification of

 

 

Murray's employment as an summer school instructor at Bettis Academy (1945);

 

 

request for Murray to speak at Career Day at Waring Consolidated School (1958);

 

 

letter and photocopied newspaper clippings (1960-62) from W. Kent Alston, Principal

 

 

of Robert Smalls Senior High School re Murray's participation at the school

 

 

 

 

6

Letters, programs, invitation, and photocopied newspaper clippings (1959-1961) re

1-22

 

Murray's retirement from teaching. Includes declaration (1959) from James Island

 

 

School District Number Three trustees congratulatory letter from Septima Clark, and

 

 

W. Greshaw Meggett from South Carolina Electric and Gas Company

 

 

 

 

 

Affiliations: Educational Associations

 

 

 

 

1

Typed letters and certificate (1925-1945) from the State Agent of Negro Schools,

1-23

 

State of South Carolina Department of Education, re conferences and Murray

 

 

teaching summer school at Bettis Academy.  Includes Murray's handwritten original

 

 

and photocopy of report (nd) re workshop at State College; and letter and postcard

 

 

(1943) from the State Board of Education re certification regulations for teachers in

 

 

South Carolina; membership cards (1956-58) from Department of Elementary School

 

 

Principals

 

 

 

 

2

Programs (1930, 33, 1958) from the Charleston County Teachers' Association

1-24

 

Teacher's Institute and Williamsburg County Teacher's Association (1937)

 

 

 

 

3

Constitution, programs, certificate, and photocopied newspaper clipping (1962-69) re

1-25

 

Charleston County Education Association

 

 

 

 

4

Typed letter and financial report (1934-1936) from the Palmetto State Teachers'

1-26

 

Association. Letter discusses improvement of one and two teacher schools in the

 

 

South; and typed letters, photocopied program, and membership card (1954-1962)

 

 

from the Palmetto Education Association (PEA) re Building Construction Committee

 

 

business (1956-58); meeting notices; Murray's appointment to the Retirement

 

 

committee (1961-62); handwritten letter (1961) from President of Charleston County

 

 

Principals' Association, P.E.A. to Murray re acceptance of her resignation as treasurer

 

 

 

 

5

Handwritten report on index cards, memorandum and certificate (1955, nd) re the

1-27

 

American Teachers Association (ATA). Contains Murray's report on the ATA's 50th

 

 

Convention at SC State College (nd)

 

 

 

 

 

Affiliations: Women Organizations

 

 

 

 

1

Murray's handwritten speech on index cards and certificate (1962, nd) re National

1-28

 

Association of Colored Women's Clubs, Inc. Murray's speech provides a brief history

 

 

of the association; Murray's handwritten speech on index cards, program, and

 

 

membership card (1956-57) re National Council of Negro Women

 

 

 

 

2

Handwritten index cards, letterhead, and certificates (c.1950-1970) re the South

1-29

 

Carolina Federation of Colored Women's Club. Includes Murray's tribute to Susan

 

 

Dart Butler

 

 

 

 

3

Letters, program, and photocopied newspaper clippings (1958) re Charleston SC

1-30

 

Chapter Links honoring Murray as "Woman of the Year"

 

 

 

 

4

Typed index cards, programs and certificates (1960-66) re the Queen Esther Chapter

1-31

 

of the Order of the Eastern Star, including Murray's talk on the origins of the Eastern

 

 

Star and "Some Women of the Bible"

 

 

 

 

5

Mimeographed program and certificate (1957, 1963) from the Coming Street Branch

1-32

 

of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA)

 

 

 

 

6

Program (1970) re tribute to Murray from the City Federation of Women and Girls

1-33

 

Clubs

 

 

 

 

 

Affiliations: Volunteer Organizations

 

 

 

 

1

Letters and program (1933-1959) from the Charleston County Tuberculosis

1-34

 

Association re officer and committee appointments.  Includes officers and governing

 

 

committee roster (1946)

 

 

 

 

2

Letters and certificates (1942-1966) from the Charleston Chapter of the American

1-35

 

Red Cross and Charleston County Heart Council re committee appointments meeting

 

 

notices; and minutes (1959)

 

 

 

 

3

Certificates (1942-1957) from Charleston Area Civilian Defense Council and Negro

1-36

 

Extension Office, State College, Orangeburg, SC re recognition for Murray's service

 

 

 

 

4

Letter and photocopied newspaper clipping (1953, nd) from the Charleston Chapter

1-37

 

of the National Foundation Infantile Paralysis re March of Dimes and Mother's March on Polio campaigns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

Papers (1960-61) re McClennan-Banks Memorial Hospital, including certified note of loan from Murray to the hospital

1-38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Affiliations: Church and Church-Related

 

 

 

 

1

Programs and certificates (1951-54, 1968) re activities at Central Baptist Church

1-39

 

 

 

 

Relatives

 

 

 

 

1

Photocopied handwritten letters (1883, 86) from Mary Ellen Virgin to William Henry

1-40

 

Johnston (Murray's parents), written during Virgin's tenure at Claflin University;

 

 

obsequies (1939) of William Henry Johnston

 

 

 

 

2

Certificates and newsletter (1942-1953) of Albertha Johnston's husband, Richard G.

1-41

 

Murray

 

 

 

 

3

Program, magazine article and photocopied newspaper clippings (1982, 88) re

1-42

 

Murray's sister, Arnolta "Mamma" Williams

 

 

 

 

4

Letters and programs (1951-1988, nd) to Murray's daughter, Hazel M. Stewart; her

1-43

 

son-in-law, James W. Stewart II; and nephew, William E. Johnston, Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

Visual Materials

 

 

 

 

1

Black and white photographs (1919-1955, c. 1960) of Albertha Murray with pictures

2-1

 

of Murray on the day "LaSaine" was included in the school's title

 

 

 

 

2

Black and white photograph on poster board (1958) of Charleston Chapter of Links

2-2

 

members giving Murray the "Woman of the Year" award

 

 

 

 

3

Black and white photographs (1919-1955, c. 1960) re Murray's family members

2-3

 

including her husband, Richard, daughter Hazel, and nephew, William E. Johnston, Jr.

 

 

 

 

4

Sepia colored photograph (1910) of Claflin University's first year of Normal School

2-4

 

class, with partial names of students handwritten on the back

 

 

 

 

5

Black and white photographs (1945-1951) of Cut Bridge School; students and

2-5

 

teachers

 

 

 

 

6

Sepia colored photographs (1938) of Murray with Bettis Academy faculty; color and

2-6

 

black and white photographs (1955, 1969) of students and faculty of Murray-LaSaine

 

 

Elementary School

 

 

 

 

7

Black and white photographs (1951-54) of American Teacher Association conferences at Hampton Institute (1951); Orangeburg, SC (1952); and Tennessee State University

2-7

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

Black and white photographs (c 1940-1964) of Murray with various service

2-8

 

organizations including Jeanes Teachers at South Carolina State (c.1940);

 

 

Tuberculosis Association Southern Conference (1948); Robert Gould Shaw Boys

 

 

Club of America (nd); Marion Anderson Federated Club (nd); National Association of  Colored Women’s Clubs (1958); Sidney Park Church, Columbia State Federation

 

 

(1959); Grey Ladies of McClennan Banks Hospital (1960); Polio Education Group

 

 

(c. 1960); Council of Negro Women (nd); and numerous unidentified group

 

 

photographs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

Black and white photograph (c 1950) of Susan Dart Butler, Dart Hall Library; sepia

2-9

 

colored photograph (1957) of Lucille Gray and Mary Alice LaSaine; and photos of

 

 

unidentified individuals

 

 

 

 

 

Oversize Materials

Plat

 

 

Drawer #

1

Certificate (1966) Life Membership from the National Education Association

2