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Guide to the Marilyn Murphy papers

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Collection Overview
Date Span:1973-1996
Creator:Murphy, Marilyn (1921-)
Extent:10.00 linear inches.
Collection Number:IWA0547
Repository:Iowa Women's Archives
Summary:Social activist from Sioux City, Iowa.

Marilyn O. Delaney Murphy, homemaker and faith-based social activist, was born in 1921 in Ponca, Nebraska, to Raymond and Mary Frances Delaney. She served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945, and in 1947, she graduated from Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa, and married Raymond William Murphy. Together they had three children: Timothy, Molly, and Margaret. Raymond Murphy died in 1976.

Marilyn Murphy remained a homemaker until 1972 when she became the Social Concerns Facilitator/Rural Life Contact for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa. In that capacity, she wrote commentaries for The Globe , the official newspaper of the Diocese of Sioux City. In the 1980s, she became actively involved with peace organizations such as the Iowa Church Leaders Peace Caravan and Siouxlanders Concerned About the Nuclear Arms Race (SCANAR), an ecumenical citizens' group seeking the reduction of nuclear arms and the promotion of peaceful alternatives. Murphy also advocated women's rights through her work with Justice for Women in the Church, Inc. and the Siouxland Women's Political Caucus (SWPC) where she served on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) committee. During the 1990s, Murphy also served on the United Way of Siouxland's women's task force. In 1988, Murphy was inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame.

The Marilyn O. Murphy papers date from 1973 to 1996 and measure 10 linear inches. The papers are arranged alphabetically and are comprised mainly of materials related to Murphy's involvement in political and peace activism in organizations such as the Iowa Church Leaders Peace Caravan, Siouxlanders Concerned About the Nuclear Arms Race (SCANAR), and the Siouxland Women's Political Caucus (SWPC).

The SWPC materials contain membership lists, minutes, scattered newsletters, and questionnaires distributed to city council candidates in 1989. "Remembering Unsung Heroes," a booklet published by the Sioux City Catholic Charities celebrating one hundred years of Catholic social teaching, contains a brief account of Murphy's husband's contribution to the church and community. The Resources folder contains copies of "Woman: A Feminist Newsletter" published by Morningside College's Center for Women.

Access: The papers are open for research.

Use: Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to The University of Iowa.

Acquisition: The papers (donor no. 961) were donated by Marilyn Murphy in 2005.

Preferred Citation: Marilyn Murphy papers, Iowa Women's Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City.

Repository:Iowa Women's Archives
Address:100 Main Library
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone:319-335-5068
Curator:Kären Mason
Email:lib-women@uiowa.edu
Website:http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/iwa

Browse by Series:
Series 1: GENERAL

  • Series 1: GENERAL
  • Box 1:
  • Biographical information - 1988
  • Catholic Charities commentaries by Marilyn Murphy for The Globe - 1983-1984
  • Iowa Church Leaders Peace Caravan: General - 1982-1984
  • Iowa Church Leaders Peace Caravan: Newspaper clippings - 1984
  • Iowa Church Leaders Peace Caravan: Peace prayer vigil format - 1984
  • Iowa Church Leaders Peace Caravan: Publicity - 1984
  • Iowa farm crisis committee - 1980-1985
  • Justice for Women in the Church, Inc. - 1975-1979
  • "Remembering Unsung Heroes" ( Sioux City Catholic Charities) - 1991
  • Resources - 1990-1991
  • Siouxland Women's Political Caucus (SWPC): General - 1979-1992
  • Siouxland Women's Political Caucus (SWPC): Bylaws - 1976-1989
  • Siouxland Women's Political Caucus (SWPC): City boards and commissions, General - 1981-1990
  • Siouxland Women's Political Caucus (SWPC): City boards and commissions, Roster of qualified women for public appointment - 1990
  • Siouxland Women's Political Caucus (SWPC): ERA committees (folder 1) - 1977-1998
  • Siouxland Women's Political Caucus (SWPC): ERA committees (folder 2) - 1977-1998
  • Box 2:
  • Siouxland Women's Political Caucus (SWPC): ERA committees, Newspaper clippings - 1992-1993
  • Siouxland Women's Political Caucus (SWPC): Iowa Women's Political Caucus - 1973-1996
  • Siouxland Women's Political Caucus (SWPC): Newspaper clippings - 1989-1992
  • Siouxland Women's Political Caucus (SWPC): Women for Harkin for Women talking points - 1990
  • Siouxlanders Concerned About the Nuclear Arms Race (SCANAR): General - 1983-1995
  • Siouxlanders Concerned About the Nuclear Arms Race (SCANAR): Hiroshima Observance Day - 1983-1991
  • Siouxlanders Concerned About the Nuclear Arms Race (SCANAR): Mailing lists - 1986-1990
  • Siouxlanders Concerned About the Nuclear Arms Race (SCANAR): Minutes - 1985-1995
  • Siouxlanders Concerned About the Nuclear Arms Race (SCANAR): Newsletters - 1983-1989
  • Tri-State Women's Alliance - 1989
  • United Way of Siouxland: "Compass Survey for a better quality of life in Siouxland" - 1993
  • United Way of Siouxland: Women's task force, General - 1994-1995
  • United Way of Siouxland: Women's task force, Report - 1996

This collection is indexed under the following subject terms.


Personal Names:
Murphy, Marilyn, 1921-

Corporate Names:
Siouxland Women's Political Caucus
Siouxlanders Concerned About the Nuclear Arms Race (Organization)
Iowa Church Leaders Peace Caravan

Dates:
1970-1979
1980-1989
1990-1999

Topics:
Social participation
Antinuclear movement
Community organizations
Women in community organization
Women and peace
Women's rights

Occupations:
Homemakers
Pacifists
Political activists

Geographic Names:
Sioux City (Iowa)

Genre/Form of Materials:
Archives
Personal papers

Browse:
Peace and Pacifism