Guide to the Murphy Family Papers MSS.1995.11.09
Archives & Special Collections, Santa Clara University Library
© 2015 Santa Clara University. All rights reserved.
Santa Clara University Library
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, California 95053-0500
Email: specialcollections@scu.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Archives & Special Collections, Santa Clara University Library
Title: Murphy Family Papers
creator:
Murphy Family
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.1995.11.09
Physical Description:
4.27 linear feet
(7 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1842-1910 (bulk 1850-1880)
Abstract: The Murphy Family Papers, 1842-1910 (bulk 1850-1880), document the lives of the Murphy family before and after their arrival
to the San Jose, California area. The records consist of correspondence, indentures, legal paperwork, bills, receipts, and
maps of property that the family owned. This collection is arranged into three series: Series I. Martin Murphy, Jr.’s Papers,
1842-1885 (bulk 1850-1880); Series II. Murphy Family Miscellaneous Papers, 1846-1870 (bulk 1850-1870); and Series III. Murphy
Family Friends, Relatives, and Business Associates, 1850-1889 (bulk 1850-1880).
Physical Location: This collection is located in Santa Clara University Library's Archives & Special Collections.
Language of Material: English
Access
Collection is open for research.
Access Restrictions
None
Publication Rights
Materials in Archives & Special Collections may be subject to copyright. All requests for permission to publish from manuscripts
must be submitted in writing to the University Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Archives & Special
Collections as the owner of the physical materials, and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder,
which must also be obtained. Copyright restrictions also apply to digital reproductions of the original materials.
Preferred Citation
Murphy Family Papers, MSS.1995.11.09, Santa Clara University Library, Archives & Special Collections.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Michelle Runyon. Finding aid EAD encoded by Shannon Hartman. Reviewed by Erin Louthen. Additional
descriptive information added by Mia Hope in 2018.
Biographical History
The Martin Murphy family emigrated from Ireland to Canada in 1820. In 1828, Martin Jr. (b. 1807) and his sister joined them.
After a period in Missouri and in the Sacramento Valley, the family arrived in the San Jose area in 1844. They came to California
with the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party, a pioneer wagon train that came to California over the Sierra Nevada two years before
the journey of the Donner Party in 1846-1847. Shortly after arriving in Santa Clara, Martin Murphy, Sr. bought
Rancho Ojo de Agua de la Coche in San Jose. Eventually, it came to be known as the “Twenty-One Mile” house and was a popular stop for travelers going between
Santa Clara and San Jose. The Murphy family became landowners of vast territories in the San Francisco Bay Area through purchasing
land owned by various old,
californio families. Martin Murphy, Jr. eventually took up residence in Sunnyvale. Father of several sons, he was an advocate of education
and an early financial supporter of Santa Clara College. Murphy's sons were among the earliest students at the college.
Bibliography
"Martin Murphy."
The Valley of Heart's Delight: Santaclararesearch.net. Carolyn Feroben. Accessed Oct. 27, 2015.
Organizational History
Santa Clara University was founded in 1851 by the Society of Jesus as Santa Clara College and is California’s oldest operating
institution of higher learning. It was established on the grounds of Mission Santa Clara de Asìs, the eighth of the original
21 California missions. The college originally operated as a preparatory school and did not offer courses of collegiate rank
until 1853. The institution became known as the University of Santa Clara in 1912, when the schools of engineering and law
were added. For 110 years, Santa Clara University was an all-male school. In 1961, women were accepted as undergraduates and
Santa Clara University became the first coeducational Catholic university in California. The number of students and faculty
tripled over the next decade and the university began the largest building program in school history with eight residence
halls, a student union, and an athletic stadium. In the early 1970s, the Board of Trustees voted to limit the size of the
undergraduate population, an action that was intended to preserve the character and ensure the quality of the university for
generations to come. In 1985, the university adopted Santa Clara University as its official name.
Bibliography
Santa Clara University. “About SCU – History.” www.scu.edu/about/history.cfm (Accessed Nov. 23, 2010)
McKevitt, Gerald, S.J.
The University of Santa Clara: A History, 1851-1977. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1979.
Related Material
Pinedo Family Papers:
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8nv9ppp/
Encarnacion Pinedo Digital Collection:
http://content.scu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/pinedotent.scu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/pinedo
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into three series: Series I. Martin Murphy, Jr.’s Papers, 1846-1885 (bulk 1850-1880); Series II.
Murphy Family Miscellaneous Papers, 1846-1870 (bulk 1850-1870); and Series III. Murphy Family Friends, Relatives, and Business
Associates, 1850-1889 (bulk 1850-1880).
Scope and Content of Collection
The Murphy Family Papers, 1842-1910 (bulk 1850-1880), document the lives of the Murphy family and their close associates.
Martin Murphy, Jr. supported the founding of Santa Clara College and his sons were some of the earliest students of the college.
This collection contains correspondence, legal paperwork, bills, receipts, indentures and various documents related to property
ownership. Martin Murphy, Jr. and many of his relatives became prominent landowners shortly after arriving in the San Jose
area; the collection predominantly consists of materials related to their property holdings.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Santa Clara County (Calif.)
University of Santa Clara (Calif.)
Santa Clara College (Calif.)
Santa Clara University (Calif.)
Sunnyvale (Calif.)
Series I. Martin Murphy, Jr.’s Papers,
1842-1885 (bulk 1850-1880)
Arrangement
This series is arranged by format.
Scope and Content
This series documents the business life of Martin Murphy, Jr. and includes promissory notes, bills and receipts, correspondence
and legal documents that deal mainly with land ownership. Also included is his certificate of U.S. citizenship.
Box 1: Papers of Martin Murphy, Jr.,
1850-1885
Folder 1: Martin Murphy Jr. Promissory Notes,
1854-1880
Folder 2: Martin Murphy Jr. Bills and Receipts,
1852-1893
Folder 3: Martin Murphy Jr. Correspondence,
1858-1881
Folder 4: Golden Jubilee Letters,
1881
Folder 5: Martin Murphy Jr. Legal Papers,
1860-1870
Folder 6: Martin Murphy Jr. Checks,
1866-1870
Folder 7: Martin Murphy Jr. Checks,
1870-1878
Folder 8: Martin Murphy Jr. Insurance,
1881-1889
Folder 9: Martin Murphy Jr. Indentures To Wife,
1884, & undated
Folder 10: Briones, La Purissima,
1855-1870
Folder 11: Pastoria de las Borregas,
1830-1881
Folder 12: Rancho de Milpitas,
1872-1873
Folder 13: Rancho Santa Margarita,
1841-1861
Folder 14: Sacramento,
1849-1850
Folder 15: Mortgages,
1855-1873
Folder 16: San Jose Property,
1848-1868
Folder 17: Other Land Docs,
1852-1864, & undated
Box 2: Maps and Certificate of Citizenship,
1855
Box 3: Scroll of Receipts,
1842-1853
Series II. Murphy Family Miscellaneous Papers,
1846-1870 (bulk 1850-1870)
Scope and Content
This series documents the business and personal lives of Daniel Murphy, Bernard Murphy and other members of the Murphy family.
The series includes promissory notes, correspondence, bills and legal documents mostly related to land ownership.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by format and author.
Box 4: Papers of Daniel Murphy,
1850-1860
Folder 18: Daniel Murphy, Promissory Notes,
1853-1859
Folder 19: Daniel Murphy, Receipts and Bills,
1853-1860
Folder 20: Daniel Murphy, Receipts and Bills,
1856-1859
Folder 21: Daniel Murphy Correspondence,
1850-1853
Folder 22: Correspondence,
1854-1855
Folder 23: Correspondence,
1856-1857
Folder 24: Correspondence,
1858-1860
Box 5: Papers of Daniel and Bernard Murphy, Other Murphy Family Papers,
1846-1870
Folder 25: Daniel Murphy Correspondence,
1859-1874, & undated
Folder 26: Daniel Murphy Legal Papers,
1851-1882
Folder 27: Daniel Murphy Legal Papers re Land,
1852-1857
Folder 28: Daniel Murphy Indenture no. 25,
1833-1853
Folder 29: Murphy Papers Not Attributed to a Specific Murphy,
1849-1892
Folder 30: Bernard "Brian" Murphy, MM Jr's Brother,
1850, & undated
Folder 31: Bernard "Brian" Murphy Indenture no. 7,
1853-1854
Folder 32: Bernard "Brian" Murphy, Indenture no. 52,
1852-1854
Folder 33: Bernard "Brian" Murphy, Indenture no. 95,
1852-1853
Folder 34: B. D. Murphy,
1859-1878
Folder 35: B. D. Murphy Checks,
1872-1874
Folder 36: James T. Murphy,
1877-1893
Folder 37: James T. Murphy, Checks,
1874-1893
Folder 38: John Murphy,
1829-1867
Folder 39: Martin Murphy, Sr.,
1853-1901
Folder 40: Martin J. Murphy, MM Jr's Son,
1859-1861
Series III. Murphy Family Friends, Relatives and Business Associates,
1850-1889 (bulk 1850-1880)
Scope and Content
This series documents the business and personal lives of people related to the Murphy family or those who had social or business
relationships with the Murphy family. The series predominately consists of correspondence and legal documents related to property
ownership.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by author.
Box 6: Correspondence, Bills and Legal Documents,
1850-1889
Folder 41: Mary Fisher Murphy and Family, D. Murphy,
1852-1856, & undated
Folder 42: P. W. Murphy,
1867-1893
Folder 43: Rancho At Ascadero, P. W. Murphy,
1853
Folder 44: P. W. Murphy Checks,
1867-1873
Folder 45: Family Correspondence,
1875-1889
Folder 46: Archbishop Alemany,
1880
Folder 47: J. R. Arques,
1870-1879
Folder 48: J. Bidwell,
undated
Folder 49: R. T. Carroll,
1871-1875
Folder 50: James Crowley,
1867
Folder 51: Fisher (Bull),
1853-1855
Folder 52: R. P. Hammond,
1850
Folder 53: Martin Family,
1844-1877
Folder 54: Tanffe Family,
1855-1874
Folder 55: Tennant, WM.,
1857-1885
Folder 56: W. T. Wallace,
1861
