The Joseph Lafayette Murphy Papers date from 1877 to 1932 and consist mainly of correspondence, arranged in one chronological series. Following this are other miscellaneous categories: business documents, clippings, sermons, lectures, programs, etc. A list of folder titles follows this description.
The value of the papers lies primarily in the correspondence between Joseph and Clara Murphy before and during their marriage. They wrote so frequently that there emerges quite a complete picture of life in their time and localities. Clara discusses the concerts and other social events of Stoughton society. Joseph cheers the election of Grover Cleveland, comments on business losses of friends during the 1893 depression, and reports the lynching of a Negro in Bristol, saying only that it was perhaps the best thing. Also included is correspondence from friends and other relatives; letters from Mrs. Murphy to Brynhilde who was attending Lutheran Ladies Seminary, Red Wing, Minnesota, in 1914; and letters from Mrs. Murphy and John Falk Murphy to Brynhilde who was traveling in Europe in the summer of 1932.
Of the remaining categories, the clippings folder is of special interest. It contains reports on several controversial sermons preached by Mr. Murphy, and the reaction to them. One of these sermons voiced his belief that the Negro race in America was physically deteriorating and that soon the progressive blacks would return to Africa and those remaining would become extinct. Several dissenters responded to reports of this theory. Also in the clippings folder is genealogical information concerning the Falk and Murphy families.
