Clyde F. Murphy Papers, 1897-1946
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Murphy, Clyde F., 1899-1946
- Title
- Clyde F. Murphy Papers
- Dates
- 1897-1946 (inclusive)18971946
- Quantity
- 1.5 linear feet
- Collection Number
- Mss 285 (collection)
- Summary
- Clyde Murphy was a Montana attorney who retired to write. The collection consists mainly of his research on Montana mining in the 1890s and an original manuscript and typescript of The Glittering Hill..
- Repository
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University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu - Access Restrictions
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Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical Note
Clyde Francis Murphy was born on Oct. 3, 1899 in Great Falls, Montana. He grew up in Great Falls and then moved to Anaconda, Montana, in 1911. His father, Charles F. Murphy, worked for the Great Northern Railroad. From 1909 to 1911 Charles Murphy served as the mayor of Great Falls. He then became superintendent of the Butte, Anaconda, and Pacific Railroad. Charles Murphy also served in the Montana state legislature until his death in 1935. Clyde Murphy graduated from high school in Anaconda and then joined the U.S. Navy in 1917, serving in the hospital corps. In the course of his transport duties he crossed the Atlantic nine times. He was honorably discharged in Sept. 1919. He then enrolled at Montana State University (now the University of Montana at Missoula) and received his law degree in 1923, and was admitted to the Montana bar that same year. He married Kathryn Donohue of Missoula, Montana, and they moved to California. He practiced law in Hollywood, California, for seventeen years at the firm of Page, Nolan, Rohe & Hurt as a trial lawyer. In 1939 he retired to write.
He is best known for his book The Glittering Hill, a fictional history about Irish copper miners in Butte, Montana, in the 1890s. He also wrote poetry, and was working on a second book about mining life in Helena, Montana when he died. The Glittering Hill was first published in 1944 by E. P. Dutton & Co., and it won the first Lewis and Clark Northwest contest for a prize worth $1,500. In 1945 Sam Jaffe and director Lloyd Bacon bought the movie rights to the book for $75,000. They had cast Humphrey Bogart in the leading role as Nick Stryker, but could not sign him to play the part.
Mr. Murphy passed away in 1946 in California. He was a member of the Eugene Field Society of Authors, the Allied Post of the American Legion, the Los Angeles Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Authors Club of Hollywood.
Content Description
This collection is in three boxes that hold three volumes of clippings and research, one newspaper, fourteen folders, and one photograph. This collection includes research on Montana mining in the 1890s and an original manuscript and typescript of The Glittering Hill. There are also revised chapters One and Two of The Glittering Hill. This collection also includes Clyde Murphy's research notes, correspondence, criticism and publicity (ads and reviews) for the book from 1943-45. Also included is a newspaper, Quinn's Review printed in Butte, Montana, in Aug. 1897. This collection also includes a typescript of You Can't Take It With You, the book Mr. Murphy was working on when he died. There is also a collection of Mr. Murphy's various speeches and writings. The photograph is of the Murphy family in Mexico.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Use
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.
Preferred Citation
[Name of document or photograph number], Clyde Francis Murphy Papers, Archives and Special Collections, The University of Montana--Missoula.
Administrative Information
Arrangement
The collection is divided into eight series:
Series I: Research Notes for The Glittering Hill, 1 folder, 1939-1942
Series II: Publicity, Criticism, Reviews, and Newspaper Commentary on The Glittering Hill, 2 folders, 1943-1945
Series III: Original Typescript for The Glittering Hill, 5 folders, 1942
Series IV: Speeches and Writings, 3 folders, 1943-1945
Series V: Photograph, 1 folder, undated
Series VI: 6: Original manuscripts of Glittering Hill - In the process of revision, 4 folders, 1939-1942
Series VII: Typescript of You Can't Take it With You, 1 folder, 1945-1946
Series VIII: Newspaper, Quinn's Review, 1 folder, 1897
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Series I: Research Notes for The Glittering Hill, 1939-1942
1 folderResearch on Montana mining and politics in the 1890s, compiled by Clyde F. Murphy for his book. Mr. Murphy's research includes a large text that covers, among other things, placer mining, primitive mining machinery, the Marysville, Montana, mining camp, Mr. Thomas Cruse, the Drum Lummon Mine, and Montana politics in the 1890s.
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Description: Research on mining, Montana politics of the 1890sDates: 1939-1942Container: Box/Folder 1/1
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Series II: Publicity, Criticism, Reviews, and Newspaper Commentary on The Glittering Hill, 1943-1945
2 foldersSeries Scope Notes : Glittering Hill publicity, criticism, reviews, and newspaper commentary from national sources, 1943-1945. Many of the ads and reviews of the book are brief newspaper clippings praising the book or announcing that it had won the first Lewis and Clark contest. Most of the reviews are very favorable and highly recommend the book. The correspondence includes many letters to and from Mr. Murphy during 1943-1946, mostly concerning the book. Often in his correspondence about the book, he was responding to inquiries and emphasizing that the book is fictional, and while none of the characters are historical persons, the events depicted could have happened. In one personal letter, he gave his family background, how he came to write the book, and explained how difficult the process was.
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Description: Newspaper Reviews and criticism of The Glittering HillDates: 1944-1945Container: Box/Folder 1/2
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Description: Publicity on The Glittering HillDates: 1943-1945Container: Box/Folder 1/3
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Series III: Original Typescript for The Glittering Hill, 1942
5 foldersOriginal typescript of the Glittering Hill, almost 500 pages long. This includes Mr. Murphy's liner notes, comments, and possible changes as he was writing. There are also explanatory outlines and notes on each chapter.
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Description: Typescript of The Glittering HillDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 2/1
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Description: Typescript of The Glittering HillDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 2/2
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Description: Typescript of The Glittering HillDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 2/3
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Description: Typescript of The Glittering HillDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 2/4
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Description: Typescript of The Glittering HillDates: 1942Container: Box/Folder 2/5
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Series IV: Speeches and Writings, 1943-1945
3 foldersA collection of various titled and untitled writings Mr. Murphy had written or was working on, as well as speeches he wrote for public events.
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Description: Explanatory outlines and notesDates: 1943-1945Container: Box/Folder 3/1
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Description: Speeches and writingsDates: 1943-1945Container: Box/Folder 3/2
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Description: Speeches and writingsDates: 1943-1945Container: Box/Folder 3/3
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Series V: Photograph, undated
1 folderPhotograph of the Murphy family in Tijuana, Mexico, undated
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Description: 285(V):1: Murphy family in Tijuana, MexicoDates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 3/4
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Series VI: Original manuscripts of Glittering Hill - In the process of revision, 1939-1942
4 foldersOriginal manuscript of Glittering Hill, in the process of revision. Original and revised chapters One and Two.
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Description: Chapters 1 & 2Dates: 1939-1942Container: Box/Folder 3/5
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Description: Original Ch. 1 & 2Dates: 1939-1942Container: Box/Folder 3/6
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Description: Revised Ch. 1Dates: 1939-1942Container: Box/Folder 3/7
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Description: Original Ch. 2Dates: 1939-1942Container: Box/Folder 3/8
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Series VII: Typescript of You Can't Take it With You, 1945-1946
1 folderTypescript of - You Can't Take It with You. This is the book Mr. Murphy was planning on publishing after the Glittering Hill. He was working on it when he died. It was also about mining in Montana.
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Description: Typescript of You Can't Take it With YouDates: 1945-1946Container: Box/Folder 3/9
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Series VIII: Newspaper, Quinn's Review, 1897
1 folderThis Butte, Montana, newspaper was collected as research material for The Glittering Hill. The lead article is about the corruption of a former Montana Senator Hanna, who was running for office in Ohio.
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Description: Newspaper, Quinn's Review printed in Butte, MontanaDates: 1897Container: Box/Folder 3/10
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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Copper miners--Montana--Butte--Fiction
- Irish Americans--Montana--Butte--Fiction
- Mines and mineral resources--Montana--Helena--Fiction
Corporate Names
- University of Montana--Missoula--Alumni and alumnae
Geographical Names
- Butte (Mont.)--Fiction
- Butte (Mont.)--Newspapers
- Helena (Mont.)--Fiction
Form or Genre Terms
- Novels
- Photographs
Occupations
- Authors, American--California--Los Angeles
Other Creators
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Personal Names
- Murphy, Clyde F., b. 1899. Glittering hill
- Murphy, Clyde F., b. 1899. You can't take it with you
