James Edward Murray was born in St. Thomas, Ontario, on May 3, 1876, the son of Irish immigrants. He was named after a wealthy uncle from Butte, Montana, who later financed his education at New York University Law School. He became an American citizen in New York. Upon his uncle's urging, Murray moved to Butte after graduation in 1901 to establish his legal practice. It was in Butte that Murray met and married Viola Edna Horgan, with whom he had six sons.
Murray became active in Democratic Party politics in Butte, and earned the party votes by working for a time alongside the miners in the copper industry. After inheriting a sizable portion of his uncle's fortune, Murray spent most of the 1920s pursuing business interests. His considerable loss in the stock market crash of 1929 left Murray with an embittered view of eastern financiers, an attitude he would carry through his years in politics.
In 1931, Murray, the Democratic Party Chairman of Silver Bow County, became an early convert to the presidential camp of Franklin D. Roosevelt. As a result of his work on the candidate's behalf, he earned an appointment as a member of Montana's Public Works Administration Advisory Board. It was through that appointment that Murray gained first hand knowledge of Montana's drought-stricken farmers, who he would take an active interest in throughout his political career.
In 1934, Murray, with the support of a number of prominent Butte politicians, decided to seek election to the final two years remaining in the Senate term of the late Thomas J. Walsh. Murray won the election with labor support in Butte, and, riding on the political coat tails of Roosevelt and senior Montana Senator Burton K. Wheeler, Murray, at 59, began his senate career. He was an avid supporter of Roosevelt's domestic program, a loyal party man, and an isolationist in the area of foreign affairs.
Wheeler and Murray started out as political allies, but the relationship soon turned sour. One deciding factor that split their union was their differences over the president's Supreme Court packing plan. Wheeler was against it. The other main factor causing the split was Murray's transition from an anti-British isolationist to an outspoken proponent of Roosevelt's foreign policy leading to World War II. At that time, Wheeler was still an avid proponent of isolationism. The feud came to a peak during Murray's 1942 re-election bid, when Wheeler openly tried to undercut Murray's bid in the Democratic primary. The two senators attacked each other on statewide radio. Murray won the election by an extremely narrow margin, and returned to Washington, D.C.
During the war Murray became an avid supporter of small business, and Murray's resolution created the Senate's Special Committee on Small Business, with him as the committee's first chairman. He used his influence in the committee to introduce bills designed to assist America's small businesses, securing for them highly sought after military contracts. At the close of the war, Murray's prime concern was the loss of those wartime contracts, and he drafted reconversion legislation to ease the burden on the small businesses. These legislative bills and Murray enjoyed the support of the Senate Republicans, because of America's free enterprise system.
During the Truman and Eisenhower administrations, Murray did not fare so well with the Republicans or the conservative Southern Democrats; the conservative coalition managed to thwart or alter virtually all of Murray's legislation. An example of this was the Murray sponsored bill, the Employment Act of 1946. The bill was to establish a formal system of compensatory government spending to ease the burden of the cyclical dips in the private economy, but the law that emerged from the Senate virtually eliminated that principle.
Another obstacle to Murray's political goals during the 1940s was the medical lobby who were fighting Murray's legislation to provide a nationwide system of health insurance. Physicians and drug companies, led by the American Medical Association, managed to block all of the various Murray measures that they collectively labeled "socialized medicine." Despite these opponents, other Murray sponsored bills eventually became law, such as the "Wagner-Murray-Dingell" bills which extended Social Security coverage, allowed for federal dollars for hospital construction, and provided Medicare for senior citizens.
Presidential opposition also hampered Murray's aspirations. Harry Truman and the Montana senator parted company when Truman would not support Murray's plan for the Missouri River basin. Murray wanted to throw his support behind a plan to unify Missouri basin development under jurisdiction of a single regional authority after a series of catastrophic floods. Truman allied himself with the downstream advocates of navigation and flood control, and Murray's plan lost out to Truman and the southern senators who chaired key committees and thwarted his MVA legislation.
Murray, in turn, tried to use his influence as the chairman of the Senate Labor Committee to block a number of bills designed to alter the pro-union bend of Wagner's National Labor Relations Act. In the end, he could not prevent the Republican 80th Congress from passing the Taft-Hartley Act.
Murray's unfaltering devotion to the labor workers did not go unnoticed in Montana. Murray, with the support of the miners from Butte, timber workers, the railroad brotherhoods, and scores of lesser unions, was able to defeat powerful Republican opponents in a series of narrow election victories. In the most bitter of those elections, Murray faced a powerful opponent in the state's eastern district congressman, Wesley A. D'Ewart, in 1954. Murray's advanced age became an issue. D'Ewart also accused Murray of being used as a tool of the international Communist conspiracy. The basis for these attacks came with Murray's strong advocacy of a close American-Soviet friendship during the war, along with the senator's votes against many of the post-war Communist-curbing bills. Murray still won the election.
The senator used his influence as the Senate's Interior Committee Chairman to secure western water projects that led to congressional approval and funding for large dams in Montana at Canyon Ferry on the Missouri River, Yellowtail on the Bighorn, Hungry Horse on the Flathead, and Libby on the Kootenai. With these dams, Murray was an early convert to the causes of energy conservation and environmental protection. Even in an era in which these issues were not yet popular, Murray supported numerous bills that called for environmental protection, a national system of wilderness areas, development of wind energy, and curbing air pollution.
Murray gained national attention when he sponsored bills providing for the admission of Alaska and Hawaii to the union. He also gained attention when he, along with Montana Congressman Lee Metcalf, pushed for an ambitious program designed to provide massive federal aid for public schools. The Murray-Metcalf Bill was direct precursor of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that became law several years following Murray's death.
In 1960, Murray's declining health forced him into retirement. He died four months after leaving the Senate on March 23, 1961.
The collection contains the senatorial papers of James E. Murray from 1934 until his retirement from office in 1960. The bulk of the collection consists of general correspondence while in office. The series represents state, as well as national, correspondence. The other series in the collection are legislative, speeches and writings, clippings, film, and photographs. The legislative series consists mostly of Senate bills and resolutions sponsored by Murray. The body of the speeches and writings series consists of press releases, radio and public addresses. Murray utilized the radio to speak to his constituents in Montana while working in Washington, D.C. The clippings series documents topics of interest to Murray in newspaper and journal publications.
The collection is divided into six series:
Series I: General Correspondence, 412.5 linear feet, 1918-1969
Series II: Legislation, 51.5 linear feet, 1931-1960
Series III: Speeches and Writings, 13.5 linear feet, 1934-1960
Series IV: Clippings, 5.5 linear feet, 1936-1961
Series V: Film, 9 reels, 1953-1960
Series VI: Photographs, 0.5 linear feet, 1933-1960
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.
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.
[Name of document or photograph number], James E. Murray Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
The James E. Murray family donated this collection to the University of Montana History Department in 1960. The date of transfer to the archives is unknown, but likely occurred around 1969. The processed collection was formally opened in 1989. Don Spritzer held several boxes of materials for use in his dissertation until 2000. Brian Cockhill returned materials that apparently were removed from the collection for photocopying during the 1970s.
Gifts of the James E. Murray family, 1960, Vic Reinemer, 1973 and 1978, and Don Spritzer, 2000.
The actions of the original processor are unknown. In 1998 archives staff updated the original finding aid to provide more details on folder content. Film materials were also re-associated with the collection. In 2003, several segments of materials received after transfer from the History Department were processed and integrated into the existing collection order. These materials included one folder of materials received from Brian Cockhill; two boxes of Rural Electrification Authority materials received from Don Spritzer; and seventeen files of photographs received from Vic Reinemer. In addition to the photographs from Vic Renemer, all photographs originally received during transfer from the History Department were removed from the archives general photograph collection and reintegrated into the Murray collection.
In 1998 six reels of 16-mm film were transferred to the Montana Historical Society's Lee Metcalf collection, since they primarily concerned the former Representative. In 2021, another reel of 16-mm film was transferred to the same collection.
This series consists of correspondence to Senator Murray from constituents all over the United States, and especially from Montana, as well as intergovernmental correspondence related to the constituents' issues. Murray was interested in numerous issues during his tenure in the Senate, including agriculture, foreign affairs, immigration, Indian affairs, labor, legislation, military, mining, and the Missouri Valley Authority. Public works, small business, veterans, World War II, and the Works Progress Administration were his other areas of concern.
Many of the constituent's letters to Senator Murray are requests: Many ask for support or defeat of a certain bill, or pose questions on a topic. Murray's replies document what his political, as well as private, views were. Since Murray's political career began in Montana, he was very interested in the plights of Montana farmers and ranchers. Constituents concerned with agriculture represent a large portion of the series. Murray acted as a mediator in much of the correspondence between the constituent and other parties, including a federal agency, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or another Montanan. Murray secured loans for many people through his correspondence, or just eased individuals' worries.
Another area with which Murray dealt with great passion was the success of small business, both before, during, and after World War II. Through his correspondence, Murray answered many questions and concerns that people had about small business throughout the nation. This portion of Murray's constituents was national, not just Montana based.
Murray was very interested in the plight of the Native Americans during his career in the Senate. This was another area in which Murray's constituents were not just Montana based, but national. He was concerned with the Navajo Indians as well as the Alaska tribes, but Montana's Native American remained his main priority. He dealt with both sides of the issues facing the Native Americans: Some of the correspondence deals with concerns from white constituents over land rights, while much deals with fair treatment for the Indians. Murray again acted as a mediator many times between a party in Montana and the U.S. Department of the Interior. Murray was also interested in federal Indian welfare. He was not in support of termination of Indian tribal rights during the 1940's and 1950's.
Murray went national in his concerns with labor. Murray was a member of the Senate Labor Committee, and eventually became the chair late in his career. Murray drafted the Fair Labor Standards Act, which generated much correspondence from his national constituents. He also drafted the precursor to the Full Employment Act, the Employment Act of 1946. That generated much national opinion. Murray concerned himself with national labor issues and took an active role in the mediation of strikes across America. He was very involved in the railroad strikes as well as the copper and motion picture strikes.
The Missouri Valley Authority is another major focus. The MVA was to provide support to the people of the Missouri River. In that area of correspondence, Murray collected maps, statements from other Congressmen, Senate Reports, and hearings reports. Murray received national coverage for his work in this area, which was also documented. However, this section of the papers contain less correspondence between Murray and constituents.
In this series, most of the constituent's letters and a copy of Murray's response are represented. Murray sometimes responded with a form letter, but in many cases the constituent got a unique letter addressing their concerns and problems. There are not many personal letters in this series, as much of the correspondence deals with the pressing issues of the time. Much of the correspondence in this series dealt with the support or denial of a certain bill or piece of legislation. The series is arranged alphabetically by topic.
This series documents the actions of Senator Murray during his career in the Senate from the 72nd Congress to the 86th Congress (1934-1960). Throughout the series the bills are divided into the different types used in Congress; House Resolutions, House Joint Resolutions, House Concurrent Resolutions, Senate Concurrent Resolution, Senate Resolution, Senate Joint Resolution, and Senate Bills.
Most of the bills and resolutions that Murray kept in his files were ones in which he either directly sponsored or supported. Many of the bills that Murray supported dealt with his direct interests, including small business, labor, Native Americans, Missouri Valley Authority, and agriculture. In some of his bills he asked Congress to approve money or give concessions to widows who had lost their husbands in World War II or to couples who were seeking American citizenship.
A few of the bills and resolutions that are in this series are ones with which Murray was not directly involved. These bills were either introduced by fellow Montanan congressmen Mike Mansfield, Lee Metcalf, or Burton K. Wheeler, or were issues that would help Murray in his future goals. In many of the bills and resolutions introduced later in Murray's career, Mansfield and/or Metcalf co-sponsored the bills or supported them. Metcalf and Murray were co - supporters in many Montana conservation and labor bills.
In most of the folders within the series, both the published and working copies of the bills and resolutions are included. Also included are statistical facts about the topic, especially for issues on which Murray focused his attentions, such as small business or agriculture legislation. Murray would, many times, include correspondence about the legislation that was pertinent to his decision. This correspondence included state supporters, as well as national. If the legislation went on to become law, appropriate follow-up papers are included, consisting of committee reports and booklets as well as the signed law from the president.
Murray also included his personal notes on many of the working copies of the bills and resolutions; these include everything from basic corrections to re - workings of entire sections of the legislation. The series is arranged chronologically by session of Congress and then by legislation number of the bill or resolution. Legislation numbers are further divided into House Resolutions, House Bills, House Joint Resolutions, House Concurrent Resolutions, Senate Concurrent Resolutions, Senate Resolutions, Senate Joint Resolutions, and Senate Bills.
This series consists mostly of speeches and press releases that Murray gave while in the Senate. Some speeches are Montana related, but most are national in origin. Small business, labor, World War II, and the Missouri Valley Authority are major topics that he dealt with in his speeches.
Many radio speeches are represented in the series. Murray, with the use of the radio, could talk to his home state while in Washington, D.C. Official transcripts of the different speeches are included. There are few working copies of the speeches that Murray annotated. Many of the same speeches, given on different dates, are in the series. If the speech was published in a journal or newspaper, that information is included in the file. Copies of the publication are included in several instances.
The majority of the series consists of copies of press releases that Murray sent out to the different news agencies across the United States. These releases are included with correspondence that Murray added, either to help with support of the release or for opinion. There are only a few working copies of the releases. Also in the series are copies of speeches that other senators made on the senate floor, with very few exceptions. The exceptions are speeches and writings in publications that Murray was interested in for his own agendas. Murray made television speeches later in his career; copies of those speeches are included. The topics that Murray dealt with in these years tended to be labor, conservation, or national healthcare. A copy of Murray's farewell address, given 10 May 1960, is included in the series. The series is arranged chronologically.
Murray's staff collected these clippings on topics that interested Murray. They include newspaper and magazine articles, pamphlets, surveys, and federal agency findings. Not all of the newspaper articles have documented sources. Most of the clippings do not have to do directly with Murray himself, but focus on topics of interest. The clippings are mainly from national publications, not Montana publications. The clippings that represent Montana dealt with Burton K. Wheeler, senior senator from Montana during the beginning of Murray's senatorial career. The clippings are mainly newspaper articles, but there are some from magazines. Murray has made notes on some of the articles.
The other topics on which Murray kept clippings were the Missouri Valley Authority and full employment. The clippings that Murray kept for full employment include correspondence with the Division of Press Intelligence. They include several newspapers and magazine articles from around the nation on the topic of employment. Murray was interested in this topic for the Senate Bill 380, which he sponsored in 1945. During the late 1940's and throughout the 1950's, Murray was interested in public power, especially Aero-Generators, and collected articles on the topic. The information that he collected was from surveys and findings from the Federal Power Commission. The series is arranged chronologically with alphabetical subdivisions.
This series contains nine reels of positive 16-millimeter film. It includes Murray's 1953 primary campaign speeches and reports from the 84th and 85th Congress that include Murray, Senator Mansfield and Representatives Lee Metcalf and Mr. Anderson. Films in this series have not been digitized and are not currently viewable without reproduction.
In 2021, all motion picture film reels were cleaned, cored, and rehoused for preservation purposes. Films were viewed to create content descriptions. In 2021, Reel 10 of this series was deaccessioned from the collection and tranferred to the Montana Historical Society along with 6 other reels that were not listed in the finding aid.
Black and White, 200 feet, Optical Sound
Black and White, 200 feet, Optical Sound
Black and White, 200 feet, Optical Sound
Black and White, 600 feet, Optical Sound
Black and White, 600 feet, Optical Sound
Black and White, 600 feet, Optical Sound
Black and White, 600 feet, Optical Sound
Black and White, 600 feet, Optical Sound
Black and White, 600 feet, Optical Sound
This series contains 14 files of grouped photographs and 58 individually identified photographs. The series is separated into two subseries based on the preceding distinctions. The 14 files of grouped photographs are designated as the "Projects" subseries and have been maintained in the original categories under which they were donated to the archives. Basic preservation technique was the only processing applied to these materials. The second subseries is designated as "General" and consists of James Murray photographs previously donated to the archives and processed into the general photograph collection. These photographs were reintegrated into the Murray collection and assigned individual identification numbers since their original organizational context was lost.
same as 81-11