Joseph D. Murphy Papers

Collection

Identifier: WUA-03-wua00507

Staff Only

Joseph D. Murphy

A sketch of John M. Olin Library by architects Joseph D. Murphy and Eugene Mackey, spring 1956

The Joseph. D. Murphy (JDM) Papers consists of Murphy’s architectural, teaching, research, personal, and other professional and business material. It includes architectural documents and drawings from his time as a student at Ecole des Beaux Arts and his time at Murphy & Mackey. Also included is work Murphy did for the St. Louis City Planning Commission, as a member of the Architectural Institute of America, and as a professor at Washington University. Materials include but are not limited to architectural drawings, sketches, correspondence, conference agendas, transcribed speeches and notes, photographs, newspaper clippings, articles, books, and various business and professional reports and material.

Notable architectural projects included in the collection are the Climatron, Muny, Olin Library, and Resurrection Church.

To differentiate between original folder titles and archivist provided folder titles two symbols were used. Original folder titles are enclosed in quotation marks (“”). Archivist provided titles are enclosed in square brackets ([]). Folders with brackets also include a note that the title was created by an archivist in the scope and contents.

Dates

Creation: 1909-2007

Creator

Murphy, Joseph D. (Joseph Denis), 1907-1995 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open

Conditions Governing Use

Users of the collection must read and agree to abide by the rules and procedures set forth in the Materials Use Policies..

Providing access to materials does not constitute permission to publish or otherwise authorize use. All publication not covered by fair use or other exceptions is restricted to those who have permission of the copyright holder, which may or may not be Washington University.

If you wish to publish or license Special Collections materials, please contact Special Collections to inquire about copyright status at (314) 935-5495 or spec@wumail.wustl.edu. (Publish means quotation in whole or in part in seminar or term papers, theses or dissertations, journal articles, monographs, books, digital forms, photographs, images, dramatic presentations, transcriptions, or any other form prepared for a limited or general public.)

Extent

36 linear feet (Also includes 3 flat file drawers.)

34 boxes

Additional Description

Biographical Note

A prominent architect in St. Louis, Joseph D. Murphy (JDM) taught architecture at Washington University starting in 1935 and also served as dean of the School of Architecture. Alongside his work with the St. Louis City Planning Commission, he formed a partnership with fellow architect Eugene Mackey in the 1950s. He was the president of the St. Louis American Institute of Architects (AIA) chapter in 1951. His projects in St. Louis include the Muny, the Climatron, the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, as well as several churches including Resurrection Church. He was the official architect of the Basilica of St. Louis and oversaw the seven year exterior renovation program in the 1960s. He also designed John M. Olin Library at Washington University.

Buildings JDM worked on include but are not limited to: • Bishop DuBourg High School (St. Louis, Missouri) • Carr Square Housing (St. Louis, Missouri) • Climatron, Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis, Missouri) • Faith Hospital (St. Louis, Missouri) • Fontbonne College, Dormitory Building (Clayton, Missouri) • Granite City Housing (Granite City, Illinois) • Helias High School (Jefferson City, Missouri) • Memorial Fountain at “Jewel Box” (Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri) • Municipal Opera (St. Louis, Missouri) • Olin Library, Washington University (Clayton, Missouri) • Pilgrim Congregational Church (St. Louis, Missouri) • Resurrection Church (St. Louis, Missouri) • St. Ann’s Church (Normandy, Missouri) • St. Gregory’s School (St. Louis County, Missouri) • St. Louis Art Museum (St. Louis, Missouri) • St. Louis County Medical Building (Clayton, Missouri) • St. Louis County Water Company, Office and Maintenance Building (University City, Missouri) • St. Patrick’s Church (University City, Missouri) • St. Patrick’s School (University City, Missouri) • St. Peter’s Church (Kirkwood, Missouri)