William W. Murrey Papers
Collection
Identifier: Mss 60
Scope and Content
The William R. Murrey Papers consist of correspondence, his weekly reports to the AFL-CIO, and
various subject files.
The Correspondence Series covers the period 1935 to 1963, but is very scattered. It is all business correspondence concerning labor matters including several labor disputes. The weekly reports cover the period 1958 to 1963 with several gaps. They are AFL-CIO forms which Mr. Murrey completed documenting his weekly activities and expenses. They help give a good summary of his daily business activities.
The Subject Files Series contain a wide variety of material related to labor in North Dakota. There is a copy of an injunction involving the dairy truck drives strike of 1934/35 in Fargo; and 1961 legal documents concerning the placing of branch union labels on state publications. The next file contains a nineteen page copy of Frank J. Jestrab's Labor Constitutional Sections and Statutes of the State of North Dakota existing in and prior to the year 1920.
The Labor Disputes Board Files contains meeting minutes of August 21, 1958 concerning the case of Parker Hotels and Union 632 and a minority report on the case by Harold M. Olson; a list of boards appointed by the governor from 1953 to 1959; and a list of what the Board can and cannot do.
The Senate Bill No. 64 (1951) concerns changes in the state printing laws and the use of the local International Typographical Union label on certain classes of printing done. The Medical Center Advisory Council file contains two appointments of Mr. Murrey by Governors Brunsdale and Davis. Mr. Murrey was also a member of the Governor's Special Committee to Study Labor Laws which was established by authority of the 1959 North Dakota Legislature. The files include a copy of its August 5, 1960 meeting minutes and Charles Crum's 87-page research report to the Committee, Report on Methods of Handling Labor Relations in States Comparable to North Dakota.
The Correspondence Series covers the period 1935 to 1963, but is very scattered. It is all business correspondence concerning labor matters including several labor disputes. The weekly reports cover the period 1958 to 1963 with several gaps. They are AFL-CIO forms which Mr. Murrey completed documenting his weekly activities and expenses. They help give a good summary of his daily business activities.
The Subject Files Series contain a wide variety of material related to labor in North Dakota. There is a copy of an injunction involving the dairy truck drives strike of 1934/35 in Fargo; and 1961 legal documents concerning the placing of branch union labels on state publications. The next file contains a nineteen page copy of Frank J. Jestrab's Labor Constitutional Sections and Statutes of the State of North Dakota existing in and prior to the year 1920.
The Labor Disputes Board Files contains meeting minutes of August 21, 1958 concerning the case of Parker Hotels and Union 632 and a minority report on the case by Harold M. Olson; a list of boards appointed by the governor from 1953 to 1959; and a list of what the Board can and cannot do.
The Senate Bill No. 64 (1951) concerns changes in the state printing laws and the use of the local International Typographical Union label on certain classes of printing done. The Medical Center Advisory Council file contains two appointments of Mr. Murrey by Governors Brunsdale and Davis. Mr. Murrey was also a member of the Governor's Special Committee to Study Labor Laws which was established by authority of the 1959 North Dakota Legislature. The files include a copy of its August 5, 1960 meeting minutes and Charles Crum's 87-page research report to the Committee, Report on Methods of Handling Labor Relations in States Comparable to North Dakota.
Dates
- 1935-1963.
Creator
- Murrey, William W., 1886-1967. (Person)
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection are not held by the NDSU Archives.
Biography
William W. Murrey was born at Burkley, Iowa on May 17, 1886. The family later lived at Minneapolis, and Barnesville Minnesota, and Hickson, North Dakota. In 1913 he married Stella Hatlestad at Hickson. She was the daughter of Amund and Ida (Bidne) Hatlestad who were area farmers. The couple farmed for several years at Hickson before moving to Minot where Mr. Murrey worked in the railroad machine shops. In 1917 they moved to Fargo where he worked for Northern State Power, returning to railroad
work in 1922. Later employment included as a plumber, steam fitter, and labor supervisor on WPA projects. He also served on the Cass County Welfare Board and was a census director for North Dakota
for many years.
Mr. Murrey was most active in the labor movement which dates back to his family going broke while farming near Hickson. In addition to other posts, Mr. Murrey headed the Fargo-Moorhead Trades and Labor Assembly. In 1935 he was elected president of the North Dakota State Federation of Labor, a post he held until being defeated in 1963. He also served on the North Dakota Medical Center Advisory Council, North Dakota Labor Disputes Board, a Special Committee to Study Labor Laws, and on the National Democratic Committee. In 1966 he was honored for his promotion of U.S. Savings Bonds for twenty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Murrey had six children of whom four survived him. Mr. Murrey died September 18, 1967 in Fargo.
Mr. Murrey was most active in the labor movement which dates back to his family going broke while farming near Hickson. In addition to other posts, Mr. Murrey headed the Fargo-Moorhead Trades and Labor Assembly. In 1935 he was elected president of the North Dakota State Federation of Labor, a post he held until being defeated in 1963. He also served on the North Dakota Medical Center Advisory Council, North Dakota Labor Disputes Board, a Special Committee to Study Labor Laws, and on the National Democratic Committee. In 1966 he was honored for his promotion of U.S. Savings Bonds for twenty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Murrey had six children of whom four survived him. Mr. Murrey died September 18, 1967 in Fargo.
Extent
.4 Linear Feet (.4 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Labor supervisor on WPA projects and later head of the Fargo-Moorhead Trades and Labor Assembly.
Provenance
Donated by Claudia Stiedsman, 1967 (Acc. 1485)
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Industrial relations -- North Dakota.
- Labor disputes -- North Dakota.
- Labor laws and legislation -- North Dakota.
- Labor movement -- North Dakota.
- Labor unions -- North Dakota.
- Murrey, William W., 1886-1967.
- North Dakota AFL-CIO.
- North Dakota Labor Disputes Board.
- North Dakota State Federation of Labor.
Creator
- Murrey, William W., 1886-1967. (Person)
- Jestrab, Frank F. (Person)
- Crum, Charles. (Person)
- Title
- Finding Aid to the William W. Murrey Papers
- Description rules
- Appm
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu