| Repository: | Western Reserve Historical Society |
| Creator: | John P. Murphy Foundation |
| Title: | John P. Murphy Foundation Records |
| Dates: | 1972-1986 |
| Extent: | 1.20 linear feet (2 containers) |
| Abstract: | The John P. Murphy Foundation is a charitable foundation established in 1960, which received most of the $13 mil estate of John Patrick Murphy, a Minnesota and Montana railroad lawyer who came to Cleveland, Ohio in 1920 as lawyer for the Van Sweringen brothers, builders of Cleveland's Terminal Tower. Murphy represented the Van Sweringen brothers in their development of real-estate interests, railroads, and the Cleveland Union Terminal on Public Square from 1920-37, and was named executor of the Van Sweringen estate after the deaths of the brothers. Murphy took over the Van Sweringens controlling interest in the Higbee Company, and became president in 1944 and chairman of the board in 1968. The foundation supports primarily local projects in the area of secondary and higher Catholic education, music, hospitals, and the Community Fund. Frank E. Joseph, Murphy's personal attorney, served as president of the foundation in 1985. The collection consists of minutes, financial records, grant proposals, correspondence, and information regarding the foundation's connection with the Higbee Company. In addition, there are Higbee Company records, including financial records, minutes, reports, notices of stockholders meetings, and some correspondence. The collection contains little background information on the projects funded. |
| MS Number | MS 4207 |
| Location: | closed stacks |
| Language: | The records are in English |
The John P. Murphy Foundation (f. 1960) was organized by John Patrick Murphy (1887-1969), a native of Westboro, Massachusetts, who came to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1920 to serve as the lawyer for the Van Sweringen brothers. Murphy was appointed executor of their estate and, after their deaths, took over their interest in the Higbee Company with his partner Charles Bradley. When Murphy died, this interest along with most of his $13 million estate went into the foundation. The primary interests of the foundation include Catholic education, both secondary and higher, medicine, music, and the Community fund. In 1985, Murphy's former attorney, Frank E. Joseph, was president of the foundation.
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the John P. Murphy Foundation
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for John P. Murphy
The John P. Murphy Foundation Records, 1972-1986, consist of minutes, financial records, grant proposals, correspondence, information about the foundation's connection with the Higbee Company, and Higbee Company records.
This collection is useful for anyone interested in the activities of the John P. Murphy Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, during the early 1980s and the groups they funded, which are listed in the very thorough financial records of the foundation. Except for the organizations mentioned in the inventory, however, the material includes no information about the organizations funded other than listing them by name. The collection is also useful for anyone interested in the finances of the Higbee Company during the same period.
None (previous restriction lifted in 1995).
Related MaterialResearchers should also consult MS 4681 John P. Murphy Foundation Records, Series II.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4207 John P. Murphy Foundation Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
John P. Murphy Foundation, 1986 and 1987.
Processed by Richard Hite in 1988.
Series I: Foundation Records 1978-1986 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1-3 | Minutes, Board of Trustees 1979-1984 | |||||||||
| 1 | 4-5 | Financial records, (The financial records include listings of funded organizations) 1980-1982 | |||||||||
| 1 | 6 | Financial records, audited financial statements 1979-1981 1983 | |||||||||
| 1 | 7-8 | Financial records, statements 1980 | |||||||||
| 1 | 9-12 | Financial records, transaction statements 1982-1985 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13-14 | Financial records, review of securities 1980-1981 1983 | |||||||||
| 1 | 15 | Financial records, tax returns 1978-1982 | |||||||||
| 1 | 16 | Grant proposals, Cleveland Heritage Center 1980-1981 | |||||||||
| 1 | 17 | Grant proposals, Interdistrict High School Currriculum Outlines, Phase I: Feasibility Study Project 1983 | |||||||||
| 1 | 18-20 | Correspondence 1980-1986 | |||||||||
| 1 | 21 | "Investment Duties Relating to Holding of Common of Stock of the Higbee Company" 1984 | |||||||||
Series II: Higbee Company Records 1972-1984 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 22 | Reference manual, Board of Directors 1974 | |||||||||
| 1 | 23-24 | Minutes, Board of Directors 1980-1984 | |||||||||
| 1 | 25 | Annual reports 1979-1981 | |||||||||
| 1 | 26 | Annual reports, Securities and Exchange Commission 1980 | |||||||||
| 1 | 27 | Notices of stockholders' meetings 1979 1981 | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 28-30 | Financial records, statements of financial condition 1980-1983 | |||||||||
| 2 | 31 | Financial records, audited consolidated financial statement 1980 | |||||||||
| 2 | 32 | Financial records, consolidated balance sheets 1983 | |||||||||
| 2 | 33 | Financial records, securities 1972 | |||||||||
| 2 | 34 | Correspondence 1980-1983 | |||||||||