Murray family

Reference code: HOYFM.ACL2024.57
Level of description: Fonds
Title: Murray family
Scope and content: Material from the Murray family, originally from County Monaghan, emigrated to Belfast around the turn of the 20th century. The family was Irish Catholic from the religious material present. The head of the family was John Murray, who came to own a Wine and Spirits Merchants on Peter’s Hill, Belfast. His daughters (Catherine and Eileen) went to St. Dominic’s Catholic Girls School, and Catherine graduated from Queen’s University shortly after. This collection shows the interesting social history of Irish Catholic families moving into urbanised areas from the countryside and this specific family’s climb up the socio-economic ladder. Contents: The Irish News, Belfast Morning News July 25th, 1904 issue; People’s Advocate And Monaghan, Fermanagh and Tyrone News, June 18th/ August 8th, 1898 and June 6th, 1896 issues, one containing the address of J. Murray in Belfast; a photographic print of a man on card (1897); miscellaneous, blank postcards of a man and elderly woman (late 19th century); a religious card with a small calendar affixed, inscribed ‘from Mary’ (1929); a newspaper fragment concerning St. Dominic’s High School, Belfast, examination results (June, 1929); a Christmas card to Charlie from his mother; an obituary for Dr. Kane; National Health Insurance Stamps; Queen's University Belfast Ashbourne Cup Tournament Programme 1935; a Christmas card with religious emblems; photographs of a woman and a child, a couple in a garden, men in a field, and men as a band in the street; Irish Catholic Ltd. Belfast Calendars depicting religious scenes (1915/16, 1921, 1925/26); a religious hanging emblem concerning 100 days of indulgence (1877); ‘Sacred Heart of Jesus’ prayer cards; ‘The Eucharistic League booklet’; St. Elizabeth of Hungary: The Miracle of the Roses card; ‘A Pilgrim of Eternity,’ the story of a Unitarian Minister’; a book on hydrometers; optician’s envelope with glasses for John Murrary (1926); J. Murray business cards; blank Samuel Allsopp & Sons Ltd. letter templates; a complete hydrometer from P. Stevenson’s shop in Edinburgh; licensing transfer newspaper clipping featuring John Murray; a merchant’s receipt for James Ross Woollen Merchant (1899); a good wish card to Kathleen from K. Gallagher; a newspaper clipping specifically about Murray’s alcohol license transfer; The Bank Buildings Belfast Receipt; a Marcus Ward’s Concise Diary (only filled out for one day); Popular Instructions on Marriage by the Catholic Family Library of New York (early 20th century); The Diamond Garden of the Soul, a selection of prayers for congregational use; a typescript attestation of Miss Catherine Murray’s obtaining of a Bachelor's in the Arts (1934); a memorandum letter from the Northern Irish Ministry of Education to Catherine Murray concerning interviewing for a course at St. Mary’s Training College (1935); John Murray’s Stock Book; a large print of Jesus Christ; prints of the Last Supper, Madonna and Child, and a saint; John Murray’s shirt cuff; ‘The Homeless Child issue March 1933-34, containing cover art of Saint Patrick; examination piano grades for Margret Murray (1923-26); various St. Dominic’s Merited Distinction Certificates for Kathleen and Eileen Murray (late 1930s); miscellaneous empty envelopes, one from the surveyor of taxes, Inland Revenue; a postcard addressed to Katherine concerning travel (1937); a blank, souvenir postcard containing an image of the Coronation Stone; Holy Cross School invitation to a programme; a paper examination on ‘Religious Knowledge’ (1926); a map of the globe exercise with a wave station guide affixed on the back; various empty envelopes addressed to John Murray; three Christmas cards from John Greyston and Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Donaghy (1920s); miscellaneous payment sheets; cost and strength of spirits table (1897); August calendar page (1916); an H.M. Customs sheet (1916); a receipt from Owen Crilly, wine and spirit merchant (1893); various good attestations of John Murray’s employment in bars (1890s); four post office telegraphs to John Murray (1903); a letter from Murray to Major Gen. E.P. Leach of Victoria Barracks concerning the ‘Gin Palace’ being put ‘out of bounds’ (1903); a cheque for £350; a letter and cheque for £104 in payment of war stock to A.E. Murray in 1925 from Morell & Johnston; a blank cheque from the National Bank; a Harris Rundle Opticians receipt (1939); Insurance Company payments (1924); a Belfast Savings Bank booklet; a fire policy Commercial Union Assurance Company Ltd. pack insuring Murray’s Wine and Spirits Merchants for £5,200 (1921); a receipt from E.L. Kennedy Solicitors (1904?); a receipt to E.H. Oakman, auctioneer/ insurance agent (1904); ‘The London and Lancashire Insurance Company Ltd. insurance receipt (1911); C. Murphy Auctioneer receipt (1925); Robert Tracey Building Contractor receipt (1947); miscellaneous insurance premium; birth certificates; burial certificate for John Murray in 1952; correspondence from Lardner Solicitors concerning the purchase of Mr. Martin’s farm in Monaghan (1919); correspondence from Francis McKenna concerning buying a house in Monaghan (1907).