Donald A. Murray papers

Collection

Identifier: MC 74

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Donald A. Murray's diary detailed his life at the college and college happenings. The diary covers a variety of topics, all of which are noted on the outside of the individual boxes the diary is kept in. A few notable topics are as follows: the development of the Beloit Plan, development of an underclassmen common course, department hiring, his seminars, the resignation of Miller Upton, the college's financial problems, and the beginning of Martha Peterson's presidency.

This collection consists entirely of his diary, with a small folder of articles that were found in his diary. The College Archives has transcriptions of many of the diaries available.

Dates

1962-1977

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research; however, certain materials are fragile and require Archives staff for handling, or use may be restricted altogether.

Biographical / Historical

Donald Alan Murray (1912-1977) was a professor and long-time chairman of the Department of Modern Languages at Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin. He held degrees from Dartmouth College (BA, 1933), Harvard University (MA, 1935), and Stanford University (PhD, 1952). During WWII he served as a cryptographer and counter intelligence agent in the American and Pacific theaters. Don's academic work focused on comparative Romance languages and literatures, in particular the Spanish Golden Age and the figure of Don Juan across European literature. He translated numerous works from Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese.

Extent

1.21 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Donald A. Murray was a professor of Modern Languages, teaching French and Spanish seminars. He kept a diary for a number of years while at Beloit.

The diary itself covers a variety of topics. A few notable ones relate to the Beloit Plan, underclassmen common course, department hiring, his seminars, Miller Upton's resignation, the college's financial problems, and the beginning of Martha Peterson's presidency.

This collection consists entirely of his diary, with a small folder of articles that were found in his diary.