James Murphy (architect)

James Murphy, FAIA, (1834–1907) was an Irish-American architect active in late-nineteenth- and early twentieth-century New England, who designed numerous Roman Catholic churches and related structures. He was a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

James Murphy
St. Patrick's, Norwich (1873)
Born1834
Died1907
NationalityUSA
Known forArchitect of at least 45 catholic churches

Early life and career

Murphy was born in 1834 in County Tipperary, Ireland. In 1852, he emigrated to the United States along with his brother Michael. Soon after his arrival, he entered the Brooklyn, New York firm of Patrick C. Keely as an apprentice. Keely was already an established architect specializing in ecclesiastical design. Eventually, Murphy became a partner in the firm, operating as Keely & Murphy. Murphy would later marry Keely's sister-in-law.

Architectural practice

By the mid-1860s, the duo opened a branch office in Providence, Rhode Island. In 1875, the partnership was dissolved and Murphy established his own practice.[1] Murphy continued to specialize in church design for the ever-growing number of Roman Catholic parishes during the late nineteenth century, particularly in the southern New England area of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

In the 1880s and 1890s, Murphy employed his nephew, Ambrose J. Murphy, who would later partner with Frank R. Hindle. Some time around 1900, Murphy established a new office in Boston, Massachusetts.

Personal life

James Murphy married Patrick Charles Keely's sister-in-law. Murphy had a brother, Michael Murphy, with whom he emigrated to America. The architect, Ambrose J. Murphy, was his nephew. Murphy died April 18, 1907 at the Holy Ghost Hospital (Cambridge, Massachusetts) in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[2]

Legacy

Ambrose J. Murphy continued James Murphy's firm after 1907. He entered into partnership with Frank R. Hindle to form the firm of Murphy & Hindle, which practiced architecture in Rhode Island until the 1940s. That firm also specialized in church design.[3]

Architectural works

Churches

Other buildings

See also

References

  1. St. Patrick's (accessed 17 January 2011)
  2. RIHS, Murphy, Hindle and Wright Architects Records (Accessed 17 January 2011)
  3. Dr. Kevin F. Decker, Department of History, State University of New York at Plattsburgh
  4. Hobard, Benjamin. History of the Town of Abington. 1866.
  5. Shand-Tucci, Paul Douglass. The Gothic Churches of Dorchester. 1973.
  6. Woodward, William McKenzie. Providence: A Citywide Survey of Historic Resources. 1986.
  7. Lord, Robert H., John E. Sexton, and Edward T. Harrington. History of the Archdiocese of Boston in the Various Stages of its Development. 1944.
  8. History of the Catholic Church in the New England States. 1899.
  9. "Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, Norwalk (1870)". historicbuildingsct.com. 25 Dec. 2014.
  10. "Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  11. Saint Michael's Roman Catholic Church Complex NRHP Nomination. 1975.
  12. "History". http://www.olmparish.org/. 2012.
  13. "Saint Bernard's Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  14. "Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  15. Brown, Elizabeth Mills. New Haven: A Guide to Architecture and Urban Design. 1976.
  16. History of the Catholic Church in the New England States. 1899.
  17. "Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  18. Hurd, D. Hamilton. History of Essex County, Massachusetts. 1888.
  19. Conley, Patrick T. and Matthew J. Smith. Catholicism in Rhode Island: The Formative Era. 1976.
  20. Greene, Welcome Arnold. The Providence Plantations for 250 Years. 1886.
  21. Slatersville Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1973.
  22. "Our Lady Help of Christians Historic District" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  23. History of the Catholic Church in the New England States. 1899.
  24. Staley, Patricia F. Norwich in the Gilded Age: The Rose City's Millionaires' Triangle. 2014.
  25. History of the Catholic Church in the New England States. 1899.
  26. "Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  27. "Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  28. History of the Catholic Church in the New England States. 1899.
  29. History of the Catholic Church in the New England States. 1899.
  30. Gagliardi, Ron. Images of America: Naugatuck Revisited. 2004.
  31. Lockwood, John H. Westfield and Its Historic Influences, 1669-1919: The Life of an Early Town. 1922.
  32. Cooke, Rollin H. Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Berkshire County, Massachusetts. 1906.
  33. "Saint Louis Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  34. Sanitary Engineer 17 Sept. 1885: 316.
  35. Engineering and Building Record 10 Dec. 1887: 31.
  36. "Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  37. Holy Trinity Church Complex NRHP Nomination. 1978.
  38. Woodward, William McKenzie. Providence: A Citywide Survey of Historic Resources. 1986.
  39. Norton, Paul F. Rhode Island Stained Glass An Historical Guide. 2001.
  40. Engineering and Building Record 26 Oct. 1889: 311.
  41. Historic Lewiston: A Self-guided Tour of Our History, Architecture and Culture. 2001.
  42. "Saint Edward's Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  43. "Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  44. Woodward, William McKenzie. Providence: A Citywide Survey of Historic Resources. 1986.
  45. History of the Catholic Church in the New England States. 1899.
  46. History of the Catholic Church in the New England States. 1899.
  47. American Architect and Building News 9 Aug. 1902: x.
  48. Slatersville Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1973.
  49. Donahoe's Magazine 1 Sept. 1881: 280.
  50. "Saint Bernard's Roman Catholic Rectory" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  51. Cady, John Hutchins. The Civic and Architectural Development of Providence, 1636-1950. 1957.
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