creator:

Murphy, Zoe R.

title:

Papers

dates:

1899-1983, n.d.

extent:

1.68 linear feet (3 document boxes and 2 half-document boxes)

collection number:

MS 162

repository:

Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

access

Open for research

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Zoe R. Murphy, Papers, MS 162, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Biographical note

Zoe R. Murphy was born at West Bend, Iowa, and grew up on a farm in northern Minnesota.  She attended North Dakota State Teachers College, Fargo, North Dakota; took nurses training at Walter Reed Army Hospital, Washington, D. C.; attended George Washington University, Washington, D. C., for a year and attended Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, for a year.  For two years she taught school in Minnesota.  In 1923 she married Donald R. Murphy.

In 1936 Mrs. Murphy joined the staff of Wallace’s Farmer as Homemaking Editor in which capacity she supervised homemaking copy; wrote three to four lead articles per year; ran the State Fair booth; handled the Rural Teacher Award and traveled extensively throughout the state to meet with homemakers and 4-H groups.  In the 1940s she established the annual Master Homemaker Award; helped organize the National Farm Home Editors Association in 1947 and became president in 1958.  She was an active volunteer in community affairs such as the First Baptist Church, Des Moines, Iowa; the Polk County Mental Health Association, Iowa State Library Board and Civil Liberties Union.  She retired in 1974.

This collection (1899-1983, n.d.) contains biographical information, correspondence, printed matter, and material related to Master Farm Homemakers and to the Rural Teacher of the Year Award sponsored by Wallace’s Farmer and the National Education Association.  The printed matter includes bulletins and pamphlets of recipes and information of interest to homemakers.