W.J. and The Valley: The Story of W.J. Murphy and His Part in Developing the Salt River Valley in Arizona

Summary

Among the papers left by William John Murphy and his wife, Laura Fulwiler Murphy, were some 500 letters and other papers. Ralph Murphy recalling on his own memory, wrote a book that he hoped to get published through commercial channels. The author's agent that he dealt with insisted that his manuscript was too dull and urged him to make it more dramatic. This he attempted in a revision which he called W. J., which never got beyond the manuscript form.

There is a store of information about W. J.'s activities in the development of the Salt River Valley, the candid statements of personal letters about what took place. The letters were written while W. J. was away from home. Those written by his wife Laura are especially full of detailed news of what was taking place, the very things the absent W. J. wanted to know. The information in the letters have been supplemented and confirmed by accounts in early newspapers. To a limited extent they have been also relied on family tradition.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Salt River Project Digital Library

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Salt River Project Cultural Resource Manager

Repository(s): Salt River Project, Tempe, AZ

Prepared By(s): Merwin L. Murphy

Record Identifiers

SRP Catalog No.(s): 3A.182 43123

SRP Library Call No.(s): F817.S2M8x 1975

SRP Library Barcode No.(s): 00030723

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