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James Murphy (architect)

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James Murphy
St. Patrick's, Norwich (1873)
St. Patrick's, Norwich (1873)
Born 1834
County Tipperary, Ireland
Died 1907 (aged 72–73)
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Known for Architect of at least 45 catholic churches

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.

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.[1]

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.[2] 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.

In 1870, Murphy joined the American Institute of Architects, and was elevated to Fellowship in 1885.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

Architectural works

Churches

Other buildings

See also

References

  1. Back to citation Dudac, Yvette (2023-11-30). "James Murphy (1834-1907) Following In Patrick Keely's Footsteps". CLA. Retrieved 2025-07-11.
  2. Back to citation St. Patrick's (accessed 17 January 2011)
  3. Back to citation James Murphy, AIA Historical Directory of American Architects.
  4. Back to citation RIHS, Murphy, Hindle and Wright Architects Records (Accessed 17 January 2011)
  5. Back to citation Dr. Kevin F. Decker, Department of History, State University of New York at Plattsburgh
  6. Back to citation Hobard, Benjamin. History of the Town of Abington. 1866.
  7. Back to citation Shand-Tucci, Paul Douglass. The Gothic Churches of Dorchester. 1973.
  8. Back to citation Woodward, William McKenzie. Providence: A Citywide Survey of Historic Resources. 1986.
  9. Back to citation Lord, Robert H., John E. Sexton, and Edward T. Harrington. History of the Archdiocese of Boston in the Various Stages of its Development. 1944.
  10. Back to citation History of the Catholic Church in the New England States. 1899.
  11. Back to citation "Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, Norwalk (1870)". historicbuildingsct.com. 25 Dec. 2014.
  12. Back to citation "Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  13. Back to citation Saint Michael's Roman Catholic Church Complex NRHP Nomination. 1975.
  14. Back to citation "History". http://www.olmparish.org/. 2012.
  15. Back to citation "Saint Bernard's Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  16. Back to citation "Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  17. Back to citation Brown, Elizabeth Mills. New Haven: A Guide to Architecture and Urban Design. 1976.
  18. Back to citation History of the Catholic Church in the New England States. 1899.
  19. Back to citation "Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  20. Back to citation Hurd, D. Hamilton. History of Essex County, Massachusetts. 1888.
  21. Back to citation Conley, Patrick T. and Matthew J. Smith. Catholicism in Rhode Island: The Formative Era. 1976.
  22. Back to citation Greene, Welcome Arnold. The Providence Plantations for 250 Years. 1886.
  23. Back to citation Slatersville Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1973.
  24. Back to citation "Our Lady Help of Christians Historic District" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  25. Back to citation History of the Catholic Church in the New England States. 1899.
  26. Back to citation Staley, Patricia F. Norwich in the Gilded Age: The Rose City's Millionaires' Triangle. 2014.
  27. Back to citation History of the Catholic Church in the New England States. 1899.
  28. Back to citation "Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  29. Back to citation "Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  30. Back to citation History of the Catholic Church in the New England States. 1899.
  31. Back to citation History of the Catholic Church in the New England States. 1899.
  32. Back to citation Gagliardi, Ron. Images of America: Naugatuck Revisited. 2004.
  33. Back to citation Lockwood, John H. Westfield and Its Historic Influences, 1669-1919: The Life of an Early Town. 1922.
  34. Back to citation Cooke, Rollin H. Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Berkshire County, Massachusetts. 1906.
  35. Back to citation "Saint Louis Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  36. Back to citation Sanitary Engineer 17 Sept. 1885: 316.
  37. Back to citation Engineering and Building Record 10 Dec. 1887: 31.
  38. Back to citation "Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  39. Back to citation Holy Trinity Church Complex NRHP Nomination. 1978.
  40. Back to citation Woodward, William McKenzie. Providence: A Citywide Survey of Historic Resources. 1986.
  41. Back to citation Norton, Paul F. Rhode Island Stained Glass An Historical Guide. 2001.
  42. Back to citation Engineering and Building Record 26 Oct. 1889: 311.
  43. Back to citation "St. Joseph's Church and Parish," Providence Journal, April 27, 1890, 7.
  44. Back to citation Historic Lewiston: A Self-guided Tour of Our History, Architecture and Culture. 2001.
  45. Back to citation "Saint Edward's Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  46. Back to citation "Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Church" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  47. Back to citation Woodward, William McKenzie. Providence: A Citywide Survey of Historic Resources. 1986.
  48. Back to citation History of the Catholic Church in the New England States. 1899.
  49. Back to citation History of the Catholic Church in the New England States. 1899.
  50. Back to citation American Architect and Building News 9 Aug. 1902: x.
  51. Back to citation Slatersville Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1973.
  52. Back to citation Donahoe's Magazine 1 Sept. 1881: 280.
  53. Back to citation "Saint Bernard's Roman Catholic Rectory" http://mhc-macris.net/. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Web.
  54. Back to citation Cady, John Hutchins. The Civic and Architectural Development of Providence, 1636-1950. 1957.
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