Vashti Turley Murphy
American educator and community leader (1884-1960)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lula Vashti Turley Murphy (née Turley; February 1884 – March 17, 1960) was an American educator and community leader, one of the founding members of Delta Sigma Theta, the historically black sorority.
February 1884
Vashti Turley Murphy | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | Lula Vashti Turley February 1884 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | March 17, 1960 (aged 76) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Occupation | Educator |
| Known for | One of the founders of Delta Sigma Theta |
| Spouse | Carl J. Murphy |
| Children | 5, including Elizabeth Murphy Moss |
| Relatives | Vashti Murphy McKenzie (granddaughter) |
Early life and education
Lula Vashti Turley was born in 1884, in Washington, D.C., the daughter of Hamilcar Turley and Ida H. Francis Turley.[1] Her father was a clerk in the Pension Bureau, and a church choirmaster.[2] Both of her parents died when she was a girl, and her older siblings both died while she was in high school.[3]
Turley graduated from the M Street School in Washington, D.C., and trained as a teacher at the Miner Normal School (now the University of the District of Columbia).[3] In 1913, while she was a student at Howard University, Turley was one of the founders of Delta Sigma Theta.[4][5] At Howard, she graduated in the class of 1914.[6]
Delta Sigma Theta and other activities
Turley Murphy taught school as a young woman,[3] and traveled.[7] She was founder of the Baltimore alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta.[8] In 1932 she and Vivian Johnson Cook co-founded the Philomathean Club, a black women's study group.[9][10] In the 1950s, she encouraged all Delta alumnae to vote, and to join the NAACP.[8] In 1957, she was honored as Mother of the Year by the Baltimore alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta.[11]
Turley Murphy was a member of the board of directors of the Baltimore YWCA, president of the St. James Episcopal Church Women's Auxiliary, a member of the wives' club of Alpha Phi Alpha (her husband's fraternity), and active at Morgan State College (where her husband was on the board of trustees).[2] She was the first president of the Women's Auxiliary of Crownsville State Hospital.[1] She was also president of the parent-teacher association at Public School No. 103 in Baltimore.[12][13]
Personal life and family
In 1916, Turley married her Howard University German instructor Carl J. Murphy.[14] He was later best known as a publisher of the AFRO-American newspaper.[15][16]
They had five daughters: Martha Elizabeth (1917–1998), Ida Ann (1918-1996), twins Carlita (1921 - 2006) [17] and Vashti Murphy-Matthews (1921–1981),[18][19] and Frances (1922–2007).[20][21] Her eldest daughter Martha Elizabeth (later Elizabeth Murphy Moss) was a noted journalist, war correspondent, columnist, and newspaper editor.[22] Her daughter Vashti Murphy-Matthews, a photoengraver, was a member of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. Upon returning from her military service, she joined the newspaper as a researcher and archivist.[18]
Turley's granddaughter and namesake Vashti Murphy McKenzie[23] is a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.[24][25]
Death and legacy
Turley Murphy died in 1960, aged 76 years, in Baltimore, after a long illness and a leg amputation.[1][26] Thurgood Marshall was one of the many honorary pallbearers at her funeral.[2][16]
The Baltimore chapter of Delta Sigma Theta created a Vashti Turley Murphy Award for meritorious service,[27] and a scholarship fund in her name.[2] The community center at the Crownsville State Hospital was named for Turley Murphy.[28]
