Philip H. Murray facts for kids

Philip H. Murray (1842 – February 17, 1917) was an important American figure. He worked as a journalist and fought for civil rights. He also helped end slavery as an abolitionist. Most of his career was spent in St. Louis, Missouri. Philip Murray grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania. There, he joined the movement to end slavery. During the U.S. Civil War, he helped recruit African Americans to join the Union Army. After the war, he became a journalist. In 1867, he started The Colored Kentuckian. This was the first newspaper for black people in Kentucky. He later moved to St. Louis. There, he kept working in journalism. He also spoke up for black education and civil rights. He even became the president of the first Negro Press Association.

Early Life of Philip Murray

Philip Houston Murray was born in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1842. His parents were Samuel and Sarah Murray. His father was born into slavery in Kent County, Maryland. His mother had a mixed background. She was part black, Native American, and Irish.

Philip's father thought schools for black children were not good enough. So, Philip only went to school for one week. After that, he was taught at home by Father Patrick Keevil. By age fifteen, Philip started studying the brain. This led to his later interest in phrenology. Phrenology was a study that tried to understand a person's character by looking at the shape of their skull. Philip had many brothers and sisters, a total of 13.

Philip Murray and the Civil War

Before the American Civil War, Philip Murray became very involved in the movement to end slavery. This movement was called abolitionism. He worked with many famous abolitionists of his time. He also gave talks about "Cerebral Physiology" (how the brain works). He traveled across New England for these talks.

During the Civil War, he traveled in the Southern states. He wrote for newspapers in the North. He tried to form a group to join the Union Army. This was when Confederate forces invaded Pennsylvania. But the governor did not allow it. In 1864, he was a delegate at a meeting in Syracuse, New York. He was chosen to lead the Pennsylvania group. This meeting was an important part of the Colored Conventions Movement. Later, he did become a recruiting officer. He helped many black soldiers join the Union Army.

Facing Challenges for His Beliefs

After the war, Murray often gave speeches. He spoke in the upper South about black education and progress. He also spoke out against how black people were treated. This was by former Confederates right after the Civil War. Because of his speeches, white people in the South often threatened him.

On September 30, 1865, he had to quickly leave a meeting in Franklin, Tennessee. A group of people had gathered to attack him. On May 11, 1867, Murray and others gathered to give speeches in Pulaski, Tennessee. Reports said his speech caused a crowd to gather against him that night. However, a large guard outside his room stopped any harm. A week later, a local newspaper denied this event happened.

Journalism and Public Service

Philip Murray continued to work in the newspaper business. In March 1867, he helped publish The Colored Kentuckian. This was the first black newspaper in Kentucky. It was published in Louisville. In 1872, he published a paper called Colored Citizen in Washington, D.C. Around that time, he also worked as an inspector for public improvements.

Besides journalism, he was also a teacher. He taught school in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and Missouri. In 1876, he went to a teachers' meeting in Jefferson City, Missouri. This meeting inspired him to help hire black teachers. He also worked to create black schools in St. Louis and across Missouri. He moved to Missouri that same year. He worked in the Post Office and later in the Comptrollers Office. He immediately began fighting for black schools and teachers.

He kept up his journalism in St. Louis. He wrote for The Truth newspaper. In 1881, he bought this paper and changed its name to The Advance. This paper was published until about 1916. In 1879, he started the St. Louis Colored Men's Land Association. In 1881, he led the Afro-American Press Association. Philip Murray died in 1917. In his last year, he was an editorial writer for the St. Louis Argus.

He also attended state and national meetings for black people. In 1895, he helped start an Anti-Lynching Society in St. Louis. He did this with Walter M. Farmer, Rev. J. H. Odin, and with support from Ida B. Wells.

Later Life and Legacy

Philip Murray was married and had four children. He had one son and three daughters. His wife passed away around 1897. Murray died on February 14, 1917. He had suffered from asthma for many years. His funeral was held at St. Paul Chapel in St. Louis.