Fonds PR 03 - Walter C. Murray fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Walter C. Murray fonds

General material designation

  • Textual record

Parallel title

Other title information

Title statements of responsibility

Title notes

  • Variations in title: Previously identified as Walter C. Murray papers (A.676.XVII.C).

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

PR 03

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Class of material specific details area

Statement of scale (cartographic)

Statement of projection (cartographic)

Statement of coordinates (cartographic)

Statement of scale (architectural)

Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

Physical description area

Physical description

24 cm (approx.) textual records

Publisher's series area

Title proper of publisher's series

Parallel titles of publisher's series

Other title information of publisher's series

Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series

Numbering within publisher's series

Note on publisher's series

Archival description area

Name of creator

(1866-1945)

Biographical history

Walter Charles Murray was born 12 May 1866 in Studholm parish, King's county, New Brunswick. He started his academic career at the University of New Brunswick, receiving a BA in 1886. After earning a grammar school license at the provincial Normal School, Murray went to University of Edinburgh as the Canadian Gilchrist scholar, and received a MA in philosophy in 1891. After a brief period of study in Berlin, Murray returned to UNB as Professor of Philosophy and Economics. From 1892 to 1908, he was Munro Professor of Philosophy and lecturer in Education at Dalhousie University. During this time Murray married Christine Cameron, whom he had known since grade school; they subsequently had three daughters. In 1908 he was appointed the University of Saskatchewan's first President, a position he held until his retirement in 1937. In conjunction with his duties at the University of Saskatchewan, Murray served on a number of commissions, boards and councils. Upon his retirement he was named President Emeritus and remained active in the local community until his death in March 1945.

Name of creator

(ca.1903–1925)

Administrative history

The Joint Committee officially convened in April 1904, in Toronto, bringing together appointed representatives from the Congregationalist, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches, to negotiate church union. Meetings continued through to 1908, when the terms written in the Basis of Union were agreed upon and sent to the negotiating churches, for discussion and approval. By 1912, both the Congregationalists and the Methodists had agreed to the terms. The decision was more contentious for the Presbyterian Church, though in 1916, their General Assembly decided to go ahead with the union.
Between 1916 and 1925, the Joint Committee worked to complete the union and defeat those opposing it, including the newly formed Presbyterian Church Association.

Name of creator

(ca.1924–1927)

Administrative history

The Dominion Commission (officially "The Commission appointed pursuant to The United Church Act, chapter 100 of the Statutes of Canada, 1924") was formed to enable the distribution of property between the United Church of Canada, which about 70% of Presbyterian Churches in Canada joined, and the remaining "non-concurring" Presbyterian Church.

Custodial history

Records in the fonds were likely transferred to the archives between 1925 and 1986. Their original provenance is unclear.

Scope and content

Fonds consists of papers primarily relating to Dr. Murray's work with the Presbyterian Church and the United Church of Canada. Murray, who was a prominent Presbyterian, supported the church union movement (which led to the founding of the United Church, in 1925) and these records cover his time on the Joint Committee on Union, from 1905, and later as a member of the Dominion Church Property Commission, ca.1924-1928, which assigned assets of the three uniting churches (Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregationalist).

Contents include: reports, Records of Proceedings (minutes) and other papers relating to the Joint Committee on Union and its sub-committees; correspondence, notes and exhibits relating to the Dominion Church Property Commission; and additional correspondence relating to Church Union.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Arrangement

Original order for many of these records is unclear. Items listed under A.676.XVII.C were arranged sometime before 1990.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Location of originals

Availability of other formats

Copies of some records included on microfilm R10.1, reel no. 32. Also available from the United Church of Canada Archives, in Toronto, Ontario (Walter Charles Murray fonds, F 3352).

Restrictions on access

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

Use, publication, and/or reproduction of records are subject to the conditions of the Copyright Act. Please consult archivist for assistance.

Finding aids

GS-168 includes original file and series listings, in sections A676.XVII.C and A1094.XVII.C. Microfilm contents listed in finding aid IR-12.

Uploaded finding aid

Associated materials

Biographical file for Walter C. Murray included in Saskatchewan Conference collections (see A.676.XX.Murray). Additional records of the Dominion Church Property Commission (Commission Pursuant to the United Church of Canada Act) and general collection of Union-related publications included in other Conference collections.

Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

Alpha-numeric designations

Textual records: A676.XVII.C.1 to 10

Alternative identifier(s)

Standard number area

Standard number

Access points

Place access points

Genre access points

Control area

Accession area