Papers of Anne Murray Morgan, 1905-2001

Anne (Nancy) Murray Morgan was born on August 2, 1925, to Margaret Wessell Piersol and Robinson Murray. She lived in France, 1930-1935, Scarsdale New York, 1935-1937, and England, 1937-1939. Morgan attended Queens College School in London, England for two years before entering Scarsdale High School, New York, in 1939. Morgan attended Radcliffe College, class of 1946, where she was treasurer of the Radcliffe Choral Society, treasurer of the Student Government Association, chairman of the Chapel Committee, chairman of the Volunteer Services Committee, and member of the Varsity Swim Team. Morgan married Paul Shepard Morgan, Harvard class of 1945 in 1947. He became president, CEO, and chairman of Morgan Construction Company. Anne Murray Morgan and Paul Morgan have four children.

At Radcliffe College Morgan was a trustee from 1973 to 1985. She served as president of the Radcliffe College Alumnae Association from 1973 to 1975 and was one of the first women to be elected to the Harvard University Board of Overseers where she served on numerous standing and visiting committees. In 1977, she became the first woman to be elected president of the Harvard Alumni Association.

Morgan was a prominent leader in educational and cultural organizations. In Worcester, Massachusetts, she served as director of the Worcester Children's Friend Society, president of the Junior League of Worcester, Inc., first woman trustee of the Worcester Memorial Hospital, first woman president of the board of the Worcester Art Museum, member of the American Antiquarian Society, and member of the Director's Council for the Worcester Natural History Museum. She was trustee and overseer of Plimoth Plantation and also served for six years on the Smithsonian National Board and for sixteen years as a director of the People's Savings Bank of Worcester. Morgan received many awards and honors for her volunteer work and years of community service. The Morgan Gallery in the Worcester Art Museum is named in her honor.

Margaret Wessell Piersol (Margaret Wessell Piersol), mother of Anne Murray Morgan, was born on March 23, 1891, to George Arthur Piersol and Anne Wessell Steel. She graduated from Vassar College, class of 1912, with a major in history. After graduation, Piersol taught at the Mary Lyon School in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, while studying for a Ph.D at the University of Pennsylvania. She was preparing her dissertation when, in 1917, Piersol volunteered to go to Europe as a nurse's aide with the American Red Cross. She was stationed in France from 1917 to 1919. It was during this time in France that Piersol corresponded with, and became engaged to, Robinson Murray. Their marriage took place in Paris on January 29, 1919.

Robinson Murray, Anne Murray Mogan's father, was born on December 31, 1890 in Rosindale, Massachusetts, to George Henry Murray and Sarah Octavia Robinson. After graduating from Harvard University in 1912, Robinson Murray worked in advertising until he enlisted in the United States Army. Robinson Murray served as an intelligence officer in the Third Division, Thirty Eighth Infantry, American Expeditionary Force in France, eventually rising to the rank of Captain. Robinson Murray was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Legion D'Honneur from the French government as well as the Distinguished Service Cross and the Victory Medal from the United States. After returning from France, Robinson Murray resumed his career in the advertising business.

Margaret Wessell Piersol and Robinson Murray had three children: Robinson Murray Jr., Margaret Piersol Murray, and Anne (Nancy) Piersol Murray. Over the course of Anne Murray Morgan's lifetime, the family lived in Pennsylvania (until 1930), France (1930-1935), England (1937-1939), and Scarsdale, New York. Upon retirement in 1950, Robinson Murray and Margaret Wessell Piersol moved to Duxbury, Massachusetts, where Robinson Murray continued his painting in abstract form and exhibited in many venues. Margaret Wessell Piersol died on October 13, 1974. Robinson Murray died on January 7, 1984.