John V. Murra Papers
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Abstract
John V. Murra (1916-2006) was a Ukrainian-American professor of anthropology and researcher of the Inca Empire. Born in Ukraine, Murra emigrated to the United States in 1934 and completed an undergraduate degree in sociology at the University of Chicago (1936). From 1937 to 1939 he fought in the Spanish Civil War as a member of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. When Murra returned to the United States, he completed a master's degree (1942), and a Ph.D. (1956), both in anthropology at University of Chicago. The John V. Murra Papers (1937-1989) contain Murra's military identification card used while serving with the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in Spain (1937-1939), as well as scholarly articles written by Murra dating from the 1960s to the 1980s. The collection also contains a 1944 letter from the War Manpower Commission to Murra's employer requesting him for a position; a 1989 conference announcement; and a curriculum vitae from 1989.
Biographical Note
John V. Murra (1916-2006) was a Ukrainian-American professor of anthropology. Born in Ukraine, Murra emigrated to the United States in 1934 and completed an undergraduate degree in sociology at the University of Chicago in 1936. From 1937 to 1939, he fought in the Spanish Civil War as a member of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. When Murra returned to the United States, he went on to finish a master's degree in 1942, and a Ph.D. in 1956, both in anthropology, at the University of Chicago. His work primarily focused on the development of the Inca Empire.
Arrangement
The materials are arranged in alphabetical order.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains material related to John V. Murra, including an identification card used while serving with the Abraham Lincoln Brigade (1937-1939) in Spain during the Spanish Civil War, and material from later in Murra's career as an anthropologist. Copies of articles related to the Incan Empire date from the 1960s to late 1980s. The collection also contains a 1944 letter from the War Manpower Commission encouraging Murra's employer release him and allow him to take a wartime position, a 1989 conference announcement, and a curriculum vitae from 1989.
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Any rights (including copyright and related rights to publicity and privacy) held by the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives (ALBA), were transferred to New York University in November 2000 by the ALBA Board of Governors. Permission to publish or reproduce materials in this collection must be secured from the Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives. Please contact the Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, special.collections@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; John V. Murra Papers; ALBA 078; box number; folder number or item identifier; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Transferred from Brandeis University in January 2001. An accretion to the collection was donated by the Executrix of Murra's Estate, Heather Lechtman, in 2011. The accession numbers associated with these are: 1989.081 and 2011.048.
Custodial History
The John V. Murra Papers were donated to the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives and deposited at Brandeis University in 1989. The collection was transferred to the Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives in January 2001 as part of the relocation of the ALBA collections from Brandeis to New York University.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Decisions regarding arrangement, description, and physical interventions for this collection prior to 2025 are unknown.
In 2025 the material was described to the folder level within the inventory. Fields and description were added to the record to comply with local content standards.
