Albertha Murray papers

Albertha Johnston Murray was born October 26, 1889 in Charleston, South Carolina to William Henry and Mary Ellen Virgin Johnston. She was educated at Claflin High School and attended Claflin University as a Normal school student, gradating in 1909. In 1949, Murray received her B.S. in Education from the State Agricultural and Mechanical College, in Orangeburg, South Carolina. She married Richard Gailliard Murray and had one daughter, Hazel Albertha Murray Stewart.

Murray taught at numerous private and public schools in Charleston County, beginning with Humbert Wood Public Elementary School on Johns Island. She was also a teacher at Dart Private School, Avery Normal Institute and Four Mile Public Elementary School. In 1927, Murray was hired as principal at Cut Bridge Elementary School on James Island, remaining there for thirty two years. Murray's insistence prompted the renovation and expansion of the original five room school. In 1955, a new school was built named Murray-LaSaine Elementary School, which bore her name and Dr. Mary Alice LaSaine, former supervisor of Negro Schools in Charleston County.

Murray retired from the teaching profession in 1959, and remained active in numerous educational, social, and humanitarian organizations. She served as president and life member of the South Carolina Retired Teacher's Association; treasurer of the Charleston County Principal's Association, and was a former president of the Palmetto Education Association, South Carolina Education Association, and a life member of the American Teacher's Association. Murray's civic involvement includes Board of Directorship on the Charleston Chapter of the American Red Cross, Charleston County Tuberculosis Associations and McClennan Banks Memorial Hospital, and membership with the South Carolina Federation of Colored Women's Clubs; National Council of Negro Women; League of Women's Voters; the Poinsetta Chapter #129 of the Order of Eastern Star, the Coming Street Young Women's Christian Association (Y.W.C.A.) in Charleston South Carolina; Founder of the Grey Ladies; and the Robert Gould Shaw Boys Club of America. Murray passed away on September 13, 1969, at the age of seventy nine.