Historical note:

            This is a collection of the architectural work of Ambrose Jerome Murphy (1869-1949) in partnership with Franklin R. Hindle (1874-1944) and Benjamin W. Wright (1871-). Murphy and Hindle formed a partnership in 1900 specializing in ecclesiastical architecture. Wright joined them in 1907. The firm of Murphy, Hindle & Wright continued until about 1917 at which point the three men went their separate ways. Murphy took over responsibility for the defunct firm and continued to practice in Providence until 1942. Samuel Milton Morino started working for Murphy circa 1918 and inherited the office after Murphy retired.

            Ambrose Jerome Murphy was born July 12, 1869 in Worcester, MA, the son of Michael A. and Helena (Ryan) Murphy (-c.1918). He was educated in Worcester and began his architectural career employed by his uncle James Murphy (1834-1907), an ecclesiastical architect in Providence, RI. Ambrose then worked briefly as a draughtsman for Martin & Hall before starting a partnership with Franklin R. Hindle in 1900. Benjamin W. Wright joined the firm in 1907 and they became Murphy, Hindle & Wright Architects. The war years proved difficult for the firm. Ambrose explained the difficulties in a letter March 22, 1920 to D. Everett Waid, Treasurer of the American Institute for Architects:

"The grounds upon which I shall base my application for renewed Membership are, that in common with the majority of the Architects, I have been surrounded with financial difficulties not of my own making, but due to conditions over which I have had no control for the last few years, that; in addition to this I assumed the debts and responsibilities of the defunct firm of Murphy-Hindle & Wright Architects, at the very time when world conditions were changing for the worst and our country was being drawn in; and that; on top of this my family affairs became involved by sickness, I lost a Mother and Brother, my wife became a cripple for a year, and I had a nice time keeping my feet on the bottom and my head above the water."

            After the dissolution of the firm, Murphy continued to work independently until 1942. He employed architects Samuel Milton Morino and William C. Mustard in his office. He married Mary E. Kelly (-1934) and they had no children. Ambrose died May 27, 1949 and was survived by his sisters Grace Murphy and Gertrude Murphy both of Worcester, MA.

            Franklin Reading Hindle was born in Worcester, MA on February 8, 1874, the son of Charles Hindle and Maria Barnes Hindle. He married Edith M. McLane (-1955) on May 18, 1898. He worked in the following firms according to his file with the American Institute of Architects:

served apprenticeship with Clifton R. Hall of Providence     1891-1892

William R. Walker & Son 3 years                                          1892-1895

Martin & Hall 4 years                                                                         1895-1899

Fuller & Delano of Worcester, MA 1 year                             1899-1900

Murphy & Hindle                                                                   1900-1907

Murphy, Hindle & Wright                                                      1907-1917

            A letter from Roger Gilman, Secretary of the RI Chapter of the AIA to the AIA Board of Directors in Washington, Jan. 22, 1925 regarding the reinstatement of Franklin R. Hindle gives more information on the dissolution of Murphy, Hindle & Wright: "It is known as a fact to this committee that he suffered a complete nervous breakdown and, at the same time, owing to the war, he was obliged to close up his office. Previous to this he had given largely his time and effort to the Chapter activities and had always been in good standing." Hindle moved to Newport, RI in 1934 and died in 1944.

            Benjamin Wilson Wright was born in Bristol, RI on August 17, 1871 the son of John Henry and Annie Isador Wright. He married Nettie Moore Pearse on October 23, 1895. His work record according to his file in the American Institute of Architects was as follows:

Stone Carpenter & Willson    June, 1889 - June 1895

Martin & Hall                         June 1895 - Feb 1898 

Fuller, Delano & Frost           June 1898 - Feb 1899 

            in Worcester, MA

Independent                            Feb. 1899 - Oct 1899

Wright and Isham                   Oct. 1899 - 1903

Independent                            1903-1907

Murphy, Hindle & Wright      April 1907-1917

            Samuel Milton Morino was born in Heidelberg, German on February 28, 1893 and was educated at the Rhode Island School of Design and the Beaux Arts School in Fontainebleau, France. Morino joined Ambrose J. Murphy as a draughtsman in 1917 or maybe not until 1919 and stayed with him until Ambrose retired at which point Samuel took over the office. He died April 22, 1953 and was survived by his wife Beatrice Curran and his sister Mrs. Maurice Phillips.

            James Murphy was the uncle of Ambrose Jerome Murphy and was born in 1834. He immigrated from Tipperary, Ireland with at least his brother Michael. He started working in the field of architecture as early as1852 according to his application to the American Institute of Architects in 1876 in which he states that he had been engaged in the practice of Architecture for 24 years. He was a well-known ecclesiastical architect with offices in Boston and in Providence. There is no evidence that he married nor had any children. He died at the Holy Ghost Hospital in Cambridge, MA on April 18, 1907 and his funeral was held at his nephew's home in Providence.

Bibliography:

Hindle, Franklin R. Membership file in the American Institute of Architects, Rhode Island Chapter Records, Rhode Island Historical Society, Box 3.

Morino, Samuel Milton. Membership file in the American Institute of Architects, Rhode Island Chapter Records, Rhode Island Historical Society, Box 3.

Murphy, Ambrose J. Membership file in the American Institute of Architects, Rhode Island Chapter Records, Rhode Island Historical Society, Box 3.

Murphy, James. Membership file in the American Institute of Architects, Rhode Island Chapter Records, Rhode Island Historical Society, Box 3.

Wright, Benjamin Wilson. Membership file in the American Institute of Architects, Rhode Island Chapter Records, Rhode Island Historical Society, Box 3.

Providence City Directories

Rhode Island Cemetery Database

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Scope and content:

            This collection consists of the correspondence and specifications regarding buildings designed by Ambrose J. Murphy, Franklin R. Hindle and Benjamin W. Wright in their various partnership arrangements. The materials range in dates from 1905-1939. It also includes a small amount of material relating to the personal and business life of James Murphy dating from 1865-1907. The folder of correspondence from friends and associates was all written just before James Murphy's death in April 1907. The collection has been organized into four series:

Series 1: Churches and church buildings (including hospitals and schools)

Series 2: Private homes, businesses, institutions

Series 3: James Murphy personal papers

Series 4: Miscellaneous

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Provenance:

            The donor and date of accession for this collection is not known. The materials arrived sometime before 1987. The collection consists primarily of architectural drawings. The Graphics staff sorted through the collection and transferred this material to Manuscripts in 2001.

            The history of the material seems to be that Ambrose J. Murphy assumed responsibility for the defunct firm of Murphy, Hindle and Wright including all the documentation for their commissions. Samuel Milton Morino then took over the firm of A.J. Murphy probably in 1942 which undoubtedly included all of this documentation. Samuel Morino had his office at 70 Clarendon St. in Providence when he died in 1953. Morino's office is listed as vacant in the City Directory for 1954 and then occupied by an unrelated person in 1955. It seems likely that the material was passed on to the RIHS through someone associated with Samuel Morino.

            Another possibility is that the material came through the Donald J. Prout & Associates firm. One specification from that firm was found with the collection and is filed in Series 4. That firm was in existence until 1973 at 150 Carolina Ave. in Providence.

            The last possibility is that the materials were donated at some time by Thomas E. Greene of North Providence. He donated a set of Ambrose J. Murphy drawings for additions to the Convent for St. Raphaels in 1989 which may or may not be connected to this collection of materials.

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Processing note:

            Building specifications for a new cracker plant for the Atlantic Biscuit Company in Centerdale, RI prepared in 1924 by the McCormick Company, Inc., Architects and Engineers with offices in Pittsburgh and New York was transferred to MSS 9001-A.

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Inventory:

Damaged = Materials that were beyond repair or salvage.

The far right column indicates which combination of architects worked on the building. (M= Ambrose J. Murphy; H= Franklin R. Hindle; W= Benjamin W. Wright)

Box Folder Building                                    City     Street             Date Architect