US-RUn-msg215 Guide to the Blanche Murray Collection of the Co-Ed Colonel 1940-1941 Finding aid prepared by Amy Williamson. University of Rhode Island Library, Special Collections and Archives Unit 2008
University Library, Special Collections and Archives 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011Tel: 401-874-4632E-mail: archives@etal.uri.eduWebsite: http://www.uri.edu/library/special_collections/
 Finding aid encoded by Amy Williamson on 2008 July 1. English Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) Murray, Blanche Blanche Murray Collection of the Co-Ed Colonel 1940-1941 1 box (1 linear foot) The Blanche Murray Collection of the Co-Ed Colonel contains materials relating to the period in which Blanche Murray nee Richard served as a ROTC Co-Ed Colonel during 1940- 1941 at Rhode Island State College (now URI). Special Collections and University Archives
15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu
 Mss. Gr. 215 The records are in English. Biographical note

Blanche Murray, formerly Blanche Richard, was born in 1930 in Warwick, Rhode Island and was raised in the community of Oakland Beach. She graduated from Rhode Island State College in 1941 with a degree in home economics and education. During her senior year, she was named the college's Co-Ed Colonel of the ROTC program, receiving her honorary commission from then Governor William H. Vanderbilt. The ROTC Co-ed Colonel served a social and public relations function. Duties included presiding at formal ROTC dances, parades, and reviews and to arrange and hostess informal parties for the ROTC cadets.

Murray was for many years a teacher of home economics at Tolman High School and in 1983 was named Home Economist of the Year by the Rhode Island Home Economics Association. She served as the first woman president of the URI Alumni Association and the URI Foundation. She served for six years as a member of the RI Board of Governors for Higher Education. In 1988 she along with her husband, attorney Daniel Murray ('35), received an honorary degree from University of Rhode Island.

Open for research.

Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.

Preferred Citation

Blanche Murray Collection of the Co-Ed Colonel, Mss. Gr. 215, University of Rhode Island Special Collections.

 Scope and Content Note

The collection contains the 1940-1941 Co-ed Colonel uniform, brass, belt and cap worn by Blanche Richard. Included are related news clippings and June 30, 1941 issue Life Magazine which contains an article about the nationwide program of ROTC Co-ed Colonels.

 Arrangement

The papers are arranged in one series and organized by type of material. 1. Blanche Murray Collection of the Co-Ed Colonel

Acquisitions Information

Gift of Blanche Murray.

No further materials are expected for this collection.

Kept by Blanche Murray until transferred to the Archives.

 Names Murray, Blanche Subjects United States. Army. Reserve Officers' Training Corps. United States. Army. Reserve Officers' Training Corps. RIAMCO Browsing Terms Military Inventory Series 1 Blanche Murray Collection of the Co-Ed Colonel 1940-1941 1 box (1 linear foot) clippings magazines(periodicals) dress uniformsbelts(costume accessories)caps(headgear)

The series contains the 1940-1941 Co-ed Colonel uniform, brass, belt and cap worn by Blanche Richard. Included are related new clippings and a 1941 (Jun 30) Life Magazine containing an article about the nationwide program of ROTC Co-ed Colonels. The series is arranged by type of material.