Blanche Murray Collection of the Co-Ed Colonel

University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632

email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Published in 2008

Collection Overview

Title:	Blanche Murray Collection of the Co-Ed Colonel
Date range:	1940-1941
Creator:	Murray, Blanche
Extent:	1 box (1 linear foot)
Abstract:	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).
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	University Archives and Special Collections
Collection number:	Mss. Gr. 215

Scope & content

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

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.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	Open for research.
Use of the materials:	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, University Archives and Special Collections.
Contact information:	University Archives and Special Collections 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	Gift of Blanche Murray.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Amy Williamson.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Amy Williamson on 2008 July 1, updated by Mark Dionne on 2020 April 6
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

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Inventory