Elizabeth Dunbar Murray

Elizabeth Dunbar Murray (25 October 1877 – 19 May 1966) of Natchez, Mississippi, was an author, director, impersonator, and conducted the Murray School of Expression.[1]

Elizabeth Dunbar Murray
Born(1877-10-25)October 25, 1877
Natchez, Mississippi, US
DiedMay 19, 1966(1966-05-19) (aged 88)
Natchez, Mississippi, US
Occupation(s)author and educator

Early life and education

Murray was the eldest daughter of William Forman and Mary Conway Shields Dunbar, born at her parents' home "Birdsnest" in Natchez, Mississippi.[2][3] She was the granddaughter of Judge Joseph Dunbar Shields, the author of The Life and Times of S.S. Prentiss.[4] She was the grand-niece of the historian Colonel J.F.H. Claiborne.[2][4] Elizabeth Dunbar married Alexander Murray (of Canada) on 16 April 1901.[5]

She graduated from the Natchez Female College and the Boston School of Expression.[4] She taught at both schools as well. As an author, she wrote books about Natchez local history: Early Romances of Historic Natchez[3] and My Mother Used to Say: A Natchez Belle of the Sixties.[6]

Career

Murray was an advocate for the prosperity of Natchez through the presentation of historical accounts and pageantry.[4] She served as President of the Dramatic Club in Natchez.[7] She was a member of Natchez community organizations and authored letters to the editor of the Natchez Democrat, empowering women of Natchez and creating social impact prior to women's right to vote.[4]

The Elizabeth Dunbar Murray House

Murray directed the first play presented at the opening of Memorial Hall in Natchez on 18 April 1922.[8] She had a residence studio for her pupils in expression at her home, located at 800 North Union Street.[4] The home was built for Murray 1906 (estimated date)[9] and is located in the Upriver Residential District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.[10] Murray lived in the home until her death in 1966. She conducted the Murray School of Expression for forty five years at her home.[11]

Selected works
  • Early Romances of Historic Natchez
  • My Mother Used to Say: A Natchez Belle of the Sixties

References
  1. Natchez Democrat, 14 December 1921, page 5.
  2. The Journal of Mississippi History, William David McCain Mississippi Department of Archives and History, 1961.
  3. Early Romances of Historic Natchez, Natchez, Mississippi: Natchez Print and Stationery Company, 1950.
  4. Natchez Democrat, 22 March 1917, page 36.
  5. The Times Democrat, 7 April 1901, page 20.
  6. My Mother Used to Say: A Natchez Belle of the Sixties, Boston: Christopher Publishing House, 1959.
  7. Natchez Democrat, 5 December 1909, page 14.
  8. Natchez Democrat, 26 March 1922, page 5.
  9. "Property". Archived from the original on 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  10. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form" (PDF). Mississippi Department of Archives and History. 1 December 1983. p. 35 (PDF p. 39). Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  11. Lives of Mississippi Authors, 1817–1967 by James B. Lloyd, University Press of Mississippi, 1981.
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