The Marilyn O. Murphy papers date from 1973 to 2010 and measure 12 linear feet. The papers are comprised mainly of materials related to Murphy’s political and peace activism through religious and local organizations. They are arranged in 4 series: Biographical, Activism, Topical Files, and Audiovisual.

The Biographical series (1983-2012) contains Murphy’s obituary, an Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame profile from 1988, and Murphy’s commentaries for The Globe, Sioux City diocese’s official newspaper, from 1983 and 84.

The Activism series (1967-2009) is comprised of 15 subseries: Iowa Church Leaders Peace Caravan, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa, Iowa Catholic Conference, Diocesan Peace and Justice Action Commission, Siouxland Women’s Political Caucus (SWPC), Siouxlanders Concerned About the Nuclear Arms Race (SCANAR), Community Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV), Immigration Reform, Iowa Legal and Local Advisory Council, Missouri River Historical Development (MRHD), Prison Reform, Catholic Rural Life, Siouxland Coalition to End Homelessness (SCEH), and National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture (NCSA). Together they provide insight into the broad network of Catholic and community services and advocacy in the Sioux City area.

The Topical files series (1975-2009) concerns a variety of issues and organizations, including Women’s History Month, the League of Women Voters, the NAACP, climate change, and a Woodbury County youth development program, and includes an Iowa affirmative action data book from 2001. It also contains two printed works from 2007, shelved in the printed works collection: “A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and a Prayer,” edited by Eve Ensler, and “Women Behind Bars” by Silja J.A. Talvi.

The Audiovisual series (2001-2008) consists of eight VHS tapes (shelved in videocassette collection), eight DVDs (shelved with audiovisual collection), and accompanying printed material. These materials relate to Murphy’s work with the Southern Poverty Law Center and Catholic Charities’ various ministries.