Shelley Murphy: From survivor to Jefferson’s enslaved laborers researcher. Artwork

Daughter Dialogues

Listen to real-life stories from women with African American lineage who honor their ancestors' fight to achieve independence for the United States of America and are members of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The host, Reisha Raney, a black leader in the DAR and a direct descendant of President Thomas Jefferson's grandfather, is conducting independent research as a Harvard University non-resident fellow, under the direction of Henry Louis Gates, Jr, host of the PBS Special "Finding Your Roots", exploring the lives of DAR members of color and their ancestry which includes men and women of American Indian, black or African descent, and white or European descent who contributed to the founding of the USA. Who are these descendants? What challenges did they overcome researching their genealogy? Visit DaughterDialogues.com to subscribe to the newsletter and meet more members of color. Follow us @DaughterDialogs on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. This is not an official podcast of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR). This podcast is independent and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the NSDAR. The President General is the official spokesperson of NSDAR.

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Daughter Dialogues

Shelley Murphy: From survivor to Jefferson’s enslaved laborers researcher.

October 01, 2020 • Reisha Raney and Shelley Murphy • Season 1 • Episode 14

0:00 | 1:30:04

Shelley tells about her journey from surviving as a high school drop-out, victim of domestic abuse, and a young single mother to earning her doctorate and becoming a University of Virginia researcher, investigating president Thomas Jefferson’s beloved university and the enslaved laborers who built it. She talks about growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan; her fervent love of the military and dropping out of high school out of anger since she was not allowed to graduate early to join the Army; living on her own since the age of 16; completing her bachelor's degree after 28 years; earning a master's and doctorate while working full time; her children’s father being killed by his nephew over a drug deal; leaving a violent relationship; the stressors that living with a mother-in-law afflicted with Alzheimer’s had on her later marriage; being forced to identify as either black or white when living in the South after not having color lines in Michigan and Hawai’i; the shock of learning about her slave ancestry and mixed race heritage; realizing her family makeup reflects American history; the emotional impact of researching Thomas Jefferson's enslaved laborers; her Ancestor Calvin Davis, a radio gunner passing for white, who was killed in a WWII plane crash during a 1941 bombing run in Meresburg, Germany; her black ancestor who owned slaves- James Roper, the son of a slave and Nicholas Roper who left everything to his mulatto son including slaves; half of James's kids deciding to pass for white and their descendants’ reaction when they learn of their black ancestry; mission to find great grandfather William Michael Murphy; Revolutionary War patriot John Boyer and meeting white descendants; ten years ago, thinking DAR was a whites only organization and not knowing about black patriots and members; working on getting seven additional patriots approved by DAR; joining the DAR and serving as chair membership chapter; “my folks helped lay the foundation of this country”, “we’ve served”, “we have to tell these stories”. Read Shelley’s biography at www.daughterdialogues.com/daughters

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Growing up in Grand Rapids, MI; father real estate broker and accountant, mother sewing for GM; influence of being only girl among 4 brothers

Brownie and Girl Scout in 60s, only black in troop, not always included in sleepovers

Dropping out of high school, angry because could not allowed to graduate early to join Army

Moving out on own at age of 16

Decision to return to complete high school while working to support living on own

Father of children being killed by his nephew over a drug deal; leaving violent relationship

Leaving marriage in HI due to conflicts caused by mother-in-law's Alzheimer's

Living in Florida to care for sick father, daughter difficulty adjusting to race relations in South compared to HI; determination to get mother to VA to research family

Getting started in genealogy from listening to mother's stories

Completing bachelor's degree in social psychology after 28 years

Earning a master's degree in organizational behavior and management while working full time

Forging ahead to earn a doctorate, committing to vision board and setting example for daughter

Children never having a thought of dropping out of school and attaining degrees on their own, family interest in learning

Moving to VA, along with mother and brother

Working as a HUD certified counselor and overseeing housing program in VA

Working at UVA researching Thomas Jefferson's enslaved laborers

Developing interest in genealogy and research skills; learning ancestor was a slave

Emotional impact of research, encountering actual bill of sale document for 12 year old slave Priscilla

Learning about family racial mixture; realizing family makeup reflects American history; staking claim to this country

Ancestor Calvin Davis, radio gunner passing for white, killed in WWII plane crash during 1941 bombing run in Germany before Tuskegee Airmen; speaking with survivor from crash who didn't know he was black

Slave owning black ancestor, James Roper, son of a slave and Nicholas Roper who left everything to his mulatto son including slaves; half of James's kids deciding to pass for white, others going black

Reaction of white James's descendants when learning they were mixed race

Not knowing when or where great grandfather William Michael Murphy was born

Discovering Revolutionary War patriot John Boyer, meeting white descendant

Having to choose a race although of mixed heritage, identifying as American with African Ancestry

John Boyer's Revolutionary War service

Only knowing Marian Anderson incident about DAR, not knowing black members could join, thinking DAR was a whites only organization, not knowing about black patriots

Feelings after learning of patriots; mission to help other women of color join

Identifying and working on getting seven additional patriots approved by DAR; wanting to earn more ancestor bar pins

Joining DAR because was not wanted before, feelings of pride and believing in DAR's mission

Experiences as a new DAR member

Reaction from others about membership in DAR, discussing Marian Anderson; finding more black patriots

Trying to get son to join S.A.R.; brother joining S.A.R.; mother joining DAR

Holding chapter board meeting at house, members feeling like family, mother contributing time crocheting to chapter

Serving as chair membership chapter; idea for more community engagement through having people at the same table learning their histories

Pride in ancestors' contributions to founding of the U.S.