Request This Item

Betty Murrell Collection

1 oversize folder, 5 boxes (7.5 linear feet)

(1815 – 2012)

bulk 1950-2000

Edward H. Nabb Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury, University, Salisbury, Maryland

Identifier 2011.161
Creator(s) Murrell, Betty
Acquisition

The Murrell Family Tree was donated to the Nabb Research Center by Betty Murrell, June 2011. Additions from 2017.022. 
Language(s) English, English
Use Records are open for research. Copyright, including literary rights, belongs to the author(s) or their legal heirs. Permission to publish or reproduce must be obtained from the Nabb Research Center which extends beyond "fair use."
Preferred Citation "Item, collection title and identifier, box # and folder # (if applicable), Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland."
Attribution Finding aid written by Hallie Kroll, 2015. Edits and Additions by Emily Jester, October 2021.
Related Materials

Betty Murrell Collection (1550 – 1986)
Separated Materials

Oversize items have been moved to the archive's flat file system. 

Oversize folder includes: 

  • Hand-drawn map of Parsons Cemetery in Salisbury, Maryland with color-coded key
  • Handwritten Murrell Family Tree
  • Map of Nutter’s Creek (1997) and John B. Rider Estate (1950)
  • Newspaper articles, 1967-2012
  • Oversized documents from Series 1 and 2
  • Blueprints of Betty and James’ home, 1951
Abstract

The Betty Murrell Collection spans from 1815 (copy) – 2012 and consists of Elizabeth (Betty) Gillis Murrell’s personal documents from her family and finances, local history books and records for the Salisbury and Delmar area, and genealogical research for local families. The collection also includes newspaper articles and a hand-drawn map of Parsons Cemetery in Salisbury, Maryland.

Biographical History

Elizabeth (Betty) Gillis Murrell was born in Hebron, Wicomico County, MD in 1928. She married James Howard Murrell in 1946 and they had two sons, Michael Charles Murrell and Scott Gillis Murrell. Betty was a charter member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Salisbury, a member of the Samuel Chase Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and served on the Junior Board of Peninsula Medical Center. She also volunteered as a Cub Scout den mother, and was an active member in the Preservation Trust of Wicomico, the Lower Delmarva Genealogical Society, and the Wicomico Historical Society. Betty was editor of the Lower Delmarva Genealogical Society’s magazine, "More From the Shore" for 20 years. She was also a volunteer at the Nabb Research Center at Salisbury University and wrote the first successful grant to have the Nabb Research Center recognized as a first-rate regional historical society for researching local history. She passed away in 2017.

Scope and Content Note

The Betty Murrell Collection spans from 1815 (copy) – 2012 and consists of Elizabeth (Betty) Gillis Murrell’s personal documents from her family and finances, local history and records for the Salisbury and Delmar area including books by local authors, and genealogical research for local families including the Horseman, Graham, Newton, Long, Messick/Mezick, White, Griffith, Hanna, Hales, Daughtery, Smith, Gillis, Townsend, Stewart, Dashiell, Farlow, and Parsons Families, among many others. There are also newspaper articles from 1967-2012 from various local papers and the Murrell Family Tree displaying the lineage of the Murrell, Simms, Messick (Mezick), and Farlow families. Additionally, there is a hand-drawn map and labeled guide of Parsons Cemetery in Salisbury, Maryland, circa 2011.

Series 1: Betty Murrell Personal Records includes financial papers, receipts and blueprints for the home that Betty and her husband, James, had built, books and papers from her son’s Boy Scout troop, and VHS tapes documenting local and personal events. Series 2: Local Family History, is the most extensive portion of the collection, as it consists of research notes and genealogical finds that Betty collected on 101 local families. Series 3: Local History contains records for Salisbury history, documents from the Lower Delmarva Genealogical Society, information on historical sites around Maryland and local church histories and directories. Series 4: Books Belonging to Murrell Family includes several books by authors and businesses from the Eastern Shore.

Arrangement Statement See Nabb Center Staff

Subject Terms

  • Topical Terms
    • Genealogy
    • Murrell Family
  • Personal Names
    • Murrell, Betty

Inventory List

The inventory list for this item is hidden due to its length. Click the button below to view it.

Box 1

  1. Subseries 1.1 (Financial Records): Check Stubs, 1947-1953
  2. Subseries 1.1 (Financial Records): Check Books and Stubs, 1950-1953
  3. Subseries 1.1 (Financial Records): Check Book Stubs, 1955-1956
  4. Subseries 1.1 (Financial Records): Check Books, 1955-1957
  5. Subseries 1.1 (Financial Records): Check Stub Booklets, 1957-1959
  6. Subseries 1.1 (Financial Records): James and Betty Murrell Ledger Book, 1962
  7. Subseries 1.1 (Financial Records): Murrell Financial Records, 1951-1960
  8. Subseries 1.1 (Financial Records): Checks from James Murrell, 1948-1951
  9. Subseries 1.1 (Financial Records): Checks from James Murrell, 1945-1948
  10. Subseries 1.1 (Financial Records): Financial Record Book, 1975-1995
  11. Subseries 1.1 (Financial Records): Financial Record Book, 2001-2010
  12. Subseries 1.1 (Financial Records): Betty and James Murrell Home Construction Records [And Oversized], 1951-1953
  13. Subseries 1.1 (Financial Records): Betty and James Murrell Home Construction Records, 1951-1952
  14. Subseries 1.1 (Financial Records): Charles S. Gillis Insurance Policy, 1927
  15. Subseries 1.2 (Betty Murrell Papers): Murrell Personal Correspondence, 1973
  16. Subseries 1.2 (Betty Murrell Papers): “More from the Shore Newsletter: Collection, Elizabeth Betty Murrell,” 1983-2003
  17. Subseries 1.2 (Betty Murrell Papers): “Material for News Magazine,” 1977-2011
  18. Subseries 1.2 (Betty Murrell Papers): Betty Murrell’s Binder, 1926 (copy)-2009

Box 2:

  1. Subseries 1.3 (James Murrell Papers): James Murrell Papers, 1956-1980
  2. Subseries 1.3 (James Murrell Papers): James Murrell: Mason Records, 1947-1949
  3. Subseries 1.3 (James Murrell Papers): “Jim Murrell” Class of 1941 Photo Reels, 1941
  4. Subseries 1.3 (James Murrell Papers): “System Operator, Line and Sub-Station Log Data,” 1965
  5. Subseries 1.4 (Boy Scout Records): Bear and Wolf Cub Scout Books from Scott Murrell, 1960-1964
  6. Subseries 1.4 (Boy Scout Records): Scott Murrell Boy Scouts and Poetry Book, undated
  7. Subseries 1.4 (Boy Scout Records): Scout-O-Rama and Scrapbook, 1966
  8. Subseries 1.5 (VHS Tapes): Salisbury Mayors Hearing on Budget, undated
  9. Subseries 1.5 (VHS Tapes): “Pilots Reunion WWII, Gordie Klein,” 1993
  10. Subseries 1.5 (VHS Tapes): Class of 1941 Reunion, 1991
  11. Subseries 1.5 (VHS Tapes): 55th Reunion Class of 1941, 1996
  12. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Catlin Family History, 1985-1990
  13. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Horseman-Graham-Seabreeze-Rhodes-Darby-Taylor Family Histories, 1980-2002
  14. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Newton Family History, 1974-1986
  15. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Long-Messick-Porter-Willing Family Histories [And Oversized], 1852 (copy)-1988
  16. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Messick-White-Willing-Evans-Bussells Bible Records, undated
  17. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Hammond-Carey-Bower-Griffith-Shirley-White Family Histories, 1991
  18. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Hanna Family History, 1920-1939 (copies)
  19. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Hales Family History, undated
  20. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Daughtery Family History, undated
  21. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Mezick/Messick-White-Willing Land Deeds and Records, 1851 (copy)-1989
  22. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Messick Wills and Cemetery Records, undated
  23. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Mezick-Willing-Foxwell-Paul Marriage Records, 1989
  24. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Mezick Family History, 1858 (copy), 2002
  25. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Messick-Smith Family Histories, 1914-2001
  26. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Hooper Family History, undated
  27. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Hitch Family History, 1993
  28. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): “Work Charts and Cards,” 1848 (copy)-1989

Box 3:

  1. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Nelson-Travers-White-Donaho-Mezick Family Histories [And Oversized], 1988
  2. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Webster-Corbett-Carew Family Histories [And Oversized], 1994
  3. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Stevens-Rhodes-Gillis Family Histories, undated
  4. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Jones Family History,1996
  5. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Jones (“Aunt Agnes’ Line”) Family History, undated
  6. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Walker-Chase Family Histories [And Oversized], 1934 (copy)-1986
  7. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Townsend Family History, 1996
  8. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Townsend-West-Aydelott-Tunnell Family Histories [And Oversized], 1992-1993
  9. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Tate-Conaway-Donaho Family Histories, 1942 (copy)-1992
  10. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Smith Family History, 1991
  11. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Tingle Family History From “The Littleton Heritage,” 1997
  12. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Mary Sheppard Burton History [And Oversized], 1996-1999
  13. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Rencher Family History, undated
  14. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Perdue-Sturgis Family Histories, 1991
  15. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Olephant Family History, undated
  16. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Waller-Phillips-Howard-Ralph Family Histories, 1946-1997
  17. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Winder-Handy-Irving Family Histories, 1968
  18. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Willey-Foxwell Family History, 1988
  19. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Wilson Family History. 2003
  20. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Parker Family History, 1892 (copy) -1999
  21. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Truitt Family History by Edna M. Shannonhause, 1987
  22. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): “Marshall/Washburn and Related Families Compiled by Mary Nicholson Holloway,” 1988
  23. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Collier-Flippo Family History, 1906-1989
  24. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Correspondence Between Betty Murrell and Matthew Wise, 1930 (copy)-1998
  25. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Dawson Family History, undated
  26. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Bailey/Bayley Family History, undated
  27. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Cannon-Newton Family Histories, 1996-1999
  28. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Graham-Wilson-Collier Family Histories, 1996
  29. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Stewart-Gillis Family Histories, 1925 (copy)-1980
  30. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): McCready Family History, undated
  31. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): John Gillis, Lower Ferry Research [And Oversized], 1975-2006
  32. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Booth Family History, undated
  33. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Anderson-Daniel-Travis Family Histories, 1914 (copy)-1995
  34. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Griffith-White-Bowler Family Histories, 1892 (copy)-circa 1980
  35. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Philips-Howard Family Histories, 1997
  36. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Willis Family History, undated
  37. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): 1840-1920 Census Record Copies – Handwritten by Betty Murrell, undated
  38. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Breerwood-Lake Family Histories, 1999

Box 4:

  1. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Fowler Family History, undated
  2. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Dashiell-Bayly-Gillis Bible Records (copy), 1849-1962
  3. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Collier-Dashiell Family Histories, 1986-1994
  4. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Dashiell-Huston-Rider Family Histories [And Oversized], 1926-1989
  5. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Crawford-Twilley Family Histories, undated
  6. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Bounds Family History, 1992
  7. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Darby-Bennett-Gillis-Taylor Family Histories, undated
  8. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Dashiell Family History, 1855 (copy)-2001
  9. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Dashiell Family History, 1982-2006
  10. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Gillis-Dashiell Family History [And Oversized], undated
  11. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Newton-Brerewood-Dashiell-White Family Histories, 1908-2003
  12. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Gillis Family Land Records, 1818 (copy)-1983
  13. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Gillis Family Wills and Administrative Accounts, 1980
  14. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Gillis-Manlove Family History, 1929-1997
  15. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Evans Family History, 1991-1998
  16. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Robinson Family History, 1940 (copy)-2006
  17. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Evans-Walker-Huett-Leeky-Nutter-Gillis Family Histories, 1979-2006
  18. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): MSGT Joseph F. Hamadock World War II Air Force Plane Crash Report, 1944 (copy)-2002
  19. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Freeney-Farrington Family Histories, 1940 (copy)-1970
  20. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Cooper Family History, 1996
  21. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Parsons-Belhards Family History, undated
  22. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Correspondence Between Betty Murrell and Margaret Spellman about Farlow Family, 1996
  23. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Farlow-Fooks Family History, 1975
  24. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Farlow Family History Sheets, undated
  25. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Farlow Family History, 1891 (copy)-1998
  26. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Farlow Family History, 1900 (copy)-2004
  27. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Farlow Family History, 1978-1998
  28. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Parker-Farlow Family History, undated
  29. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Parsons-Farlow Family History [And Oversized], 1815 (copy)-1996
  30. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Parsons Family History, 1987
  31. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Hammond Family History, undated
  32. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Death Notices and Funeral Program, 2011-2012
  33. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): Genealogical and Historical Resources, 1984-2005
  34. Series 2 (Local Family Histories): “List of Colored People in Somerset County, 1832” Handwritten Copy, 2003

Box 5:

  1. Subseries 3.1 (Salisbury History): Salisbury Advertiser Articles, 1972
  2. Subseries 3.1 (Salisbury History): Salisbury State College Catalog, 1972-1973
  3. Subseries 3.1 (Salisbury History): The Salisbury Magazine, July 1976, vol. 1 no. 4, 1976
  4. Subseries 3.1 (Salisbury History): Delmarva Utility News, 1970
  5. Subseries 3.1 (Salisbury History): Peninsula General Hospital School of Nursing Memoirs, 1904-1954
  6. Subseries 3.2 (Historical Societies): “Lower Delmarva Society Genealogical File”, 1923 (copy)-1996
  7. Subseries 3.2 (Historical Societies): Lower Delmarva Genealogical Society Membership List, 1999-2001
  8. Subseries 3.2 (Historical Societies): Wicomico Historical Trust, 1987-1989
  9. Subseries 3.2 (Historical Societies): Worcester-Delaware-Maryland Archives Information, 1981-1986
  10. Subseries 3.3 (Maryland History): Wicomico and Somerset County Courthouse, 1963
  11. Subseries 3.3 (Maryland History): Quantico-SpringHill-Mardela Springs Presentation (copy), 1938
  12. Subseries 3.3 (Maryland History): Vienna, Maryland, 1988
  13. Subseries 3.3 (Maryland History): Whitehaven, Maryland, 1918-2006
  14. Subseries 3.3 (Maryland History): Baltimore Steamboat Lines (copies), 1953
  15. Subseries 3.4 (Church Records): St. Paul’s Episcopal “Old Spring Hill,” 1973
  16. Subseries 3.4 (Church Records): Allen Memorial Baptist Church Directory, 1952
  17. Subseries 3.4 (Church Records): Division Street Baptist Church Directory, 1919
  18. Subseries 3.4 (Church Records): History of the Methodist Protestant Church, 1995
  19. Subseries 3.4 (Church Records): The Immanuel Baptist Church 10th Anniversary Directory, 1969-1970
  20. Subseries 3.5 (Miscellaneous): Alleghany College Air Force Diploma for Oscar L. Taylor, 1944
  21. Subseries 3.5 (Miscellaneous): Correspondence Between Betty Murrell and Fair Play Foundation for Research Grant, 1995-1996
  22. Subseries 3.5 (Miscellaneous): Cemetery Legislation, 1991-1993
  23. Subseries 3.5 (Miscellaneous): History of Freemasonry, 1965-2003
  24. Series 4 (Books Belonging to Murrell Family): “Sentimental Journeys: Delmarva Remembers World War II” by Judith M. Ferrand, circa 1996
  25. Series 4 (Books Belonging to Murrell Family): “You Can’t Never Get to Puckum: Folks and Tales from Delmarva” by Hal Roth, 2001
  26. Series 4 (Books Belonging to Murrell Family): “Shore Folklore: Growing Up with Ghosts, ‘N Legends, ‘N Tales, ‘N Home Remedies” by Thomas A. Flowers, 1989
  27. Series 4 (Books Belonging to Murrell Family): “My First Step…” by Helen Hayman McDaniel, undated
  28. Series 4 (Books Belonging to Murrell Family): Rumford Prize List Booklet, 1903
  29. Series 4 (Books Belonging to Murrell Family): “Escape from Corregidor” by Edgar D. Whitcomb, 1958
  30. Series 4 (Books Belonging to Murrell Family): “The Saturday Book: Fifth Year” edited by Leonard Russell, 1945
  31. Series 4 (Books Belonging to Murrell Family): “National Electrical Code Standard of the National Board of Fire Underwriters for Electric Wiring and Apparatus,” 1940
  32. Series 4 (Books Belonging to Murrell Family): “Official United States Population Figures 1960 Census,” 1961
  33. Series 4 (Books Belonging to Murrell Family): “Safety Rules of Eastern Shore Public Service Company,” 1929

Artifacts

See Nabb Center Staff

Attachments

None