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John P. Murtha Congressional Papers 1932 - 2010 1974 - 2010

Arrangement

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
John P. Murtha Congressional Papers
Creator
Murtha, John P., Congressman
Collection Number
AIS.2010.04
Extent
349 Linear Feet (336 boxes plus 65 boxes of memorabilia and numerous oversize framed items)
Date
1932-2010
Date
1974-2010
Abstract
The John P. Murtha Congressional Papers document the career and activities of Rep. Murtha and his office. With a career spanning 36 years (1974-2010), Rep. Murtha represented Pennsylvania's 12th District based in Johnstown, Pa., and the surrounding region. The collection contains correspondence, reports, legislative files, and other records relating to issues such as defense, the interior, energy, economic development, and labor - among others. In addition to paper records, the collection also contains photographic and audio-video materials in addition to a selection of memorabilia and awards.
Physical Location
Due to the size and location of this collection, researchers are required to notify the Archives Service Center at least 24 hours in advance for use of this collection.
Language
English .
Author
Emily Hikes and Ian McGlory.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Biography

John Patrick "Jack" Murtha, Jr. was born June 17, 1932 in New Martinsville, West Virginia, and spent most of his early life in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania. He attended Ramsey High School, where he lettered three years in basketball and football, graduating in 1951. He then attended Kiskiminetas Springs School before enrolling at Washington and Jefferson College, where he once again played football.

Strong feelings about the Korean War and patriotism led him to enlist as a private in the United States Marine Corps in June of 1952. He was assigned to the 13th Officer Candidate Screening Course and upon completion was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. In 1955, he finished two and a half years of active duty as 1st Lt. in the United States Marine Corps, then used his G.I. Bill to attend the University of Pittsburgh while working at a gas station. He and his wife, Joyce, moved to Johnstown, Pa., in 1958, with their three children (Donna, John, and Patrick). Murtha was the owner and manager of the Johnstown Minute Car Wash, the first of its kind in western Pennsylvania, washing up to 1,200 cars on Saturdays with up to 36 employees. He also attended the Johnstown campus of the University of Pittsburgh as well as the Pittsburgh campus of the University of Pittsburgh part-time in order to complete his B.A. in Economics by 1961. Murtha completed graduate work at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Murtha volunteered for active duty in Vietnam in 1966 where he spent one year as an intelligence officer with the First Marines. He was wounded twice while participating in five major operations south of Da Nang for which he received two awards of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal with V device.

After returning home, Murtha began his political career by winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. Representative from the Johnstown district. He lost in the general election, however, to longtime incumbent Republican John Saylor. Nonetheless, Murtha tried again and was elected to represent the 72nd legislative district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in a special election in the spring of 1969 upon the death of Rep. Edward McNally. State Rep. Murtha was then elected to a full term in 1970, and served in this capacity until 1973.

The unexpected death of Congressman John P. Saylor in late 1973 saw State Rep. Murtha running for Congress in a 1974 special election. A tight race against his opponent, Harry Fox, left Murtha the winner and a newly elected member of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress in 1974 – the first combat veteran from Vietnam to serve in the House of Representatives.

For the next 36 years, Rep. Murtha would play an integral role in areas such as defense, energy, and healthcare. He was a longtime ranking member of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, chairing it from 1989-1995 and again from 2007 until his death in 2010. Additionally, Rep. Murtha advocated for those in his district and created numerous economic opportunities for his constituents; he co-founded the Congressional Steel Caucus in 1979 and was successful in bringing a number of companies and institutions into the region, including Sony and Carnegie Mellon University's Computer Energy Response Team and the Software Engineering Institute, among others.

In addition to a prominent presence on the national stage, Rep. Murtha was a recognized expert on national security matters and he played a key role in advising on international affairs. In his time in Congress, he was frequently tasked to visit the world's hot spots and to survey and assess the situation and advise on the role the United States should play. Some of those countries he traveled to were Vietnam, Panama, El Salvador, Colombia, Peru, all the countries in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Balkans. Rep. Murtha served on the newly established House Subcommittee on Select Intelligence Oversight Panel in the wake of 9/11.

On November 17, 2005, Rep. Murtha came out as an opponent of the war and occupation of Iraq calling it a "flawed policy wrapped in illusion." While those in support of the war, including the President, condemned Murtha's remarks, many applauded his efforts and his courage to speak out against the conflict.

On February 8, 2010, John P. Murtha died from complications of gallbladder surgery. After 36 years in office he was the longest serving congressman in Pennsylvania history.

Previous Citation

John P. Murtha Congressional Papers, 1974-2010, AIS.2010.04, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Preferred Citation

John P. Murtha Congressional Papers, 1974-2010, AIS.2010.04, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mrs. Joyce Murtha on May 1, 2010.

Access Restrictions

Given the personal nature of materials in Series VI. Iraq War and Series IX. Constituent Correspondence, a signed letter of confidentiality is required to access these materials.

Copyright

The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Emily Hikes, Project Archivist, from 2013-2015. Many students helped with processing, including Andrew Brown, Sarita Wescott, Caitlyn O'Malley and Emily Enterline. The finding aid was compiled and the collection completed by Ian McGlory in 2015.

Scope and Content Notes

The John P. Murtha Congressional Papers comprise over 300 boxes of paper-based materials, audio-visual materials, and three-dimensional objects generated or gathered and in the care of the office of Rep. Murtha during his 36 years of congressional service (1974-2010) as congressman from Pennsylvania's 12th District. The material includes administrative files, personal and campaign materials, legislative files, project files, correspondence, and material relating to the Iraq War. In addition to the large amount of paper materials, there is also a substantial amount of audio-visual materials, including photographs, moving images, and sound recordings, as well as a collection of objects, awards, and memorabilia.

In order to preserve the integrity of the collection, as well as efficiently use time and resources, a substantial effort was made to keep much of the collection in original order and are in some cases arranged alphabetically and chronologically. Given the size of the collection, it is highly suggested that keyword searches are used to find and locate material within the collection.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into the following ten series which reflect the primary activities of Rep. Murtha during his time in Congress, with additional materials being separated by media-type:

Series I. Administrative Files, 1974-2010

Series II. Personal and Political Files, 1932-2010

Series III. Legislative Files, 1974-2010

Series IV. Media and Press Relations, 1970-2010

Series V. Project Files, 1965-2010

Series VI. Iraq War Response, 2005-2008

Series VII. Audio-Visual Material, 1974-2010

Series VIII. Memorabilia

Series IX. Constituent Correspondence, 1973-1994

Series X. Electronic Records

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Martin-Baker
    • Boeing
    • Kuchera Defense Systems
    • Northrop Grumman
    • Lockheed Martin
    • North American Höganäs
    • Concurrent Technologies Corporation
    • MountainTop Technologies
    • Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    • Bombardier
    • Pennsylvania State University
    • Indiana University of Pennsylvania
    • University of Pittsburgh
    • St. Vincent College

    Personal Names

    • Scialabba, Carmen V.
    • Meyer, Debra
    • Hugya, John
    • Grundy, Judy
    • Clemenson, Brad
    • Carruth, Gabrielle
    • Murtha, Joyce
    • Allen, William
    • Murtha, John P., Congressman

    Family Names

    • Murtha family

    Geographic Names

    • United States -- Officials and employees -- Awards
    • Pennsylvania -- Politics and government
    • Johnstown (Cambria County, Pa.)
    • Armstrong County (Pa.)
    • Cambria County (Pa.)
    • Indiana County (Pa.)
    • Somerset County (Pa.)
    • Westmoreland County (Pa.)
    • Pittsburgh (Pa.)
    • Greene County (Pa.)
    • Washington County (Pa.)
    • Allegheny County (Pa.)
    • Fayette County (Pa.)

    Genres

    • Video recordings (physical artifacts)
    • Sound recordings
    • Photographs
    • Newspapers

    Other Subjects

    • Politicians -- Pennsylvania
    • Iraq War, 2003-2011
    • United States. Congress -- Appropriations and expenditures
    • United States. Congress -- Caucuses
    • United States. Congress -- Constituent communication
    • Health care reform
    • United States. Navy -- Appropriations and expenditures
    • United States. Air Force
    • United States. Army -- Appropriations and expenditures
    • United States. Marine Corps
    • Speeches, addresses, etc.
    • International relations
    • Economic development -- Pennsylvania
    • Politics
    • Personal papers
    • Legislators -- Pennsylvania
    • Legislation -- Pennsylvania
    • Railroads -- Pennsylvania
    • Parks -- Pennsylvania
    • Lungs -- Dust diseases

Container List

Series VIII. Memorabilia

Scope and Content Notes

Series VI contains numerous framed objects, awards, and memorabilia awarded or given to Rep. Murtha throughout the course of his career. This includes numerous honorary degrees, plaques, and framed objects such as Rep. Murtha's American Spirit Honor-Medal given to him during his initial training as a U.S. Marine, Certificates of Election, and oversized campaign materials. For more information on these objects, please contact the Archives Service Center.

Series IX. Constituent Correspondence, 1973-1994

Scope and Content Notes

Series IX contains correspondence from Rep. Murtha's constituents (Boxes 327-336). An effort was made through sampling to preserve the voices of the 12th district on topics such as energy, labor, the environment, employment, healthcare, defense, and the welfare of veterans, among others.

Due to the sensitive information contained in these records, a signed privacy agreement is required to access these materials.