Guide to the Photographs of G.C. Murphy Company, 1942-1992
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Photographs of the G.C. Murphy Company
- Creator
- G. C .Murphy Company
- Collection Number
- MSP#240
- Extent
- 1.0 cubic feet (2 boxes)
- Date
- 1942-1992
- Abstract
- In 1906, two years after selling his first chain of five and dime stores to F. W. Woolworth Co., George Clinton Murphy opened his first discount variety store in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, with five employees. Throughout its history, Murphy Company has endeavored to keep its stores upgraded with a regular renovation and refurbishing program, which began in the 1920s. Murphy also expanded its market across the United States with the acquisition of several other variety store chains. In April 1985, G. C. Murphy Company was acquired by Ames, a discount department store chain based in Connecticut. This collection includes photographs of personnel, employee recognition events, McKeesport (Pa.) headquarters, the Morgan Lindsey acquisition, new store grand openings, special events, and other miscellaneous photographs.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History of G. C. Murphy Company
In 1906, two years after selling his first chain of five and dime stores to F. W. Woolworth Co., George Clinton Murphy opened his first discount variety store in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, with five employees. Within five years, he had a chain of ten stores in southwestern Pennsylvania, which he sold to John S. Mack and Walter C. Shaw, co-founders of the G. C. Murphy Company 5c-10c-25c stores. The company experienced steady growth thereafter through the purchase of independent stores and the acquisition of several multi-unit variety chains across the United States.
Growth can also be attributed to smart expansion strategies and concern for customer needs. For instance, the acquisition of adjacent properties and addition of second floor and basement sales rooms resulted in Murphy becoming the dominant store in many towns. Emphasis was also placed on tailoring merchandise to fit each local market.
In 1970, Murphy again demonstrated its attention to public needs with the opening of the first Murphy's Mart discount store in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Murphy's Marts were single-floor operations located in high-traffic suburban sites, often in shopping centers. All provided ample parking and effort was made to provide total shopping service in one location with the inclusion of a major supermarket, and usually a bank, at all free-standing Mart locations.
Throughout its history, Murphy Company has endeavored to keep its stores upgraded with a regular renovation and refurbishing program, which began in the 1920s. Murphy also expanded its market across the United States with the acquisition of several other variety store chains. In 1951, acquisition of the 71-unit group of Morris stores, which were converted to Murphy operations, expanded the chain into the Midwest. Expansion into the South and Southwest began in 1959 with the acquisition of 92 Morgan & Lindsey stores. Further penetration into Texas was made in the 1960s through the purchase of several multi-store companies in San Antonio, Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley. Other store chains owned and operated by G. C. Murphy Company include Bargain World, which sold discounted closeouts, seconds and merchandise bought at bankruptcies; Terry and Ferris, and Bruners, junior department stores; and Cobbs, specialty apparel stores.
G. C. Murphy Company experienced steady growth, both in sales volume and number of stores, throughout its long history. The company went from twelve stores with $251,699 in sales in 1911, to 448 stores with $803,699,000 in sales in 1980. While peak number of stores was 545 in 1976, the company's emphasis of profitability led to its closing of unprofitable stores and the restructuring, improving, and building of new stores based on changes in consumer needs and socio-economic patterns. Even the economically devastating years of the Great Depression saw not only moderate drops in net earnings for 1930 and 1932, but also steady increases in sales and in number of stores.
Headquarters for G. C. Murphy Company was in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, location of the first Murphy store. In 1961, Murphy demonstrated its progressive business outlook with the installation of modern computer equipment, which handled everything from systematic reordering of merchandise and inventory control, to employee records and accounts payable. Murphy's 17,000 square foot Computer Center opened in McKeesport in 1976.
John S. Mack, one of the two co-founders of G. C. Murphy Company, continued as the company's President and Chairman of the Board until his death in 1940. Walter C. Shaw, the other co-founder and Vice President then became President, and Edgar M. Mack, previously treasurer, became Chairman of the Board. Other prominent Murphy executives include James S. Mack, Walter C. Shaw, Jr., Edgar L. Paxton, William M. Anderson, Kenneth T. Paxton, Eugene A. Grissinger, Paul L. Sample, William T. Withers, Judson M. Ellis, Jr., and the company's last executive officers, Thomas F. Hudak and Charles H. Lytle.
Murphy Company has always been noted for its generous treatment of employees. For many years the company's Veterans Club provided recognition and a social forum for all employees with at least fifteen years of service. On an employee's 25th anniversary with the company, a party was held with the honoree's receiving flowers, stock, and other special gifts. Every effort was made to treat employees with respect and as a member of a large extended family. In return, employees took pride in their work and at times worked together for special projects, such as the campaign in 1942 to raise sufficient funds to give twelve mobile motorized units to the Red Cross for America's War effort. In the 1960s, Murphy sponsored a race car, the "Murphy Special", which competed in professional races, including the Indianapolis 500, with Roger McCluskey and Bob Wente as drivers.
In April, 1985, G. C. Murphy Company was acquired by Ames, a discount department store chain based in Connecticut.
Scope and Content Notes
This collection includes photographs of employee recognition events, McKeesport (Pa.) headquarters, the Morgan Lindsey acquisition, new store grand openings, personnel, special events and other miscellaneous photographs.
Arrangement
The G. C. Murphy Company photographs are divided into three series. Series have been designated for Personnel, Stores, and Miscellaneous.
The G. C. Murphy Company photographs are housed in two archival boxes.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials came in one accession in 1994.
Acc# 1994.0098 Gift of Edwin Davis.
Preferred Citation
Photographs of the G.C. Murphy Company, 1942-1992, MSP# 240, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Karen Hockenson on June 17, 1996.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Doug MacGregor on June 27, 2001.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.
Subjects
- G. C. Murphy Company
- Hudak, Thomas F.
- Lytle, Charles H.
- Mack, John Sephus (-1940)
- Shaw, Walter C., Sr. (1881-)
- Mack, John S., Jr.
- Paxton, Edgar L.
- Paxton, Kenneth T.
- Mack, Connie
- Automobile Racing -- Professional -- United States
- Chain stores -- G. C. Murphy Company -- United States
- Chain stores -- Morgan Lindsey -- United States
- Retail stores -- Pennsylvania
- Retail stores -- Pennsylvania -- McKeesport
- Retail stores -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Retail stores -- United States