Daniel A.P. Murray (1852-1925)

Daniel A. P. Murray was a librarian, historian, and businessman. Murray believed that "the true test of progress of a people is to be found in their literature."

He decided he wanted to do his part to preserve the written record of African American voices, so they wouldn't be lost among main stream American history.

Murray began his mission of devoting his life to collecting and documenting Black literature. He was employed by the Library of Congress, and there he developed his professional skills as a scholar and bibliographer.

A main office duty of Murray's was to secure a copy of every book and pamphlet in existence by a Black author, to exhibit at the Paris Exposition in 1900. 

Because of Murray's efforts there are now over 1,500 books and pamphlets apart of the library's holdings. The information contained provides strong documentation of African American life during the fifty years following emancipation.

Thank you Daniel A. P. Murray, because of you people have access to resources which reveals truth about African American people, the horrid struggles they endured, and the lives they led.

2008 LA