Governor Johnston Murray

Term—1951 to 1955

Telegram and letter to and from John Foster Dulles and Gov. Murray regarding speaking at Oklahoma State Fair, 1951

Research Topics: Reorganization of the Executive Branch, Reorganization of the State Government, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, Civil Defense, Flood Disaster, Civil Rights and Segregation

Related Websites:

Descriptive Summary

Size: 17 cubic feet
Creator: Office of Governor
Repository: Oklahoma State Archives
200 Northeast 18th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 522-3579
Open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. M-F

Click here for a detailed Archival Finding Aid in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format.

Arrangement and Description

Record Group: 8-N

Johnston Murray, Democrat. Served from 1951 to 1955. He was born July 21, 1902, in the mansion of the Chickasaw Nation's Governor at Emet, Johnston County, Indian Territory. His early education was governed by the location of the work of his famous father, former Governor William H. Murray. After graduation from the Murray State School of Agriculture, in 1924, he went to Bolivia where he lived for four years trying to make a success of his father's colonization expedition there. He received his law degree in 1946, having studied and worked at other things for a number of years. He served as Governor from January 8, 1951, to January 1955. He served as an attorney with the State Department of Welfare until his death April 16, 1974. He is buried at Tishomingo along with his father.

Click here for a detailed Biography in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format.

State of State Addresses: 1951 • 1953 • 1955

Agency History

The Governor of Oklahoma is the chief executive officer of the state and is elected for a four year term. Principal powers and responsibilities are outlined by the state constitution and by statute and include certain appointive powers, the veto or approval of bills passed by the Legislature, the granting of pardons and paroles, the summoning of special sessions of the legislature, and the calling out of the militia. Moreover, the Governor is directly responsible for the preparation of the state budget, serves as an ex officio member of several boards and commissions, receives reports from various state officers and agencies, and is charged with the duty of seeing that all laws are faithfully executed in the state.

Administrative Information

Access: No Restrictions.

Publication Rights: Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the Oklahoma State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement, which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the Oklahoma State Archives collections.

Preferred citation: [Identification of Item], [Box #], [Folder #], Record Group 8-N-[#], Governor's Office Records, Oklahoma State Archives, Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Oklahoma City, OK.