Murphy, D. X. & Brothers, Architects (Louisville, Ky.) Hospital Facilities Collection, 1912-1945

Held by The Filson Historical Society

Creator: D. X. Murphy & Brothers (Louisville, Ky.)

Title: Hospital Facilities Collection, 1912-1945

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Curator of Special Collections.

Size of Collection: 7.5 cubic feet, (3 oversize boxes)

Location Number: Mss./AR/M978

Institutional History Note

D. X. Murphy and Brothers, Architects was a Louisville architectural firm that grew out of D. X. Murphy’s work with Louisville architect, Henry Whitestone. Whitestone began his architectural career in his homeland, Ireland. He immigrated to the United States in the 1850s and settled in Louisville by 1853 where he established an architectural firm with Isaiah Rogers. In 1874 he hired D. X. Murphy as a draftsman. When Whitestone retired in 1881, Murphy took control of the firm. In 1890 Murphy’s brother James C. Murphy joined him creating D. X. Murphy and Brother. At some point a third brother, Peter J. Murphy, joined the firm creating D. X. Murphy and Brothers. In 1962 D. X. Murphy became Luckett and Farley, Inc. and as of 2010, was still a thriving Louisville architectural firm. Famous works that have been attributed to the firm include, Galt House, the grandstand and twin spires at Churchill Downs, and Presentation Academy.

Biographical Note

D. X. Murphy (1853 – 1933) was born in Louisville, Kentucky. Murphy was the son of Irish immigrants and began working as a draftsman for Irish immigrant, architect, Henry Whitestone in 1874. In 1881, upon Whitestone’s retirement, Murphy took control of the firm. Murphy changed the name of the firm to D. X. Murphy and Brothers, Architects. His two brothers James C. and Peter J. Murphy worked with him in the firm. The Murphy brothers were Roman Catholic and designed many Louisville area churches and schools. Murphy built Louisville General Hospital in 1914 on Chestnut St. This was known as the “Million Dollar Hospital,” because Jim Crow regulations required building separate facilities for use by African Americans. Murphy was responsible for one of Louisville’s internationally known architectural works, the grandstand and twin spires at Churchill Downs. As of 2010, Murphy’s firm is still extant as Luckett & Farley, Inc.

Scope and Content Note

Collection includes hospital facility drawings from the office of D.X. Murphy and Bros. in Louisville, KY. Collection includes both public and private hospital facilities located in the Midwest and South. Types of drawings include architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, site surveys, shop drawings and campus master plans. Drawing media include blueprints, drafting linen sets, and pencil on tracing paper. Projects included are the Louisville Public Hospital (also Louisville City Hospital, Louisville General Hospital, “Million Dollar Hospital”, and University of Louisville Hospital), St. Anthony’s Hospital (Michigan City, IN), St. Elizabeth’s Hospital (Lafayette, IN), St. Elizabeth’s Hospital (Lincoln, NE), St. Francis Hospital (Grand Island, NE), St. Joseph’s Hospital (Memphis, TN), and St. Joseph’s Infirmary (Louisville, KY). Click here to see project index for more detailed list. Also included are various architectural drawings and site plans for Churchill Downs thoroughbred racetrack dating from 1894-1967. These are duplicates of the original drawings and were used as a protective wrapping around the rolls of hospital facility drawing sets.

Folder List

Click here to see project index for more detailed list.

Subject Headings

Architecture – Designs and plans

African Americans – Hospitals

Architecture – Kentucky – Louisville

Catholic hospitals – Designs and plans

Churchill Downs (Louisville, Ky.: Racetrack)

Convents – Designs and plans

Electrical drafting

Engineering drawings

Hospital architecture – Designs and plans

Kentucky Jockey Club

Louisville (Ky.) – Buildings, structures, etc.

Louisville City Hospital (Louisville, Ky.) – Buildings

Louisville General Hospital (Louisville, Ky.) – Buildings

Louisville Public Hospital (Louisville, Ky.) – Buildings

Medical centers – Design and plans

Minorities in architecture – Kentucky – Louisville

Nursing schools – Kentucky – Louisville – Buildings, structures, etc.

Plumbing drafting

Public architecture – Designs and plans

Public architecture – Kentucky – Louisville

Segregation – Kentucky – Louisville – Buildings, structures, etc.

St. Joseph’s Infirmary (Louisville, Ky.) – Buildings

Structural drawing

Religious architecture – Kentucky – Louisville

University of Louisville Hospital – Buildings