Golden Clan
Encyclopedia
Golden Clan was the name of a non-fiction account of the Murray/ Mc Donnell family of New York,
by John Corry, Golden Clan: The Murrays, the McDonnells, & the Irish American Aristocracy,Houghton Mifflin Co.; Boston, 1977. This followed an earlier book by noted chronicler-of-the-wealthy (Our Crowd
,The Grandes Dames) Stephen Birmingham
Real Lace: America's Irish Rich HarperCollins New York: 1973 in which this family were also the main subjects.
The Murray/ Mc Donnell clan were the children and grandchildren of inventor Thomas E. Murray
, an associate of Thomas Edison's, who was an early summer resident of Southampton, Long Island, New York
. Due to their wealth, good looks, and sheer size (one branch, the James Mc Donnells, had 14 children; another, the Thomas E. Murray Jr.s, had 11) they were frequently covered in the social news of the New York press, particularly in the Hearst newspapers by gossip columnist 'Cholly Knickerbocker'. Public interest increased when one Mc Donnell married Henry Ford II
, and a Murray cousin Alfred G. Vanderbilt II
. Unlike the Kennedy family
, with whom several of the Mc Donnells were close, none of the family ran for public office. The eldest son of the patriarch- Thomas E. Murray, Jr., was appointed by President Truman to the United States Atomic Energy Commission
and his brother John 'Jack' Murray to the Port Authority of New York by Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt
. The McDonnell triplex at 910 Fifth Avenue in New York was reputedly the largest in the city. The clan were considered pillars of the New York Archdiocese, and were very close to Cardinal Spellman and Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
; when Clare Boothe Luce
converted to Catholicism, Bishop Sheen suggested that Anna Murray Mc Donnell serve as her godmother.
The family has pretty much faded from the public spotlight since the collapse of Mc Donnell & Co., the family stock brokerage firm under T. Murray Mc Donnell in 1970. Several family members such as Catherine Murray di Montezemolo
were still prominent in Southampton society at the beginning of the 21st Century , and they continued to intermarry with other prominent Catholic families. Peggy Mc Donnell, a daughter of T. Murray Mc Donnell, is the wife of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr.
Several other wealthy Irish Catholic families were also discussed in Corry and Birmingham's books, and have been referred to in print as "Golden Clans". Foremost perhaps would be the descendants of Thomas Fortune Ryan
. The Grace family, the grandchildren of William R. Grace such as J. Peter Grace
, would be another. Also mentioned were F. Scott Fitzgerald's friends Gerald and Sara Murphy
; Gerald's father, the founder of Mark Cross Leather Goods, was a Southampton friend of Thomas Murray.
Quite a number of these families sent their sons to Portsmouth Abbey School
and Canterbury School (Connecticut) and then on to Georgetown University
, and their daughters to Convent of the Sacred Heart
schools and Manhattanville College
.
Many of the Golden Clans lived in apartment buildings on Park Avenue north of 79th Street, close by St. Ignatius Loyola and St. Thomas More churches, causing some people to refer to the area as the "Irish Gold Coast". Wealthy Irish Catholics are no longer clustered in this neighborhood; many of these families moved out to wealthy suburbs like Rye, New York.
by John Corry, Golden Clan: The Murrays, the McDonnells, & the Irish American Aristocracy,Houghton Mifflin Co.; Boston, 1977. This followed an earlier book by noted chronicler-of-the-wealthy (Our Crowd
Our Crowd
Our Crowd is a book by Stephen Birmingham that documents the lives of prominent New York Jewish families of the 19th Century. Historian Louis Auchincloss called it "A fascinating and absorbing chapter of New York social and financial history..." There have been 14 editions of the book as of...
,The Grandes Dames) Stephen Birmingham
Stephen Birmingham
Stephen Birmingham, born May 28, 1932 in Hartford, Connecticut, is an author.Born to Thomas Birmingham and Editha Gardner Birmingham, he received a BA from Williams College in 1953. He is a former teacher of writing at the University of Cincinnati. He has written over thirty books and is now retired...
Real Lace: America's Irish Rich HarperCollins New York: 1973 in which this family were also the main subjects.
The Murray/ Mc Donnell clan were the children and grandchildren of inventor Thomas E. Murray
Thomas E. Murray
Thomas E. Murray was an American inventor and businessman who developed electric power plants for New York City as well as many electrical devices which influenced life around the world, including the dimmer switch and screw-in fuse...
, an associate of Thomas Edison's, who was an early summer resident of Southampton, Long Island, New York
Southampton (town), New York
The Town of Southampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, U.S., partly on the South Fork of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town had a total population of 54,712...
. Due to their wealth, good looks, and sheer size (one branch, the James Mc Donnells, had 14 children; another, the Thomas E. Murray Jr.s, had 11) they were frequently covered in the social news of the New York press, particularly in the Hearst newspapers by gossip columnist 'Cholly Knickerbocker'. Public interest increased when one Mc Donnell married Henry Ford II
Henry Ford II
Henry Ford II , commonly known as "HF2" and "Hank the Deuce", was the son of Edsel Ford and grandson of Henry Ford...
, and a Murray cousin Alfred G. Vanderbilt II
Alfred G. Vanderbilt II
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt II was a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family, a son of the first Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt who died a hero in the sinking of the RMS Lusitania. His mother, Margaret Emerson, was one of America's wealthiest women and most sought-after hostesses, operating at least...
. Unlike the Kennedy family
Kennedy family
In the United States, the phrase Kennedy family commonly refers to the family descending from the marriage of the Irish-Americans Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald that was prominent in American politics and government. Their political involvement has revolved around the...
, with whom several of the Mc Donnells were close, none of the family ran for public office. The eldest son of the patriarch- Thomas E. Murray, Jr., was appointed by President Truman to the United States Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
and his brother John 'Jack' Murray to the Port Authority of New York by Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
. The McDonnell triplex at 910 Fifth Avenue in New York was reputedly the largest in the city. The clan were considered pillars of the New York Archdiocese, and were very close to Cardinal Spellman and Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
Fulton J. Sheen
Servant of God Fulton John Sheen, born Peter John Sheen was an American archbishop of the Catholic Church known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio...
; when Clare Boothe Luce
Clare Boothe Luce
Clare Boothe Luce was an American playwright, editor, journalist, ambassador, socialite and U.S. Congresswoman, representing the state of Connecticut.-Early life:...
converted to Catholicism, Bishop Sheen suggested that Anna Murray Mc Donnell serve as her godmother.
The family has pretty much faded from the public spotlight since the collapse of Mc Donnell & Co., the family stock brokerage firm under T. Murray Mc Donnell in 1970. Several family members such as Catherine Murray di Montezemolo
Catherine Murray di Montezemolo
Catherine Murray di Montezemolo was a fashion editor with a prominent position in Southampton society....
were still prominent in Southampton society at the beginning of the 21st Century , and they continued to intermarry with other prominent Catholic families. Peggy Mc Donnell, a daughter of T. Murray Mc Donnell, is the wife of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr.
Cyrus Vance, Jr.
Cyrus Roberts Vance, Jr. is an American trial lawyer. He is the incumbent New York County District Attorney , and was previously a principal at the law firm of Morvillo, Abramowitz, Grand, Isaon, Anello & Bohrer, P.C...
Several other wealthy Irish Catholic families were also discussed in Corry and Birmingham's books, and have been referred to in print as "Golden Clans". Foremost perhaps would be the descendants of Thomas Fortune Ryan
Thomas Fortune Ryan
Thomas Fortune Ryan was a U.S. tobacco and transport magnate. Part of his fortune paid for the construction of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond, Virginia.-Early days:...
. The Grace family, the grandchildren of William R. Grace such as J. Peter Grace
J. Peter Grace
Joseph Peter Grace was a multimillionaire American industrialist and conglomerateur of Irish Catholic heritage. He was president of the diversified chemical company, ' for 48 years, making him the longest reigning CEO of a public company.Born in Manhasset, New York, he succeeded his father, Joseph...
, would be another. Also mentioned were F. Scott Fitzgerald's friends Gerald and Sara Murphy
Gerald and Sara Murphy
Gerald Clery Murphy and Sara Sherman Wiborg were wealthy, expatriate Americans who moved to the French Riviera in the early 20th century and who, with their generous hospitality and flair for parties, created a vibrant social circle, particularly in the 1920s, that included a great number of...
; Gerald's father, the founder of Mark Cross Leather Goods, was a Southampton friend of Thomas Murray.
Quite a number of these families sent their sons to Portsmouth Abbey School
Portsmouth Abbey School
Portsmouth Abbey School is a private, coeducational boarding and day school for grades 9 through 12, located in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Founded by the Benedictine monks of Portsmouth Abbey in 1926 as Portsmouth Priory School, the school offered a classical education to boys...
and Canterbury School (Connecticut) and then on to Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, and their daughters to Convent of the Sacred Heart
Convent of the Sacred Heart (New York)
The Convent of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic all-girl school in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Teaching grades from pre-kindergarten through twelve, it is located on Manhattan's Upper East Side at East 91st Street and Fifth Avenue....
schools and Manhattanville College
Manhattanville College
Manhattanville College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, located in Purchase, New York. Founded in 1841 it was known initially as Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart...
.
Many of the Golden Clans lived in apartment buildings on Park Avenue north of 79th Street, close by St. Ignatius Loyola and St. Thomas More churches, causing some people to refer to the area as the "Irish Gold Coast". Wealthy Irish Catholics are no longer clustered in this neighborhood; many of these families moved out to wealthy suburbs like Rye, New York.