Social activist. She enjoyed a normal, happy childhood, but was overwhelmed when she read the Bible cover-to-cover at age 13. She gradually became an atheist and when her son Bill objected to school prayers, she took the case to the Supreme Court; in a landmark decision outlawing prayers in public schools, she won, in her words, the "unalienable right to freedom from religion as well as freedom of religion" (1963). TLS signed 'M. E. Murray,' one page, 8.5 x 11, The Freethought Society of America, Inc. letterhead, October 22, 1964. Letter to a collector in response to the question of her greatest career satisfaction. In part, 'The greatest satisfaction in my entire careers (and I have had a number of them) is in being a woman, right up to the hilt. Nothing can compare with the absolute satisfaction of being a mother. The second greatest satisfaction I have is dealing with ideas and meeting challenges in the field of ideas...and the great inner satisfaction which comes from completely free of the mores of society, and living as I want to live, saying what I want to say, without the monolithic pressure of conformity upon me.' In fine condition. RRAuction COA.
