Frank Murphy is a teacher for Council Rock School District in Holland, PA and a successful children's book author of historical fiction/biography books for young readers. Many of Murphy's books have been produced under Random House's "Step into Reading" History Readers series. In 2001, he published Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares , a book that explored Franklin's fascination with the recreational mathematics activity known as a "Magic Square."

In 2006, Murphy's book Babe Ruth Saves Baseball received the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award; the book was included in the Intermediate Section of the "Easy-to-Read Books" booklist in the 2006 publication of Oppenheim Toy Portfolio's The Best Toys, Books, DVDs & Music for Kids .

The Frank Murphy Collection include the dummy and two typescripts for Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares as well as two pieces of final art created for the published book by Richard Walz. Brief correspondence between Murphy and Mallory Loehr of Random House Children's Books is also included.

This collection is arranged in two contains. The dummy, typescripts and correspondence are housed in chronological order; the final artwork is foldered in the order they appear in the published version of Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares .

Publication Information:

Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection

Finding Aid Author:

Christopher A. Biss-Brown

Access Restrictions:

This collection is open to researchers by appointment. Please contact the Curator for information.

Use Restrictions:

The right of access to material does not imply the right of publication. Permission for reprinting, reproduction, or extensive quotation from the rare books, manuscripts, prints, or drawings must be obtained through written application, stating the use to be made of the material. The reader bears the responsibility for any possible infringement of copyright laws in the publication of such material. A reproduction fee will be charged if the material is to be reproduced in a commercial publication.

Immediate Source of Acquisition:

Unless otherwise noted, the materials in this collection are a gift of Frank Murphy, 2017.

• Manuscripts
• Typescripts
• Dummies (printed matter)

• Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

• Children's authors -- 21st century
• Illustrated children's books -- 21st century
• Children's literature--21st century