Victoria Christopher Murray understands there are hidden gems in American history, and like an archeologist, sheโs on a mission to bring them to light.
Two of the New York Times best-selling authorโs books unearth such stories and will be the topic of her appearance at Evansville Vanderburgh Public Libraryโs SPEAK lecture series on Oct. 24.
A native New Yorker, Christopher Murray has authored or co-authored more than 30 novels in a 25-year writing career, resulting in nearly three million books in print. Her latest works of historical fiction recreate the scenes behind the stories of women whose quiet work impacted millions.
โI start with women who have been lost in the folds of history, a story that is little known but should have been well known,โ she says. โThese women have achievements and accomplishments. Weโre standing on their shoulders of their achievements, but we donโt know their names?โ
Christopher Murray was familiar with Belle da Costa Greene, the protagonist of her 2021 release โThe Personal Librarianโ co-authored with Marie Benedict. After being connected with powerful financier J.P. Morgan, da Costa Greene helped him build a highly valuable collection of rare books, manuscripts, and art that still exists โ all the while camouflaging the fact that she was Black.
Conversely, Christopher Murrayโs findings while researching โThe First Ladiesโ โ her 2019 release (also coauthored by Benedict) about the controversial friendship between U.S. first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune โ were more of a surprise. Christopher Murray discovered an extensive network of collaboration the two women fostered between Black and white American leaders in the 1930s and โ40s.
โWho knew the Civil Rights Movement began with the work Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune did? Who knew a Black woman had anything to do with it?โ she says.
Christopher Murrayโs books impart knowledge, wisdom, and lessons on readers, and she often is the first person impacted by her work, marveling at the stories she uncovers as she researches her book subjects.
โOne of the things these books do is make people more curious. Even writing them makes me more curious,โ she says. โI was stunned that Eleanor and Mary โ even in New York โ couldnโt find restaurants to go to.โ
The reason these stories remain unearthed is not lost on Christopher Murray.
โWomen were second-class citizens. Blacks were two-fifths of a person. They just werenโt important. Their importance came after their deaths,โ she says. โOnce I discover them, Iโm all in. I just want to do well by the characters and let readers, with their own experiences and backgrounds, take out of there what they need.
Her Oct. 24 lecture will be Christopher Murrayโs first visit to Evansville. The SPEAK lecture series pairs readings with discussions that support a variety of topics presented by visiting authors and leaders. This yearโs lecture lineup has included authors Kate Quinn, Elin Hilderbrand, and Anthony DeBenedet. Christopher Murrayโs visit will conclude the 2024 SPEAK series.
Christopher Murray hopes her SPEAK lecture inspires others to dig deeper into history and discover other lesser-known stories of trailblazers such as Evansville suffragette Lucia Blount.
โThe biggest compliment is when someone says, โI put down your book and went down a rabbit hole. I lost five hours because of you, Victoria!โโ she laughs.
โThere are so many hidden figures in our history,โ she adds. โIโm going to discover as many as I can.โ
When You Go
EVPL SPEAK: An Explorative Lecture Series, featuring Victoria Christopher Murray
7 p.m. Oct. 24
Ivy Tech Community College auditorium, 3501 N. First Ave.
Admission is free
