Florence Jessie Murray (February 16, 1894 – April 14, 1975) was a Canadian medical doctor,
missionary
A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Tho ...
, and professor who worked in
Korea
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
for over forty years, notable for her pioneering contributions as a woman in the male-dominated field of medicine, dedication to service during World War II and the Korean War, and innovation in improving medical care in Korea, specifically in treating tuberculosis and leprosy. Her leadership of the Severance hospital contributed to the development of
Yonsei University. Additionally, the hospital she founded and led, the Wonju United Christian Hospital became the
Yonsei University Mirae Campus. Recognized with several honorary degrees, she permanently returned to
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
in 1969, where she continued to share her passion for service through domestic projects and her memoirs.
Early life
Personal life
Florence J. Murray was born February 16, 1894, in Pictou Landing,
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland".
Most of the population are native Eng ...
and grew up in Lawrencetown and Earltown, rural Canadian towns.
Her father was a Presbyterian minister and her mother was a teacher. Murray's parents supported her aspirations to become a physician despite gender norms at the time.
Murray was the oldest of six children. Of her siblings Foster, Edward, Anna, Charles, and Alexander, the former three also became physicians.
She never married or had children.
Education
Murray attended
Prince of Wales College
Prince of Wales College (PWC) is a former university college, which was located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. PWC merged with St. Dunstan's University in 1969 to form the University of Prince Edward Island.
PWC traces its hist ...
in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and then entered the
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University (commonly known as Dal) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the fou ...
Medical College in 1914.
While at Dalhousie University, she engaged in religious activities to prepare for mission work, including the
Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA),
Student Volunteer Movement
The Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions was an organization founded in 1886 that sought to recruit college and university students in the United States for missionary service abroad. It also sought to publicize and encourage the mission ...
, and serving as a Bible study group leader.
Murray was the 23rd woman to graduate from the Dalhousie University Medical College, as it was uncommon for women to attend co-educational medical schools.
As a co-ed university, Dalhousie also had more resources and stronger training than female-only institutions at the time. Additionally, many male students enlisted to serve in
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
during her medical school years, leaving more opportunities for female students to gain experience.
After medical school, Murray applied for and was accepted to a paid internship at Long Island Hospital in
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
, but left shortly after to return to Halifax to work and train with a surgeon.
Journey to mission work
Call
Murray was raised in a religious setting and had always intended on dedicating her life to service.
As a child, she aspired to be a minister, but was refused by the church because of her gender. She was introduced to missionary work early on through her father's professional and social connections.
Her father had wanted to serve abroad, but was denied. Murray was intrigued by the experiences of her father's friends, and after being introduced to the
Student Volunteer Movement
The Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions was an organization founded in 1886 that sought to recruit college and university students in the United States for missionary service abroad. It also sought to publicize and encourage the mission ...
in college, decided to become a missionary.
Her parents, who encouraged her to prioritize service in her career, were supportive of this decision.
Halifax Explosion
On December 6, 1917, a French cargo ship exploded in the harbor of
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...
. Now known as the
Halifax Explosion
On the morning of 6 December 1917, the French cargo ship collided with the Norwegian vessel in the waters of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The ''Mont-Blanc'', laden with high explosives, caught fire and exploded, devastating the Richmond ...
, the event was the largest man-made explosion in history at the time. When Murray heard of the explosion, she headed to the
YMCA
YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams in London, originally ...
emergency hospital in Halifax to assist.
Murray was a fourth-year medical student and had almost no experience in anesthesia. After just a day of experience working with explosion victims, she was made the official anesthesiologist at the Halifax YMCA.
Spanish Flu
One year after the Halifax explosion, Nova Scotia was hit by the
Spanish flu
The 1918–1920 influenza pandemic, commonly known by the misnomer Spanish flu or as the Great Influenza epidemic, was an exceptionally deadly global influenza pandemic caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus. The earliest documented case was ...
pandemic. When the doctor in Lockeport, Nova Scotia died of the flu, Murray was asked to help.
She worked with the community to staff an emergency hospital and treat influenza patients.
Murray's volunteer efforts during the Halifax explosion and Spanish flu gave her practical experience for the demands of missionary work. After working briefly at the Halifax hospital to earn money for her family, she then turned to the
Presbyterian Church of Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada (french: Église presbytérienne du Canada) is a Presbyterian denomination, serving in Canada under this name since 1875. The United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939. According to ...
to look for a position abroad.
Dr. Kate McMillan, a mission doctor in Korea, had recently written to ask for assistance, so the mission board offered Murray the position and she accepted.
Missionary service in Korea
In 1921 Murray left Halifax, Nova Scotia for
Hamhung
Hamhŭng (''Hamhŭng-si''; ) is North Korea's second-largest List of cities in North Korea, city, and the capital of South Hamgyong, South Hamgyŏng Province. It has an estimated population of 768,551. Located in the southern part of the South Ham ...
, Korea, where she eventually became superintendent of the Jehye Hospital.
She was forced to return to Canada briefly during World War II but returned in 1946 when asked to establish a medical training program at
Ewha Womans University
Ewha Womans University () is a private women's university in Seoul founded in 1886 by Mary F. Scranton under Emperor Gojong. It was the first university founded in South Korea. Currently, Ewha is one of the world's largest female educational ins ...
in Seoul.
In the years following the Korean War and before her return home, Murray taught and practiced medicine at
Severance Hospital, established
Wonju United Christian Hospital in the underserved
Gangwon Province, and launched a mobile clinic system.
Early years in Hamhung and Longjing
Murray arrived in the
Port of Busan
The Port of Busan () is the largest port in South Korea, located in the city of Busan, South Korea. Its location is known as Busan Harbor.
The port is ranked sixth in the world's container throughput and is the largest seaport in South Korea. Th ...
on August 21, 1921.
She spent her early days in Hamhung learning Korean, in which she initially struggled but became proficient over time.
She was surprised at the condition of the
Jehye Hospital run by Dr. McMillan, and felt that the staff was not responding appropriately.
[Scott, William (1975). ''Canadians in Korea: Brief Historical Sketch of Canadian Mission Work in Korea.'' Moffett Korea Collection. Series 2: Korean Material. Subseries 5: Publications about Korea (Box 102). Princeton Theological Seminary Library, Princeton, NJ. pp. 139-146, 165-166, 183-198.] Soon after her arrival in Hamhung, Murray received word that Dr. Stanley H. Martin, the head of the Longjing Mission Hospital in
Manchuria
Manchuria is an exonym (derived from the endo demonym " Manchu") for a historical and geographic region in Northeast Asia encompassing the entirety of present-day Northeast China (Inner Manchuria) and parts of the Russian Far East (Outer Manc ...
, was taking medical leave, and she was asked to take his place.
Dr. Martin served the entire region and was responsible for 22,000 patients per year.
In assuming Dr. Martin's post, Murray struggled to balance her language studies, hospital administration, and medicine, and often felt like she was losing touch with her medical practice.
In 1923, Dr. McMillan died and Murray was asked to return to Hamhung and lead the Jehye Hospital in her place.
She re-designed the hospital with the help of monetary grants, focusing on building a new ward for
tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...
patients, and reopened the hospital in 1925.
During these early leadership experiences, Murray faced challenges due to her status as a female foreigner. For instance, nursing was not traditionally a well-respected profession for women in Korea.
In Hamhung, Murray founded a three-year nursing program, which helped raised the status of nursing in Korea to a profession for talented and educated women.
While she did not immediately adjust to her new cultural environment, she eventually became respected by colleagues and patients from both Korea and the West. In 1929, she was named the first president of the
Medical Missionary Association of Korea.
The Hamhung community later threw her a dinner party to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of her arrival in Korea.
World War II
As
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
escalated in Europe, Murray and other female missionaries were ordered to evacuate Korea in 1940.
Murray requested an exemption and was permitted to keep working, which gave her time to prepare the Jehye Hospital to continue operating in her absence.
She stepped down as hospital superintendent and appointed Dr. Pyung-kan Koh, a Korean physician, as the new superintendent in 1941.
Murray also drew up plans for the allocation of empty beds left by evacuated Western staff and for training nurses to lead the tuberculosis ward.
Additionally, during the final months before evacuation, Murray and
Beulah Bourns, a Canadian nurse, received a ¥15,000 grant to continue expanding the tuberculosis ward.
These preparations reflect Murray's long-term impact on the communities she served, which lasted longer than her physical presence.
In 1942, Murray was forced to return to Canada as part of an exchange with Japanese prisoners of war in the United States and Canada.
On May 31, 1942, she left Hamhung for
Lourenço Marques, Mozambique
Maputo (), formerly named Lourenço Marques until 1976, is the Capital city, capital, and largest city of Mozambique. Located near the southern end of the country, it is within of the borders with Eswatini and South Africa. The city has a popul ...
, where the exchange took place.
Professional Development
Throughout her career, Murray kept her own professional development as a priority, and her time back home in Canada during World War II was no different.
While working in Korea, Murray did not lower her standards as a physician even in challenging and resource-limited settings. She was intent on not only maintaining a high standard of care, but also on continually learning about new medical techniques: she frequently asked her mother to mail copies of the
Canadian Medical Association Journal from home.
These high expectations also created challenges. Especially at first, she hesitated to delegate work to the Hamhung community due to fear of lowering her standards.
Back in Canada in 1942, Murray continued to seek professional development by working in private practice.
After learning that she could return to Korea, she began working at the Nova Scotia Sanatorium to gain further experience with tuberculosis.
When
Dr. Helen Kim, president of
Ewha Womans University
Ewha Womans University () is a private women's university in Seoul founded in 1886 by Mary F. Scranton under Emperor Gojong. It was the first university founded in South Korea. Currently, Ewha is one of the world's largest female educational ins ...
in Seoul, asked her to take on a teaching position upon her return, Murray traveled around the United States and Canada to visit nine medical colleges in preparation.
Post-World War II Years and the Korean War
After World War II, Murray could not return to Hamhung due to the
division of Korea
The division of Korea began with the defeat of Empire of Japan, Japan in World War II. During the war, the Allies of World War II, Allied leaders considered the question of Korea's future after Japan's surrender in the war. The leaders reached ...
, so she arrived in Seoul in July 1947 for her teaching position at
Ewha Womans University
Ewha Womans University () is a private women's university in Seoul founded in 1886 by Mary F. Scranton under Emperor Gojong. It was the first university founded in South Korea. Currently, Ewha is one of the world's largest female educational ins ...
, now the largest female educational institute in the world.
She was instrumental in the development of a medical training program at Ewha and served as dean and assistant superintendent.
However, she did not agree with Dr. Kim's decision to keep the Ewha University medical program separate from the nearby
Severance Hospital, instead favoring a co-ed merger.
Murray felt that remaining independent meant limited resources for female trainees, and eventually left her position at Ewha.
Murray began taking on roles at Severance and served on the Cooperation Board for Christian Higher Education, where she represented the hospital for funding requests.
On the board, she advocated for several causes, including sending medical students for training abroad.
During these early years at Severance, she also focused on heading a public health campaign about tuberculosis.
On June 25, 1950, the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
began, and Murray was again forced to return to Canada.
Wanting to offer her support for refugees and injured soldiers, she traveled back to Korea in 1951 and worked with Beulah Bourns in relief efforts.
She served as a translator for doctors on military hospital ships including the
USS Consolation and the Danish ship
MS Jutlandia, and later received a medal from the Danish government for her work.
In March 1952, Murray returned to Severance Hospital, which incurred damage during the war, to rebuild, teach, and practice medicine.
She and
Dr. Ernest Struthers worked to improve the quality of its medical teaching program.
She was named acting superintendent of Severance in 1954. Under her leadership, received $400,000 from the United States Army to build a new surgical unit. Also under her leadership, Severance merged with Chosun Christian Hospital to form the prestigious
Yonsei University.
As Murray neared 60 years of age, she stepped back from some of her previous responsibilities at Severance, but continued to serve in new ways. She revolutionized the medical records system at Severance, aiming to bring attention to the importance of record-keeping, and continued the project intermittently throughout her remaining years in Korea.
Service in Wonju
![2020-04-03 10](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/2020-04-03_10.38.28_Wonju_Sevrance_Christian_Hospital.jpg)
Murray left Seoul in the final years of the 1950s for
Gangwon-do, a province that was particularly affected by the Korean War.
She decided that
Wonju
Wonju () is the most populous city in Gangwon Province, South Korea. The city is located approximately east of Seoul. Wonju was the site of three crucial battles during the Korean War.
Geography
Wonju sits at the southwestern corner of Gangw ...
, the provincial capital, was to be the site for a hospital that was jointly financed by the Presbyterian Church of Canada and the United States Methodist Church.
Murray was named chairman of the Wonju Union Christian Hospital Board and Building Committee.
Murray reconstructed the Swedish Methodist Hospital, built in 1913 by
Albin Garfield Anderson
Albin Garfield Anderson (born April 13, 1882) was an American medical missionary who served as a physician in Korea for 30 years and in Southern Rhodesia for 5 years. He founded the Swedish Methodist Hospital in 1913 in Wonju, Korea which is now th ...
. The new hospital groundbreaking ceremony took place in 1957, and in November 1959 the hospital opened with 50 beds.
The Wonju United Christian Hospital later merged with Yonsei University to become the
Yonsei University Mirae Campus, and it still operates under the name Wonju Christian Hospital.
Murray also devoted herself to treating
leprosy
Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacteria ''Mycobacterium leprae'' or ''Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This nerve damag ...
during her time in Wonju, where she founded a program to help patients and their families stay connected with resources and society.
She founded a mobile clinic, and a nearby town was later named "Murray Village" in response to her contributions.
Retirement and return home
Murray officially retired in 1961, but her service in Korea continued. In 1962 she continued her work with leprosy by relocating to the Mission to Lepers in
Daegu, Korea.
Murray still continued to expand her knowledge as a physician and wrote to notify the
Canadian Medical Association Journal of her address change to ensure she would still receive publications.
She also began to use her knowledge for activism by drawing from her experiences to write articles advocating for long-term and community-oriented mission work.
After continuing her medical records work at Severance Hospital from 1964 to 1969, Murray returned to Nova Scotia for the last time.
She continued to advocate for matters of diplomacy between Canada and Korea, and served as a mentor for Korean immigrants to Canada.
She shared her own stories and experiences with mission work, but stayed open to newer secular forms of service and even volunteered for organizations like
Oxfam
Oxfam is a British-founded confederation of 21 independent charitable organizations focusing on the alleviation of global poverty, founded in 1942 and led by Oxfam International.
History
Founded at 17 Broad Street, Oxford, as the Oxford Co ...
.
She also wrote her second book of memoirs, ''Return to Korea'', in her retirement.
Murray died in Pictou Landing, Nova Scotia, on April 14, 1975, at age 81.
Woman in medicine
Dr. Ruth Compton Brouwer has written extensively on Murray's missionary service in the context of feminism, gender, and professional roles for women at the time.
Murray faced many challenges as a female physician, and it took time for her to build respect from her male colleagues.
She cared for all patients, regardless of their gender, and defied the norm that female doctors should treat only female patients.
Still, she did not believe in medical programs that trained women solely for the purpose of training more female doctors.
Rather, she preferred training physicians based on merit to raise the quality of care in Korea, regardless of the genders of the physicians.
Legacy
Murray's legacy lives on through Murray Village, a town named which dedicated its name to her, a memorial pagoda which was sent from Korea to Victoria University at the
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...
, and
Yonsei University, whose
Wonju Campus was developed around the hospital which Murray established.
She was awarded an honorary
Doctor of Divinity
A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity.
In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ran ...
from Pine Hill Divinity Hall, now merged with the
Atlantic School of Theology
Atlantic School of Theology (AST) is a Canadian public ecumenical university that provides graduate level theological education and undertakes research to assist students to prepare for Christian ministries and other forms of public leadership. ...
, and was the first female recipient of this award.
She also was awarded an honorary
Legum Doctor
Legum Doctor (Latin: “teacher of the laws”) (LL.D.) or, in English, Doctor of Laws, is a doctorate-level academic degree in law or an honorary degree, depending on the jurisdiction. The double “L” in the abbreviation refers to the early ...
degree from her alma mater, Dalhousie University.
Murray wrote two memoirs: ''At the Foot of Dragon Hill'' and ''Return to Korea''. Her papers are archived in the Helen Fraser MacRae fonds in the
Nova Scotia Archives
Nova Scotia Archives is a governmental archival institution serving the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. The archives acquires, preserves and makes available the province's documentary heritage – recorded information of provincial significance ...
, the Dalhousie University Archives, and the United Church of Canada Archives.
[Florence Jessie Murray fonds. CA ON00340 F3244. United Church of Canada Archives, Toronto, Canada. https://catalogue.unitedchurcharchives.ca/florence-jessie-murray-fonds]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Florence J.
Christian medical missionaries
Presbyterian missionaries in Korea
Missionary educators
1894 births
1975 deaths
Dalhousie University alumni
Atlantic School of Theology alumni