These papers document the life of Irish immigrant Thomas Murry and his work in Boston as a Catholic undertaker and bookseller. Materials include correspondence, accounting papers, legal documents, and tax bills.

Correspondence contains letters to and from members of the Murray family. Many are from relatives in Ireland, and several concern the Murrays' guardianship of John Quarry. Early correspondence was sent to the Murrays care of John Cheverus, Bishop of Boston.

Thomas Murray's undertaking documents include account books, fee listings, receipts, and burial and exhumation requests, while his bookselling materials mainly comprise letters accompanying shipments of books with instructions for resale. Murray also noted the birth dates of all of his children in one of his undertaking account books (Box 2, Folder 2).

Lastly, a few business and travel documents for Murray's son, Thomas Selvarus are included.