Organizations and Boards, 1952-2003 and undated

Series V contains correspondence, directories, memos, minutes, and reports and publications related to organizations in which Murtagh was involved. The files reflect his involvement as an employee, advisor, member, or officer. The U.S. Department of the Interior, the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and the National Trust for Historic Preservation are particularly well-documented in this series. Arrangement is alphabetical by organization name and then by document type. A file with awards and certificates from a variety of organizations can be found at the end of the series. Photographs and architectural drawings were removed and placed in Series XII and Series XI respectively.

Files from the National Trust for Historic Preservation comprise the bulk of this series and include administrative records, correspondence, directories, memos and promotional materials. Material relating to Murtagh's work at the Trust organizing and participating in conferences and giving speeches and lectures is located in Series VI: Speeches and Lectures or Series VII: Conferences and Workshops. Correspondence for the National Trust and the Department of the Interior follows Murtagh's original arrangement and is divided into incoming and outgoing correspondence; in cases where the incoming letter was attached to Murtagh's response both letters are filed under outgoing correspondence.

The ICOMOS files are divided into two sections: ICOMOS, for the international organization, and US/ICOMOS for the United States Committee. Most of the materials in this series consist of correspondence, minutes, and memos generated by the U. S. Committee. Materials relating to the Triennial ICOMOS General Assembly are located in Series VII: Conferences and Workshops.

Murtagh was involved in a number of preservation organizations during his tenure at the U. S. Department of the Interior and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and often the material is intermingled. In addition, many of the organizations' functions overlapped. These organizations are listed separately rather than under the organization for which Murtagh was working at the time. For example, the International Centre Committee (ICC) is a subcommittee of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and serves as the U. S. standing committee for the International Centre for the Study of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (also known as the International Centre for Conservation and the Rome Centre). Papers relating to Murtagh's work with these organizations can be found under both the Advisory Council and the International Centre. Murtagh was also a member of the Maryland Governor's Consulting Committee on the National Register which recommended Maryland's nominations to the National Register. Most of the work was done in close consultation with the Maryland Historical Trust and materials related to this organization can also be found in the Trust's files.