About the Book:

America in the ‘60s:  JFK, the space race, Vietnam, flower power, urban riots, the Amazin’ Mets, student protests, Super Bowl III, Woodstock, the Stonewall Rebellion. 

Countless books have recorded that tumultuous, crucial time, but few with the depth, accuracy and scope of this one.

A retired history teacher recalls the events that helped shape a generation – from the nation to his neighborhood. Fifteen of his former students join in with personal stories about the era’s politics, popular culture, and science. Plus, the story of the first major strike of Catholic school teachers in America.

Heavily accented with pop culture, The Spirit of '69 examines Broadway, television, movies, the Legion of Decency, and the music of the decade.  History comes alive!

About the Author:

A lifelong activist and labor leader, T.C. Murray (1933-2008) was an accomplished New Jersey teacher, historian, author, poet, playwright and pioneer in the Catholic schools labor movement.  Thousands of students felt history come alive in his classes at Essex Catholic and Mater Dei high schools, and Social Science Federations in both won accolades from the NJ Historical Society. A 1958 graduate of Iona College, Murray also wrote a book of poetry, a one-man play, and his memoir.  Seton Hall University maintains a collection of his personal and professional papers in their Walsh Library archives.