Helen Edith Vanderhoop Manning Murray (September 24, 1919 – January 25, 2008) was a Native American historian and writer and enrolled citizen of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe.
She is known for her book Moshup's Footsteps: The Wampanoag Nation, Gay Head/Aquinnah: the People of First Light (2001), as a tribal elder, and as serving as education director for her tribe.
[1] Manning was born on September 24, 1919, in Gay Head to her mother Evelyn Magretta (née Moss) and father Arthur Herbert Vanderhoop.
[2] An only child, Manning spent her summers at Gay Head while attending school in Washington, D.C.[2] From the age of seven, she lived with her maternal grandmother Lavina Moss, aunt Edith Moss, and uncle Berry Armstrong Claytor during the school year in order to gain a higher level of education than she would at Gay Head.
[7] As part of this position, she served on committees including human services, health, hospitality and Christiantown museum.
[4] From 1976 to 1979 Manning was the Gay Head selectman, on the Aquinnah Cultural Council and Philbin scholarship committee, as well as being the library trustee for more than 20 years.
[16] While working at Fisk University, Manning met Joseph Murray, who was attending dental school in the same area.