Sister Herman Joseph was born Elizabeth A. Murphy to John D. and Mary A. (Whalen) Murphy of Ireland. She was the 3rd of 9 daughters.
Elizabeth entered the Order of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Rochester in 1904 and took her final vows in 1911.
Other than her service at St. Mary's Parish in Elmira as teacher and Principal, the only other assignment she had was one year (1905-06) as a first grade teacher at St. Patrick's Cathedral School in Rochester.
At her 50th anniversary with the order the following article ran in a local newspaper with a photo of Sister Herman with her biological sisters.

'Six Sisters Join in Nun's Golden Jubilee' and article headed
'Solemn High Mass of Thanksgiving Marks 50th Anniversary of Principal' under the picture:

Sister Herman Joseph, principal of St. Mary's School, Elmira, is shown with her six sisters who joined in celebrating the nun's 50th anniversary as a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Sister Herman Joseph came to St. Mary's School, 49 years ago and was named principal in 1939. With her are: (from left) Mrs. John Engel, Mrs. Catherine Gatens, Mrs. Neil Murphy, all of Willard; Mrs. Genevieve Osborn of Albany, Mrs. James Toner of Geneva and Mrs. Julia Angus of Ovid. The article reads as follows: A Solemn High mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated last Tuesday morning in St. Mary Church in observance of the 50th anniversary in religion of Sister Herman Joseph, principal of St. Mary School. The Rev. Thomas J. Toole, pastor, was the celebrant of the Mass, Rev. John Walsh was deacon and Rev. Albert V. Ryan was subdeacon. Twenty-seven former assistants at St. Mary's were present in the sanctuary and two of these former assistants were taught by Sister Herman Joseph as first grade pupils. They were the Rev. William Tobin and the Rev. Donald Murphy.

In addition, three former pupils, now attending St. Andrew Seminary was present. They were Edward Golden, Hugh McCarthy and William Hogan.

More than 70 sisters of St. Joseph were present at the Mass and of this number, 30 were students at St. Mary School before entering religious life and were all taught by Sister Herman Joseph.

Following the Mass, a dinner for the priests and sisters was held in the auditorium. Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was held at 4 p.m. in the church.

Sister Herman Joseph now serving in her 49th year as a teacher at St. Mary's is now teaching the grandchildren of her early pupils. She taught the first grade for many years and has been principal of the school since 1939.

The celebration on Tuesday marked the 50th anniversary of Sister Herman Joseph's receiving the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph.

The actual anniversary will be Dec 31 but the occasion was set ahead due to weather conditions at that time of the year and the fact that the holiday season would be heavy with religious observances.

A public reception honoring Sister Herman Joseph will be held in St. Mary auditorium on Sunday from 3 until 5 p.m. Sister Herman Joseph is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Murphy of Ovid. She attended grammar and high school in Ovid and then entered Nazareth Convent in Rochester. She was assigned to Cathedral School in Rochester for a year before coming to St. Mary's 49 years ago.
SOURCE: unknown newspaper article, clipped and saved by family member and dated Oct 1954 transcribed by gjham in 1992
In 1958 Sister Herman Joseph was "off duty" at the school for the period of 1958 through 1963, and then spent her remaining years in the infirmary, where she passed in 1968.