The Catonsville Nine File
About the siteAbout the collections
HomeThe planning and consequences of the Catonsville Nine actionThe trial of the Catonsville NineHistorical context of the Catonsville Nine actionProfiles of the Catonsville NineBrowse the collections
Burning of draft board records by Philip and Daniel Berrigan and others, May 17, 1968: an interview with Mary E. Murphy given on November 2, 1972
Previous 14 / 15 Next
Burning of draft board records by Philip and Daniel Berrigan and others, May 17, 1968: an interview with Mary E. Murphy given on November 2, 1972
View larger version of imageCatonsville Library, Baltimore County Public Library
Collection: Friends of Catonsville Library
Date: 1972-11-02
Date of Digitization: 2004-03-29
Source: Catonsville Library
Original Dimensions: 28 x 22 cm
Creator: Murphy, Mary E.
Notes:
This a transcript of a recorded interview with Mrs. Mary E. Murphy who was the Chief Clerk at the Draft Board office no. 33 at the time of the event of the forceful removing and burning of the draft cards by the Catonsville Nine group.

Transcription: 
I do think, that because of the Berrigans, many people who may have never even noticed 
that  there was a war going on, became aware of the war, became more  interested. 
Whether it influenced them for or against,  I don't know, but I do think that perhaps 
this trial of the Catonsville Nine, did bring to the forefront the idea of war, 
which many people didn't even think about before."
(Interviewer:   Incidentally, did you go to see the Catonsville Nine play that was 
down at Center Stage?)"No, I did not, but I did have the pleasure of 
meeting  the  lady that supposedly took my part. She was a very charming lady. 
She came out to the Local Board to visit with me and we spent a couple of hours 
very pleasantly together."
(Interviewer: Why didn't you go?)"Well, I just felt I wouldn't spend the 
money (although the Center Stage would have given me two tickets) but I felt like 
some of the money, perhaps  (I'm not  sure of this) but, maybe went to the Berrigans 
as royalties on the play.  I didn't feel like I wanted to contribute a cent to that
cause.
(Interviewer:  I notice as I look around, while we are doing this interview, in 
your club basement, I notice on the wall, you have several placques from the 
Selective Service System.  Could you tell me a little bit about what they are?)
"Well, the one placque was given to me in January of 1969 by General Hershey, 
who was Director of Selective Service, at that time - for the experience I had and 
all of the anxieties and trials, etc., with the Catonsville Nine."
(Interviewer:   What are the others?)   "Well, over here is a citation that I
received in March of this year, where I was awarded the "Outstanding Manager" of 
the year award for Selective Service Systems all over the United States."
(Interviewer: That's really great! I think a suitable ending to this inter-
view would be for me to read the certificate of Merit, which was signed by 
General Hershey, Director of Selective Service, which was awarded to Mrs. Mary E. 
Murphy, dated the 30th day of January, 1969.
                   'Citation - On May 17th, 1968, Mrs. Mary E. Murphy, Executive Secretary, 
                   Local  Board #33, Catonsville, Maryland exemplified outstanding courage 
                   during an emergency which involved the burning of Selective Service records, 
                   Upon realizing the intent of a group of demonstrators, who had entered 
                   the office, Mrs. Murphy exerted every effort to prevent the removal of 
                   vital records from Local  Board  files.  She was unable to physically