Dawn Higgins Murphy was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. She grew up there when times were different than presently. Life was more relaxed. There were fewer large buildings on Canal Street at that time. She attended Louise S. McGehee School, a nice girl's school on Prytania Street in an old New Orleans home. Murphy has fond memories of her attendance there. Murphy did not get into trouble as a youth because she was born with a mature outlook on things. Her parents were not young. She had a brother nearly 20 years her senior. Her sister was ten years older than her. She had a total of four brothers with the one closest to her being eight years older than her. It seemed like two families to her. She spent more time with her mother and father than with her siblings. It made her feel like an only child instead of one of six siblings. She enjoyed playing the family piano. It was her strongest memory of her youthful entertainment. She began playing at four years old, before her feet could reach the pedals. Her father [Annotator's Note: Andrew Jackson Higgins, the owner of Higgins Industries in New Orleans] loved to hear her play. Her mother played, but Murphy seemed to take that over from her. Her father enjoyed quiet at home. It might have been difficult prior to Murphy coming along. The other children were born closer over a series of years. The home was probably noisier when they were all young. When Higgins returned home from work, Murphy would get his slippers and rub his head. Sometimes her father would put a nickel in his hair for her to find while she was doing so. A nickel was a fair amount of money for a child during those times. Higgins was not a card player nor did he enjoy going out. He preferred being at home. He liked reading history books. He liked to read "Prince Valiant" in the funny papers. He once found a mistake the cartoonist had made. He wrote to the artist and received a letter back confirming that a mistake had indeed been made. Higgins really knew history. Higgins did not work regular hours. He worked long hours. He expected hot dinners no matter when he got home. He would sometimes bring guests home for dinner and would have it catered by Commander's Restaurant in New Orleans. Dinner parties would be at home because he did not like going out. He would even have the Higgins Band bused to their residence for them to perform at nighttime parties. When he wanted something, he would get it done. The family lived at 3105 Prytania Street at the time. Their home would become the Prytania Street School later. Whenever her father said that he wanted to go for a ride, both Murphy and her mother knew that they were headed to one of the different plants he operated. He would observe what was going on. The trips were usually on the weekends. Even though the trip would require hours of waiting for him, they did not mind because they enjoyed being in the car together. Even though she was one of six siblings, she grew up not knowing her brothers very well because of the big age differences. The brothers always seemed to be kidding around with each other. They loved to get into fights for fun. One favorite antic was to smear Limburger cheese under the nose of another. It smelled terrible. They would then chase each other around the house. The boys were good and nice to be around. They treated Murphy well because she was so little. Murphy's sister married early and went to California to raise her family. She had six children and was busy raising them. She did not come around New Orleans too often. Murphy's mother was a soft-spoken southerner from Mobile. Her parents met in Mobile after her father arrived there from Columbus, Nebraska. Following their marriage, they lived there and in Grand Bay. They had to use horses as transportation during those early days. Murphy's oldest brother was born in Magnolia, Mississippi. Papa [Annotator's Note: Murphy refers to her father as Papa] had a time with all those boys. He loved them. They had a special place in his heart. Her brother Ed was once walking with the group and lagged behind them. When the others questioned him why, Ed responded that the group looked like a walking orphan asylum. [Annotator's Note: Murphy laughs.] That was the kind of things that went on in the family between the brothers. Her brother, Andrew, was the second son. He always catered to things that Murphy needed. Because he seemed to always try to help her, she felt a little closer to him. Roland, another brother, had to take her on dates with him. He would double date with his friend Arthur Tyser [Annotator's Note: unsure of spelling] and bring her along. They would go to a farm with friends and she would go along. He would bring her to a movie occasionally. No doubt her parents wanted him to babysit while they had other activities to attend. Roland probably did not particularly like that. The siblings were Ed, Andrew, Frank, Andre, Roland, and Dawn. Because of what had happened with the Lindbergh kidnapping [Annotator's Note: the child of famed aviator, Charles Lindbergh, was kidnapped in 1932], a Higgins guard would stay outside the house during the war. When Murphy was picked up from school, the driver had to know a password that was shared only by Murphy and her mother. She was not to go with anyone who did not know the proper password. Her father had quite a bit of fame. A letter arrived for him that had simply been addressed "Andrew Higgins - USA". Being that well known meant a lot to the family. Her father died in 1952. The interview was held in 2009. Her mother played a song called "Just a Memory" and much of Murphy's life was just that to her.

Dawn Higgins Murphy [Annotator's Note: the daughter of Andrew Jackson Higgins, the owner of Higgins Industries in New Orleans] had one brother, Roland, who went to serve in the war. Of all her brothers, he was the closest one to her. He gave her an APO [Annotator's Note: Army Post Office] number and told her to be sure and write to him. He said he would need some letters. It seemed just like the other day when that happened. She remembers her father as being a very sentimental man. He was gentle with his family. He would embrace all the family members including the boys. He was from the old school. He would not yell but would use his deep, quiet voice and gaze with those steely eyes. He never kept up with Murphy's grade at school but would help with anything he could. He provided sawdust for the May Day celebration at school. His time for family things was very limited. Sunday was the gathering day for the family each week. A big fried chicken dinner would be prepared for all the sons, wives and grandchildren. They would go out in the yard and play games like horseshoes and badminton. A tree house was available for the spectators to enjoy the games. Papa [Annotator's Note: Murphy refers to her father as Papa] would like that. Laughter could be heard from the festivities. They played a pool game called bottle pool. Murphy even tried the game. [Annotator's Note: Murphy laughs.] She was playing the game with one of the men from the office named Joe Dugas when her Papa came down and told the family about Pearl Harbor. She can remember the announcement clearly and it has become a vivid memory. It left her and everyone in shock. She knew that the Japanese were negotiating to continue the peace at the time of the bombing. Murphy remembers some of the famous people that her father entertained. One was Senator Truman [Annotator's Note: Senator Harry S. Truman became President of the United States after the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt]. They played a sonata on the piano together. She met a famous singer named Grace Moore and many others. A sheik came to the house wearing heavy beige robes. Murphy could not figure how he managed the New Orleans summer heat in those clothes. Visitors included royalty from the Netherlands, as well as, the President of Mexico. There was jesting about how the Mexican President and her brother Ed resembled each other. Higgins left for work every day in a shirt, tie, jacket, and often a straw hat. He seldom smoked cigars, but he smoked Camel cigarettes. Her brother also smoked. Murphy grew up not liking smoking or liquor. Her brothers and her father might have imbibed together on occasion. All the grandchildren called Higgins "Uncle." He did not want to be called grandpa. Murphy's mother was called "Nona" by her grandchildren. Higgins loved to play chess and was good at it. In his younger years, he played the mandolin. He played "Just Before the Battle, Mother." She discovered that Civil War song in a bookstore. Higgins loved Irish music. In particular, he enjoyed "I’ll take you home, Kathleen" and "Danny Boy." Murphy cannot remember Higgins discussing much about his upbringing. His father had died after falling down the steps in Columbus, Nebraska. One of Higgins' brothers died early. He had been a wonderful artist. Higgins' brother, Frank, had a business in New Orleans. His sisters, Joy, Bessie and Pat, had been around but did not live near them in Murphy's early life.

Dawn Higgins Murphy ended up in New Orleans because of her father [Annotator's Note: Murphy was the daughter of Andrew Jackson Higgins, the owner of Higgins Industries in New Orleans]. He came from Nebraska to Alabama and then to New Orleans in the lumber business. He worked with larger ships but hurricanes ended that business. He was in the lumber business for quite awhile. The family home on Prytania Street was three stories high. Higgins had steps put up to the roof and installed a misty shower up there. He enjoyed sunbathing on the roof with the shower to cool him down. Murphy's mother enjoyed it too. That was until airplanes began flying over. The sunbathing on the roof ended after that. That was out at the Lakefront [Annotator's Note: Murphy is referring to Lake Pontchartrain near New Orleans]. When Higgins returned from his daily work, he was very tired. There would be limited conversation. He would have his hot dinner and then read the newspaper and books that he liked. He did not like social things and approved only limited family conversation. Too much talk among family members during dinner would disturb Higgins to the point that he could not swallow his meal. His sisters, Joy, Bessie and Mary, were all quite smart. Mary was an attorney, Bessie was a writer who used the pseudonym Elizabeth Sullivan, and Joy, was in the theater business with Margret Sullivan, Josh Logan, and others. She helped with costumes with summer stock. The sisters often talked too much and had to be restrained from excessive discussion. Everyone was old in the household except for Murphy so it was not a fun household. In retrospect, Murphy, at her age, did not consider the elders to be that old at all. She was about 30 years older at the time of the interview than her elders were at that time in consideration. [Annotator's Note: Murphy laughs.] Nevertheless, it was a nice family. Her father would go to sleep earlier rather than later in the evening. He rose early in the morning and immediately took to the telephone for hours prior to departing for work. Her mother would be in the same room and would be privy to portions of the conversations. At one point, he said he needed 150 ties. His wife interjected that he would never wear that many ties. He responded that he was seeking railroad ties not neckwear. [Annotator's Note: Murphy laughs.] It was interesting. Murphy was born in 1929. She was about to have her third child when her father died on 1 August 1952. Her child was born on 26 August. His death was unexpected and difficult for Murphy. The last time she saw her father alive, she wore her hair in a ponytail. Higgins mistook her for her brother, Andrew because they were the fairest of the siblings. Higgins was in an oxygen tent at the end. When Murphy corrected him, he turned to address her, but she could not hear what he said. He expired after that. She often ponders what those last words he spoke to her were. It was a sad time. Murphy's mother passed in 1965. Higgins was close to 65 years of age when he passed. Murphy's mother died at 75 years old. Murphy passed that point five years prior to the interview. The room at her home where the interview occurred is considered by some to be a shrine to her father. She loves to look at the images in the room, particularly the picture of him on the PT boat. He shows his pride and masculinity. He always wanted the best boats for "his boys." He considered the servicemen who boarded his boats to be "his boys" and built the boats to be the best for them.

Dawn Higgins Murphy feels that her father [Annotator's Note: Murphy was the daughter of Andrew Jackson Higgins, the owner of Higgins Industries in New Orleans which constructed landing craft, PT boats, transport vessels and other military equipment during World War 2] was in the right place for "his boys" [Annotator's Note: Higgins referred to the servicemen aboard vessels constructed by his company as "his boys"] with those boats. She misses her father. [Annotator's Note: Murphy is emotional at this juncture of the interview.] Seldom did Murphy receive personal recognition for her relationship to her father. It was rewarding to have The National WWII Museum recognize not only his good works but also that she was his child. She is proud that the Museum is located in New Orleans because of her father's efforts. He and his sons would be proud of the recognition. He is no longer the "forgotten man." She wishes that he could have been witness to the acknowledgment of his work. Murphy and her husband, Bob, have four children who have all matured to be old people now. At the time of the interview, her youngest child was 55 and the oldest was near 60 years of age. There were three girls and a boy. They live remote from each other but enjoy when they get together. The family is all proud of their background and the Higgins name. Her son wants to put the name at the cemetery so that his children will know their lineage. There are many Higgins buried in Metairie Cemetery. The son was with his parents when they selected the plot. He was a smart boy so the location "IQ" was chosen. There are many of the siblings and relatives there. In the future, others will be cremated and placed there. There is a need for schools to adjust their curriculum to be able to teach World War 2 to students. History classes focus on the earlier periods and often do not reach that series of critical years. Columbus was great, but some time needs to be spent on the Second World War. Her granddaughter has books and information about her family's role in that war and would love to share it with her class.