/internal/media/dispatcher/26521/fullKeith Shelton's reporter's notebook from November 21-22, 196311/21-22/19639 1/4 × 4 3/4 × 1/2 in. (23.5 × 12.1 × 1.3 cm)Paper, cardboard, metalKeith Shelton Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza1998.023.00110Seventy-five page green Steno, spiral bound, reporter's notebook used by Dallas Times Herald reporter Keith Shelton on President Kennedy's Texas tour on November 21 & 22, 1963. The notebook has a spiral binding at the top edge and a drawing of a pencil on the front cover. An "X" handwritten in red ink is marked on the middle of this cover. Most pages in the notebook are only written on one side, although pages 67-75 have writing on both sides of the page.
The notes at the beginning of the notebook (pages 1-23) are over stories written before the Texas tour. Then there are notes describing John F. Kennedy's speeches, events, details (including the assassination), and the public's reaction, in San Antonio, Houston, Fort Worth and Dallas.
On pages 24-39 are notes about Kennedy's arrival and visit in San Antonio on the morning of November 21, 1963. Shelton notes who is there, who is speaking, where they are visiting, the many different reactions from the crowds of people gathered, and what Jackie Kennedy is wearing (page 37). Page 24 starts with "Harry V. Burns pres SA chapter NAACP," and follows by listing the elected officials gathered for the reception. Page 28 notes the presidential limousine: "Blue pres. car. Handles for SS Lincoln. Older Cad." Shelton notes both Kennedy and Goldwater supporters among the crowds. He also tells about President Kennedy stopping the car to shake hands along the motorcade route.
On pages 40-54 are notes about Kennedy's arrival and visit in Houston on the afternoon of November 21, 1963. Shelton's notes on page 40 begin with "Houston [underlined twice]/ U of H yD's welcome JFK." Notes over the arrival follow, and includes that Jackie, Nellie and Lady Bird all received roses. Also notes all the signs displayed by people in the crowds. Page 44 first mentions Mrs. Kennedy's speech in Spanish for LULAC. The last few pages note the departure from Houston, and arrival in Fort Worth, and the crowds that were gathered.
On pages 55-67 are notes about Kennedy's visit and speech in Fort Worth on the morning of November 22, 1963. Page 55 begins with, "Before 7am peo lined up down the stairs at hotel for 845 a breakfast." Shelton notes the people, food and decorations at the breakfast held at the Hotel Texas for the President and his party. He also notes the crowds and sign messages in Fort Worth, as well as who is there (mayor, etc.). Excerpts of Kennedy's last speech are noted on pages 60-63. Shelton also notes Jackie's clothing on page 65, "Jackie's suit raspberry. Trim Navy."
The last pages are written on front and back, but are read forward then in reverse. The notes follow as pages 68-84 (Pages 76-84 are continued backwards on the reverse sides of the pages from 75-67). The notes beginning on page 68 read, "flite time 8 min." Shelton notes the arrival at Love Field, and the crowds lining each street from the airport throughout the motorcade route.
On page 72, halfway down the page reads, "12 30/ at Triple Underpass/ 3-4 shots?/ (man pounding ground.)" This is the first notation about the President's assassination. The second half of page 73 notes the arrival of Shelton and the press bus passengers, and the events that followed afterward. The notes on pages 73-84 cover how the news was shared with the crowd by Erik Jonsson, the prayer led by Luther Holcomb, and the reactions of people present.
Pages 55 through 84 (the reverse of 67) were all transcribed and typed into an article, and is included in this collection as 1998.023.0014.
A political reporter for the Dallas Times Herald, Shelton traveled with the presidential party throughout Texas and later covered the Jack Ruby trial. He donated his Kennedy-related personal papers to the Museum. His oral histories were recorded February 23, 1998, and January 12, 2011.
NOTE: The pages listed in the description correspond to the image files (not attached to record), and not the PDF. (LC 3/18/2016)Documents7349412.065024130023.495046990118716Notebook1.2700000000Seventy-five page green Steno, spiral bound, reporter's notebook used by Dallas Times Herald reporter Keith Shelton on President Kennedy's Texas tour on November 21 & 22, 1963. The notebook has a spiral binding at the top edge and a drawing of a pencil on the front cover. An "X" handwritten in red ink is marked on the middle of this cover. Most pages in the notebook are only written on one side, although pages 67-75 have writing on both sides of the page.
The notes at the beginning of the notebook (pages 1-23) are over stories written before the Texas tour. Then there are notes describing John F. Kennedy's speeches, events, details (including the assassination), and the public's reaction, in San Antonio, Houston, Fort Worth and Dallas.
On pages 24-39 are notes about Kennedy's arrival and visit in San Antonio on the morning of November 21, 1963. Shelton notes who is there, who is speaking, where they are visiting, the many different reactions from the crowds of people gathered, and what Jackie Kennedy is wearing (page 37). Page 24 starts with "Harry V. Burns pres SA chapter NAACP," and follows by listing the elected officials gathered for the reception. Page 28 notes the presidential limousine: "Blue pres. car. Handles for SS Lincoln. Older Cad." Shelton notes both Kennedy and Goldwater supporters among the crowds. He also tells about President Kennedy stopping the car to shake hands along the motorcade route.
On pages 40-54 are notes about Kennedy's arrival and visit in Houston on the afternoon of November 21, 1963. Shelton's notes on page 40 begin with "Houston [underlined twice]/ U of H yD's welcome JFK." Notes over the arrival follow, and includes that Jackie, Nellie and Lady Bird all received roses. Also notes all the signs displayed by people in the crowds. Page 44 first mentions Mrs. Kennedy's speech in Spanish for LULAC. The last few pages note the departure from Houston, and arrival in Fort Worth, and the crowds that were gathered.
On pages 55-67 are notes about Kennedy's visit and speech in Fort Worth on the morning of November 22, 1963. Page 55 begins with, "Before 7am peo lined up down the stairs at hotel for 845 a breakfast." Shelton notes the people, food and decorations at the breakfast held at the Hotel Texas for the President and his party. He also notes the crowds and sign messages in Fort Worth, as well as who is there (mayor, etc.). Excerpts of Kennedy's last speech are noted on pages 60-63. Shelton also notes Jackie's clothing on page 65, "Jackie's suit raspberry. Trim Navy."
The last pages are written on front and back, but are read forward then in reverse. The notes follow as pages 68-84 (Pages 76-84 are continued backwards on the reverse sides of the pages from 75-67). The notes beginning on page 68 read, "flite time 8 min." Shelton notes the arrival at Love Field, and the crowds lining each street from the airport throughout the motorcade route.
On page 72, halfway down the page reads, "12 30/ at Triple Underpass/ 3-4 shots?/ (man pounding ground.)" This is the first notation about the President's assassination. The second half of page 73 notes the arrival of Shelton and the press bus passengers, and the events that followed afterward. The notes on pages 73-84 cover how the news was shared with the crowd by Erik Jonsson, the prayer led by Luther Holcomb, and the reactions of people present.
A political reporter for the Dallas Times Herald, Shelton traveled with the presidential party throughout Texas and later covered the Jack Ruby trial. He donated his Kennedy-related personal papers to the Museum. His oral histories were recorded February 23, 1998, and January 12, 2011.
Trip to TexasReporterPressTrade Mart luncheonMotorcadeJohnson, Lyndon B.Shelton, KeithKennedy, John F.Dallas Times HeraldDallasFort WorthHoustonSan AntonioA political reporter at the Dallas Times Herald, Keith Shelton traveled with the presidential party during the trip to Texas in November 1963. Aboard a White House press bus in the motorcade, he heard shots fired in Dealey Plaza and went to the Dallas Trade Mart. He later covered the Jack Ruby trial in 1964. Shelton, a longtime journalism professor at the University of North Texas, donated his assassination-related papers to the Museum.
As a longtime friend of the Museum, he recorded two oral history interviews and a public program. His interview from January 2011 may be viewed in the Museum’s online collections database here: Keith Shelton Oral History – Works – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.
Other objects related to Mr. Shelton may be found here: Thesaurus – Vocabularies – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. - Riley Harris, Collections Cataloger For a 2014 Living History public program at the Museum, I had the honor of moderating a conversation with the late Keith Shelton. During that event, we projected images of several of his notebook pages on screen and discussed his handwritten notes from November 22, 1963, including the notes he was taking at the moment of the assassination. That program may be viewed on the Museum's YouTube channel: Living History with Keith Shelton. - Stephen Fagin, Curator The Museum's Keith Shelton Collection (1998.023) includes the notebook that Shelton used while covering the Kennedys' visit to Texas in November 1963, as well as press credentials, his wife's invitation to the Dallas Trade Mart luncheon, draft stories, news clippings and press releases. Keith Shelton passed away on December 11, 2024. - Stephen Fagin, CuratorThis object is featured in the Museum's special exhibit, "On Assignment: Dallas Times Herald 1963," which opened on April 29, 2026.