Dr. Betty Duke-Ruhd Oral History

I first met Dr. Betty Duke-Ruhd, as well as her childhood friend Jan Sittel, when I spoke at a luncheon of the Plano Retired Teachers Association in Plano, Texas in February 2014. Upon learning that Duke-Ruhd and Sittel had both seen President and Mrs. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, I invited them to record oral histories with the Museum. I was honored to recorded one-on-one interviews back to back on March 24, 2017. Jan Sittel's interview, recorded immediately prior to this interview with Betty Duke-Ruhd, may be accessed here: Jan Sittel Oral History – Search sittel (Objects) – Search – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.

Since that time, both Jan Sittel and Betty Duke-Ruhd have become longtime friends of the Museum. Together, they have participated in three public and educational Living History programs at the Museum, recorded in 2018, 2019 and 2025. Our 2019 conversation may be viewed in full on the Museum's YouTube channel: Living History with Jan Sittel and Dr. Betty Duke-Ruhd. - Stephen Fagin, Curator