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Draft of an article by Vivian Castleberry
Draft of an article by Vivian Castleberry

Draft of an article by Vivian Castleberry

Object number1991.002.0005
Date11/22/1963
ClassificationsDocuments
Author
ObjectDocument
Credit LineVivian Castleberry Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumPaper
Dimensions11 x 8 1/2 in. (27.9 x 21.6 cm)
Collections
  • "On Assignment: Dallas Times Herald 1963"
  • All Online Objects
DescriptionFour page typed draft of an article written by Vivian Castleberry for the Sault Ste. Marie Daily Star newspaper of Ontario, Canada, about the events of November 22, 1963 and the mood in Dallas that afternoon. The article is typed on unbleached paper and includes Ms. Castleberry's experiences at the Trade Mart luncheon that day, the eyewitness account of Peggy Burney, and impressions of the city in the afternoon and evening. Ms. Castleberry was asked to write this article in a telegram sent by Nan Rajnovich of the Sault Ste. Marie Daily Star, who she had met at a conference for Women Editors at Columbia University.
Curatorial Commentary
Peggy Burney, who was Vivian Castleberry's first cousin, was head of the shipping department of Jennifer Juniors, the dress making company owned by Abraham Zapruder, the man who filmed a famous home movie of the assassination. - Gary Mack, Curator
This object is featured in the Museum's special exhibit, "On Assignment: Dallas Times Herald 1963," which opened on April 29, 2026.
Vivian Castleberry is considered the "grandmother of women journalists in Dallas." She was the longtime editor of women's news at the Dallas Times Herald. On the day of the assassination, she was waiting at the Trade Mart to cover First Lady Jackie Kennedy's visit to the city. After the shooting, Castleberry worked in the Times Herald newsroom and wrote several human-interest stories that weekend.

As a longtime friend of the Museum, she recorded several oral history interviews and programs. Her interview from June of 2015 may be viewed on the Museum’s online collection database here: Vivian Castleberry Oral History – Works – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.

More objects related to Mrs. Castleberry, including the Museum’s Vivian Castleberry Collection (1991.002) can be found here: Results – Advanced Search Objects – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. - Riley Harris, Collections Cataloger