I have spent the last three days transcribing the taped speeches of Dallas women’s page editor Vivian Castleberry at the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas. I am working on a book about Vivian.

Some of the information confirmed what I have already known. I also heard some new stories. For example, Vivian explained the difficulties that married women faced under Texas law. She told the story of graduating from college and getting her first Neiman Marcus charge card. At the time, she was a writer for a chemical company magazine. After she married, she called Neiman Marcus to get the name changed on her credit card. Instead, the company cancelled her card. As a married woman, the card must be in her husband’s name. (He had just returned from war and had no credit. But, that was not the issue.) That was what life was like for Texas married woman. As Vivian’s friend lawyer Louise Raggio noted, when Texas women said “I do,” they didn’t anymore.

It has been wonderful to listen to Vivian speak. As she said in her speech, “I had the most wonderful career imaginable even on the days I went home with headaches and heartaches.” It is my honor to tell her story.

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I have spent the last three days transcribing the taped speeches of Dallas women’s page editor Vivian Castleberry at the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas. I am working on a book about Vivian.

Some of the information confirmed what I have already known. I also heard some new stories. For example, Vivian explained the difficulties that married women faced under Texas law. She told the story of graduating from college and getting her first Neiman Marcus charge card. At the time, she was a writer for a chemical company magazine. After she married, she called Neiman Marcus to get the name changed on her credit card. Instead, the company cancelled her card. As a married woman, the card must be in her husband’s name. (He had just returned from war and had no credit. But, that was not the issue.) That was what life was like for Texas married woman. As Vivian’s friend lawyer Louise Raggio noted, when Texas women said “I do,” they didn’t anymore.

It has been wonderful to listen to Vivian speak. As she said in her speech, “I had the most wonderful career imaginable even on the days I went home with headaches and heartaches.” It is my honor to tell her story.

Please follow and like us: