Vivian Castleberry

Book excerpt: Considered by some as the most important woman in Dallas in the latter half of the 20th century, Vivian Castleberry was a force for women, nationally and internationally. In shining a light on her career, more becomes known about her fights and her victories. Through this book, historians can better understand that the relationship of the women’s pages to the women’s movement between the 1950s and '70s was more complex than previously explored. Known as the “godmother” of the Dallas women’s movement, Vivian was a trailblazer. Yet, she was also a mother of five daughters at a time when working outside the home was still being challenged, and that was an experience many middle-class women struggled with. Her role in the public sphere meant she often told the stories of others. This book is her story.