This biography thoroughly captures telling moments of how women's editor, Vivian Castleberry, elevated her newspaper's women's section to be taken as seriously as the other news pages. But Castleberry's noted endeavors in journalism are not only for journalism scholars to appreciate. The full story of Vivian Castleberry is for anyone who seeks to be wise to the challenges that Castleberry faced — in her career as a female professional, in her personal life as a working wife and mother, and in her community as a beacon of light in her advocacy for women in society. Through her examination of and interactions with Castleberry, Kimberly Wilmot Voss allows the reader to recognize moments that we also might have experienced, feeling empowered ourselves.
— Melony Shemberger, Murray State University
This book deepens our understanding of the challenges, complexities and contributions of “women’s news” at newspapers during the nascent years of the Second Wave feminist movement. Voss digs into the life work of award-winning journalist Vivian Castleberry, longtime women’s editor at the Dallas Times Herald, who fought to cover real women’s issues, not just antics of Dallas society’s A-list, and changed the very definition of women’s news.
— Janice Hume, Professor and Journalism Department Head, University of Georgia
Dr. Kimberly Voss delivers an engaging and gripping biography of a significant woman in journalism history. Vivian Castleberry's story not only sheds light on her career with the women's pages and the challenges involved with balancing a journalistic career and motherhood, it also highlights the significance of her work to 20th century journalism, women's political advancement, and American history. This book is a must have for journalism and women's historians.
— Amy Mattson Lauters, Minnesota State University
Not only is the book well-researched and rich with history but it captures the voice and personality of an important figure in the history of American journalism. Dr. Voss does a fantastic job of weaving colorful stories and facts together to provide readers with an image of a trailblazing woman and American feminist whose work gave a voice to the voiceless and helped to carve out space for women journalists.
— Dustin Harp, University of Texas at Arlington