Voices from History: Donald Payton

It's been 35 years since the original exhibit opened on the sixth floor in the former Texas School Book Depository building. Some iteration of the building has been on this site since 1898. And before that? Artifacts discovered under the soil in the 1980s show an integrated community lived here.
Donald Payton is a 1960s civil rights activist, historian, genealogist, former Dallas County Historical Commissioner who served on the committee to have Juneteenth made a state holiday. His ancestors were one of the first black families to settle in Dallas. During his time with the Dallas County Historical Commission, Payton was onsite for an archeological dig conducted before construction of the Museum's visitor center began. He detailed his experience in 2016 during an oral history recording. See his entire oral history and find out how you can participate in the Oral History Project at emuseum.jfk.org
#voicesfromhistory #blackhistorymontheverymonth #ilovethe80s #oralhistory

[@lynnmitzy1643]

Very interesting, thank you.

[@TomChasuk]

This is very revealing. I've read Stephen Fagin's book "Assassination and Commemoration" which tells the story of how The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza came about. What a journey to get it going!

[@SixthFloorMuseum]

Check out his entire oral history in our Oral History Collection, here; emuseum.jfk.org/objects/46662/donald-payton-oral-history?ctx=c94a1d1f6c59402ea8a8b8e32c47e782fe0bd267&idx=0

[@TomChasuk]

I will do that. Thanks!