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Remainder of Cronkite papers heading to UT
The remainder of Walter Cronkite’s personal papers and photographs are headed to the Dolph Briscoe Center at the University of Texas at Austin, which already has possession of most of the items (Cronkite was a UT student in the 1930s). The transfer was contingent upon the finalization of Cronkite’s will.
Don Carleton, Director of the University’s Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, says there’s nothing startlingly new in the remainder of materials from the legendary broadcaster’s CBS office, New York apartment and home in Martha’s Vineyard. “It’s important stuff and it should be here,” Carleton said, “but it’s not beyond anything we already have in terms of significance and importance.” Carleton and Cronkite’s survivors are in the process of deciding which artifacts should go to the University and which should remain with his family.
The items include research books of notes that Cronkite kept on his desk for reference while interviewing newsmakers or moderating debates.
“Walter had a mania for research and did most of his own,” explained Carleton, who became friends with Cronkite more than 20 years ago when the Briscoe Center sought to create a news media archive. He said Cronkite often didn’t need to refer to his notes, since the process of writing them out embedded them in his mind.
The Briscoe Center is planning a May, 2010 exhibition of the effects.
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