The Lester Strother Texas Metro Records, 1917-1986

By Jaime Janda

Collection Overview

Title:	The Lester Strother Texas Metro Records, 1917-1986
Predominant Dates:	1965-1983
ID:	01/ AR0327
Primary Creator:	Lester James Strother (1925-2001)
Extent:	102.0 Boxes
Arrangement:	The collection is organized in four series, two of which have been further arranged in sub-series. The contents of each series, including sub-series, are arranged alphabetically and/or chronologically. The arrangement scheme is noted for each series or sub-series, as needed.
Date Acquired:	00/00/1995. More info below under Accruals.
Languages:	English

Abstract

The collection of Lester Strother, a Fort Worth magazine publisher and editor. Included in this collection are the records of the Texas Metro publication and personal records of Lester Strother and his second wife Dora Dougherty, a U.S. Military pilot and helicopter test pilot for Bell Helicopter.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The collection includes records pertaining to the Texas Metro publication and business, and personal records from Lester Strother and his second wife Dora Dougherty. Records from the Texas Metro publication and business include: secretary, general and other related materials such as advertising materials and mock-up ads, blank office forms, budget and salary information, subscription and subscriber information, carbon copies of response letters, projection and marketing plans, Texas Metro history, news releases and press packages; correspondence between employees, outside persons, other businesses, advertisers, freelance writers, hotels, vacation spots and many others; correspondence, photographs, pamphlets, brochures and general information from businesses, advertisers, vacation spots, event organizers, various Chambers of Commerce, and educational institutions; issues of the Texas Metro magazine from 1965-1975, and miscellaneous magazine, catalogs and books; and photographs used in the Texas Metro magazine from 1965-1972.

The personal records of Lester Strother include: letter correspondence between Strother and Dora Dougherty, Jean Strother (Strother's first wife), Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mack, Genevieve Ramos, Faye Pugh, Preston McGraw, other family members and persons, Senator Edward Kennedy, and telegraph correspondence with Huey P. Strother; Christmas and post cards; speeches given by Strother at events such as Law Day USA, Women in Aviation, Dallas Naval Air Station and other events; community theater event pamphlets attended by Strother and Dougherty during their courtship; genealogy materials; school notebooks; short stories, articles and playwrights by Strother and Dougherty; and other personal materials from Strother.

Collection Historical Note

Lester Strother (1925-2001) was an editor, publisher, stockholder and founder of the Dallas/Fort Worth Texas Metro Magazine.

Born on March 9, 1925 in Elizabeth, Louisiana, naval veteran Lester Strother graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and began an eighteen year long news career in editing, publishing and writing for a variety of papers and cities. He served as a staff correspondent with the United Press in Dallas, a public relations director for the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and assistant city editor for the Fort Worth Star Telegram, among many others.

However, it was in 1965 when Strother established his legacy. He acknowledged that “…Dallas and Fort Worth were exceptionally ignorant when it came to a knowledge of each other” and subsequently founded the Texas Metro Magazine that would come to unify the two cities’ distinct identities ("Lester Strother to San Angelo Rotary Club"). As a result of his accomplishments, Mr. Strother would continue on to give countless speeches and lectures on successful journalism, advertising, and publishing to accredited universities including North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas).

Mr. Strother was a member of several associations, most notably, Sigma Delta Chi—professional news fraternity, Kappa Alpha Mu—professional photographic fraternity, the Press Club of Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Advertising Club, and the Dallas Advertising League. His awards include a Certificate of Appreciation from the Carswell Air Force base, the Ambassador of Goodwill award from the city of Richardson, Texas, a Pacesetter Award by the Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce, and a Merit Award from the Fort Worth Advertising Club.

Mr. Strother passed away on August 12, 2001. He is buried in the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia along with his second wife, Dora Jean Dougherty. They were survived by their adult sons, David and Grant.

Access Information

Access Restrictions:

This collection is not restricted.

Use Restrictions:

Reproduction and publication of materials in this collection are subject to the policies of the UNT Special Collections department. Copyright restrictions may apply.

Physical Access Note:

This collection is stored off-site and requires a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to use.

Reading Room or Duplication Requests

Depending on any access restrictions noted above, you may be able to request items be delivered to our reading room, or that we make reproductions for you. Just click on either the or icons in the listings below to be routed to our request form.

Administrative Information

Repository:	Manuscripts
Accruals:	95-012, 95-020, 96-013
Acquisition Source:	Lester Strother
Acquisition Method:	Gift
Preferred Citation:	The Lester Strother Texas Metro Records, University of North Texas Special Collections

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Box and Folder Listing
Series 1: Texas Metro Records, 1917-1986 Series 2: Lester Strother - Personal Records, 1949-1983 Series 3: Texas Metro Magazines, Books, and Other Publications, 1960-1984 Series 4: Texas Metro Photographs, 1965-1972 All

The listing below is a partial representation of this finding aid's total contents. To see other series/containers, select an option in Browse by Series, above.

Series 3: Texas Metro Magazines, Books, and Other Publications, 1960-1984

This series includeds monthly Texas Metro Magazines, ad mock-ups from the Texas Metro Magazine, and other magazines and books within the collection.
- Sub-Series 1: Texas Metro Magazine, 1965-1974
  
  This sub-series is arranged first by the Texas Metro Magazine Issues in chronological order, then by other Texas Metro Magazine materials in chronological order.
  - Box 36: October-December, 1965-1968 Request Reading Room Access
    
    Barcode: 663444
    - Folder 1: Texas Metro Magazine, 1965-10-1965-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 2: Texas Metro Magazine, 1966-01-1966-06 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 3: Texas Metro Magazine, 1966-07-1966-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 4: Texas Metro Magazine, 1967-01-1967-06 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 5: Texas Metro Magazine, 1967-07-1967-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 6: Texas Metro Magazine, 1968-01-1968-06 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 7: Texas Metro Magazine, 1968-07-1968-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
  - Box 37: January-December of Each Year, 1969-1972 Request Reading Room Access
    
    Barcode: 663445
    - Folder 1: Texas Metro Magazine, 1969-01-1969-06 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 2: Texas Metro Magazine, 1969-07-1969-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 3: Texas Metro Magazine, 1970-01-1970-06 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 4: Texas Metro Magazine, 1970-07-1970-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 5: Texas Metro Magazine, 1971-01-1971-06 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 6: Texas Metro Magazine, 1971-07-1971-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 7: Texas Metro Magazine, 1972-01-1972-06 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 8: Texas Metro Magazine, 1972-07-1972-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
  - Box 38: January-Fall of 1974, Miscellaneous Articles, Advertisements, and Cover Pages from Texas Metro Magazine, 1966-1974 Request Reading Room Access
    
    Barcode: 663446
    - Folder 1: Texas Metro Magazine, 1973-01-1973-11 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
      
      No December 1973 Issue
    - Folder 2: Texas Metro Magazine, 1974-01-1974-05; Summer to Fall 1974 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 3: Texas Metro Magazine Covers and Select Articles, 1966-01-1973-11 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 4: Miscellaneous Articles, Ads, Covers and Other Pages from Texas Metro Magazine, 1967-10-1974 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 5: Texas Metro Magazine: A Prospectus, 1970-10 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
- Sub-Series 2: Other Magazines and Catalogs, 1963-1984
  - Box 38: Fort Worth Magazine, American Aviation, Flying, Aero West, and US News and World Report, 1963-1969 Request Reading Room Access
    
    Barcode: 663446
    - Folder 6: Fort Worth Magazine, 1963-09-1964-01 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 7: American Aviation, Flying, and Aero West Magazines, 1963-11-1964-03; 1969-11-1969-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 8: US News and World Report Magazine, 1964-02-03 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 9: Fort Worth Magazine, 1964-02-1964-06 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
  - Box 39: Fort Worth Magazine, Report Brochures, Texas Highways, Metro Beat, NOW, Texas Architect, Irrigation Age, Texas Monthly and Cointreau, 1964-1976 Request Reading Room Access
    
    Barcode: 94286
    - Folder 1: Fort Worth Magazine, 1964-08-1964-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 2: Fort Worth Magazine, 1965-03-1965-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 3: Fort Worth Magazine and Square-L-Round, 1966-07-1976-11-28 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 4: Communicating the Total Corporate Personality and Youth: Communications Survey, 1969 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 5: Annual Report Brochures: Behavioral Research Laboratories, and Consolidated Freightways Incorporated, 1969-11-15-1970-01-29 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 6: Texas Highways Magazine and 62nd Year Ford Times, 1969-07-1975-05 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 7: Magazine Publishers Association Statistics, 1969-06-1974-05-01 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 8: Magazines and Brochures, 1969-1974-05 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 9: Metro Beat and NOW Catalogs, 1970-03-1971-11 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 10: The Texas Architect, 1970-08-1971-07-28 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 11: Zale Corporation: Facets, and Miss Hurst-Euless-Bedford Scholarship Pageant Magazines, 1970-09-1971 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 12: Irrigation Age and Texas Monthly, 1970-03-1970-06; 1973-02 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 13: NOW Magazine, 1971-01-15 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 14: Cointreau Magazines, 1971-06-1971-07 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
  - Box 40: Autumn Trails, Arizona Highways, Ok'd Copy, Tony Lama Catalog, American West, and American Publishers Association, 1971-1984 Request Reading Room Access
    
    Barcode: 94297
    - Folder 1: Autumn Trails Magazine - Winnsboro, Texas, 1971-10-02-1971-10-31 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 2: Magazine Publishers Association, 1972-01-05-1974-08-07 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 3: Arizona Highways Magazines, 1973-05-1973-09 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 4: Ok'd Copy - Dallas Advertising League, 1973-09-18-1974-06-11 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 5: Tony Lama Leather Products Catalog, 1973-1974 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 6: Magazine Publishers Association, 1974-04-10-1974-09 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 7: Magazine Publishers Association, 1974-09-03-1974-11-01 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 8: Petro-Lewis Oil Income, 1978-03-31-1978-09-25 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
      
      Annual reports, sales, distribution summary, and programs.
    - Folder 9: Factors Related to the Welfare of Animals During Transport by Commercial Aircraft, 1981-05 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Folder 10: American West Magazine, 1984-09-1984-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
- Sub-Series 3: Books, Catalogs, and Pamphlets, 1960-1973
  - Box 41: 1960-1973 Request Reading Room Access
    
    Barcode: 94283
    - Item 1: "Commodore Moore and the Texas Navy" - Tom Henderson Wells, 1960 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Item 2: Texas Metro Volume 1-2, 1965-10-1966-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Item 3: Texas Almanac and State Industrial Guide (Anniversary Edition), 1966-1969 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Item 4: Dallas Restaurant Association, 1970-1971 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Item 5: Great Southwest Directory, 1972-06 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Item 6: "We Do It Every Day" - Wight Martindale Jr., 1972-08 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Item 7: Tarrant County Builders Association Directory, 1972 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Item 8: Legislative Directory for North Central Texas, 1973-01 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Item 9: Geographical Index to the Standard Directory of Advertisers, 1973 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
  - Box 42: 1961-1971 Request Reading Room Access
    
    Barcode: 94284
    - Item 1: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Style Book, 1961 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Item 2: Regional Transportation Study Plan Report - Dallas-Forth Worth, 1967-07 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Item 3: Retail Salesmanship, 1968-05 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Item 4: "Mother Jane's Prescription for Hunger" - Jane Justin, 1968 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Item 5: Who's Who in Texas Today, 1968 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Item 6: Roster and Organization - American Association of Advertising Agencies, 1970-1971 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Item 7: Bits and Pieces, Volume C #2, 1971 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
    - Item 8: "How to Develop New Products for Sale to Industry" - Frank M. Butrick, 1971 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

The Lester Strother Texas Metro Records, 1917-1986

Contents

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Collection Overview

Abstract

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Collection Historical Note

Access Information

Access Restrictions:

Use Restrictions:

Physical Access Note:

Reading Room or Duplication Requests

Administrative Information

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Search this Finding Aid

Box and Folder ListingBrowse by SeriesSeries 1: Texas Metro Records, 1917-1986Series 2: Lester Strother - Personal Records, 1949-1983Series 3: Texas Metro Magazines, Books, and Other Publications, 1960-1984Series 4: Texas Metro Photographs, 1965-1972All

Series 3: Texas Metro Magazines, Books, and Other Publications, 1960-1984

Sub-Series 1: Texas Metro Magazine, 1965-1974

Box 36: October-December, 1965-1968 Request Reading Room Access

Folder 1: Texas Metro Magazine, 1965-10-1965-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 2: Texas Metro Magazine, 1966-01-1966-06 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 3: Texas Metro Magazine, 1966-07-1966-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 4: Texas Metro Magazine, 1967-01-1967-06 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 5: Texas Metro Magazine, 1967-07-1967-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 6: Texas Metro Magazine, 1968-01-1968-06 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 7: Texas Metro Magazine, 1968-07-1968-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Box 37: January-December of Each Year, 1969-1972 Request Reading Room Access

Folder 1: Texas Metro Magazine, 1969-01-1969-06 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 2: Texas Metro Magazine, 1969-07-1969-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 3: Texas Metro Magazine, 1970-01-1970-06 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 4: Texas Metro Magazine, 1970-07-1970-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 5: Texas Metro Magazine, 1971-01-1971-06 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 6: Texas Metro Magazine, 1971-07-1971-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 7: Texas Metro Magazine, 1972-01-1972-06 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 8: Texas Metro Magazine, 1972-07-1972-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Box 38: January-Fall of 1974, Miscellaneous Articles, Advertisements, and Cover Pages from Texas Metro Magazine, 1966-1974 Request Reading Room Access

Folder 1: Texas Metro Magazine, 1973-01-1973-11 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 2: Texas Metro Magazine, 1974-01-1974-05; Summer to Fall 1974 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 3: Texas Metro Magazine Covers and Select Articles, 1966-01-1973-11 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 4: Miscellaneous Articles, Ads, Covers and Other Pages from Texas Metro Magazine, 1967-10-1974 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 5: Texas Metro Magazine: A Prospectus, 1970-10 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Sub-Series 2: Other Magazines and Catalogs, 1963-1984

Box 38: Fort Worth Magazine, American Aviation, Flying, Aero West, and US News and World Report, 1963-1969 Request Reading Room Access

Folder 6: Fort Worth Magazine, 1963-09-1964-01 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 7: American Aviation, Flying, and Aero West Magazines, 1963-11-1964-03; 1969-11-1969-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 8: US News and World Report Magazine, 1964-02-03 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 9: Fort Worth Magazine, 1964-02-1964-06 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Box 39: Fort Worth Magazine, Report Brochures, Texas Highways, Metro Beat, NOW, Texas Architect, Irrigation Age, Texas Monthly and Cointreau, 1964-1976 Request Reading Room Access

Folder 1: Fort Worth Magazine, 1964-08-1964-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 2: Fort Worth Magazine, 1965-03-1965-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 3: Fort Worth Magazine and Square-L-Round, 1966-07-1976-11-28 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 4: Communicating the Total Corporate Personality and Youth: Communications Survey, 1969 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 5: Annual Report Brochures: Behavioral Research Laboratories, and Consolidated Freightways Incorporated, 1969-11-15-1970-01-29 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 6: Texas Highways Magazine and 62nd Year Ford Times, 1969-07-1975-05 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 7: Magazine Publishers Association Statistics, 1969-06-1974-05-01 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 8: Magazines and Brochures, 1969-1974-05 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 9: Metro Beat and NOW Catalogs, 1970-03-1971-11 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 10: The Texas Architect, 1970-08-1971-07-28 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 11: Zale Corporation: Facets, and Miss Hurst-Euless-Bedford Scholarship Pageant Magazines, 1970-09-1971 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 12: Irrigation Age and Texas Monthly, 1970-03-1970-06; 1973-02 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 13: NOW Magazine, 1971-01-15 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 14: Cointreau Magazines, 1971-06-1971-07 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Box 40: Autumn Trails, Arizona Highways, Ok'd Copy, Tony Lama Catalog, American West, and American Publishers Association, 1971-1984 Request Reading Room Access

Folder 1: Autumn Trails Magazine - Winnsboro, Texas, 1971-10-02-1971-10-31 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 2: Magazine Publishers Association, 1972-01-05-1974-08-07 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 3: Arizona Highways Magazines, 1973-05-1973-09 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 4: Ok'd Copy - Dallas Advertising League, 1973-09-18-1974-06-11 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 5: Tony Lama Leather Products Catalog, 1973-1974 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 6: Magazine Publishers Association, 1974-04-10-1974-09 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 7: Magazine Publishers Association, 1974-09-03-1974-11-01 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 8: Petro-Lewis Oil Income, 1978-03-31-1978-09-25 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 9: Factors Related to the Welfare of Animals During Transport by Commercial Aircraft, 1981-05 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Folder 10: American West Magazine, 1984-09-1984-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Sub-Series 3: Books, Catalogs, and Pamphlets, 1960-1973

Box 41: 1960-1973 Request Reading Room Access

Item 1: "Commodore Moore and the Texas Navy" - Tom Henderson Wells, 1960 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Item 2: Texas Metro Volume 1-2, 1965-10-1966-12 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Item 3: Texas Almanac and State Industrial Guide (Anniversary Edition), 1966-1969 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services

Box and Folder Listing
Series 1: Texas Metro Records, 1917-1986 Series 2: Lester Strother - Personal Records, 1949-1983 Series 3: Texas Metro Magazines, Books, and Other Publications, 1960-1984 Series 4: Texas Metro Photographs, 1965-1972 All