Amazing Kerrville time capsules -- Tivy high school newspapers, 1966-1969

Tivy Tatler, April 22, 1966, page 1 clipping.
Click on any image to enlarge.

A kind friend gave me some Kerrville items that his late brother had kept for decades, and in the boxes, I found a collection of issues of the Tivy Tatler ranging from 1966 to 1969. For those who didn't attend Tivy High School, the Tatler was a student newspaper -- written, edited, and produced by Tivy students.

I have collected quite a few issues of the Tivy Tatler, including the very first edition, which was published on October 27, 1924. However, I did not have any copies from the late 1960s, so these newspapers are a very nice addition to my collection.

In the late 1960s, students could subscribe to the Tatler – a full school year of 14 issues cost $7.00, which was payable either in one payment or split into two payments of $3.50. Subscribers received a small card with their name on it, along with numbers 1-14, which were punched or marked out as the subscription was fulfilled.

I noticed several interesting things about the newspapers I received this week. Though the world was undergoing turmoil – these issues were published during some of the hardest days of the Vietnam War, and our country was also enduring protests, assassinations, and profound civil rights debates – none of these larger issues were addressed in the pages of the Tatler.

In my opinion, the school administration forbade such topics in the school newspaper. Its columns and stories focused exclusively on student life at Tivy High School. News and opinions of the world beyond the high school campus were left to other media.

I also have in my collection an 'underground' Tivy student newspaper from April 1970 called the Dove, which addresses the high school administration's limitations on 'free speech' and press freedoms. 'The authors of this paper,' the front page of the Dove states, 'believe that the students of their school deserve the chance to read a non-censored account of today's happenings.' I'm not sure the Dove survived past its first issue.

Still, despite the limited scope of the late-1960s issues of the Tivy Tatler I received this week, they are a wonderful snapshot of Tivy and Kerrville from that period, from the stories and opinions published to the wonderful ads that supported the newspaper. Seeing some of the old company names – now long gone – made me smile as they helped me remember the people and locations of the Kerrville stores of my childhood.

I certainly recognize a lot of names in the newspaper – many of the students in the school newspaper chose to remain in Kerrville, and it was fun reading about them from that period of their lives before they were responsible, mature adults (you know, before they were the 'Establishment').

One poignant line of news stories talked about the 'new' high school and the 'new' gym being constructed, as well as news stories about their completion.

'New School Brings Tivy New Era and Possibility,' the headline reads on the front page of the September 8, 1967 issue. 'Without a doubt, the upcoming school year will be an exceptionally good one for Tivy High School. Beginning this September, Tivy students will enjoy a thoroughly new and modern campus.'

The 'new' campus was located on Sidney Baker Street and served as the high school until 2004; until recently, it was the campus of Hal Peterson Middle School. Over the last year, after the school district sold the land and its buildings, the 'new' school was razed, making way for commercial and residential development.

I’m thankful for the generosity of my classmate in sharing these items with me and with our community.  I’ll scan some of these issues and place them online in the coming weeks.

Until next week, all the best.

Joe Herring Jr. is a 1979 graduate of Tivy High School. This column appeared in the Kerrville Daily Times June 24, 2023.

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