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Jackie Kennedy: Inquiring Camera Girl

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Jacqueline Bouvier, “Inquiring Camera Girl,” Times Herald (Washington, DC), June 4, 1953, page 23.

“Jackie Kennedy once took my mother’s photograph! Can you help me to find it?”

We frequently get this question, or a variation of it, in the Newspaper & Current Periodical Reading Room. Before she set foot into the White House as our First Lady, Jacqueline Bouvier worked for the Washington Times Herald getting “man-on-street” views for the day’s pressing questions. Here are examples of the questions she asked:

“What is your candid opinion of marriage?” (Times Herald, June 4, 1953, p23.)

“Are beauty operators and barbers entitled to tips?” (Times Herald, June 10, 1953, p7.)

At a Library of Congress exhibit she asked, “Which picture here do you like best and why?” (Times Herald, March 13, 1952, p20.)

In her column for the Times Herald, “Inquiring Photografer,” later called “Inquiring Camera Girl,” Bouvier provided photographs of the people she spoke to next to their opinions.  She interviewed people about local events, current events, or questions related to every day life. She worked as the Inquiring Camera Girl from the fall of 1951 to June 1953, publishing the column almost daily. As one of her last assignments she was sent to Queen Elizabeth’s coronation.  “Do you think Elizabeth will be England’s last queen?” she asked people in the crowd outside of Buckingham Palace (Times Herald, June 4, 1953, p4).

At the Capitol on one of her assignments in April 1953, she even interviewed the young John F. Kennedy, then a Senator from Massachusetts. They had already met the year before at a dinner party. Only a few months later, after ending her column with the Times Herald, Bouvier and Kennedy married on September 12, 1953.

Jacqueline Bouvier, “Inquiring Camera Girl,” Times Herald (Washington, DC), April 21, 1953, page 24.

As of yet, the Times Herald has not been digitized, so you’ll have to look through the microfilm to find these juicy questions and their answers. With a little investigative digging though, it can be worth it to catch this moment in time, especially if you know someone who once had their photograph taken by the young woman who became one of our most iconic First Ladies.

Did you have your picture taken by Jackie Kennedy? Do you know someone who did? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Additional Resources:

Today in History – July 28: Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis
https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/july-28/#jacqueline-bouvier-kennedy-onassis

First Ladies: Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy
https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/first-ladies/jacqueline-lee-bouvier-kennedy/

Comments (20)

  1. My mother Jean Hubbard was interviewed by Jacqueline Bouvier on the street between 1951 and 1953. It was published and it was about the surge of young and successful women working in Washington. My mother later became the assistant to the director of Goddard Space Flight during the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions during a time when women didn’t advance very quickly. I would like to have a copy of the article. Please let me know. My mom just passed away at the age of 90.

    • Gale, I am sorry for your loss. Your mother sounds like an amazing woman! As I mention, the Times Herald is not digitized, so I cannot quickly search to find the day that she was interviewed. I will take a look, however, and follow up with you through our Ask-A-Librarian service: https://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/ask-news.html

  2. My mother, Virginia Katherine Gardner Haight was a secretary’ to Senators Taft and Butler. She was photographed by Jackie Bouvier but not sure where the picture is or the time frame. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Coach Haight

    • Hi, Mary! How amazing! We’d be happy to help you find the story– I’ll be in touch via email. Thanks again for your message and for reading!

  3. My grandmother was photographed by Jackie Bouvier. I’m unsure of the time frame. I’d appreciate any help! I do have a low res copy if that helps.

    • Kelly, we would love to try and help you find this again! Please send us a message through our Ask a Librarian page so that we can work with you.

  4. I HAD MY PICTURE TAKEN BY JACKIE BOUVIER ON THE STREET, OUTSIDE OF GARFINCKELS WHEN I WAS A STUDENT AT THE HOLTON-ARMS SCHOOL WHICH SHE HAD ALSO ATTENDED WHEN LIVING WITH HER STEPFATHER, MR. ACHINCLOSS AND HER MOTHER IN VIRGINIA. I BELIEVE IT WAS IN 1951 AND THE QUESTION WAS SOMETHING LIKE: DO WOMEN TAKE THINGS MORE SERIOUSLY THAN MEN. NOW THAT I AM 88 YEARS OLD I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE A COPY OF THAT ARTICLE TO SHOW MY GRANDCHILDREN. THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE. Donna Helsing Henderson

    • Donna, what a great memory! I will follow up with you through our Ask-A-Librarian system so that we can try to find this for you.

  5. I have created a digital scrapbook of Jacqueline Bouvier’s columns, beginning in December 1951 through June 1953. Along with that is a database of people whom she interviewed. Let me know if I can help to find your family members.

  6. My grandfather, Durward Lewis, said he was once interviewed by her. He was working in Washington following the war. He had worked on the Manhattan Project ( During the war) and then was also working for IBM which did cryptography during the early days of the Cold War. I would love to see what she asked him.

  7. My father related a story where he and a friend were interviewed and photographed by Ms. Bouvier in the Summer of 1948. According to my father (now deceased) this happened at the 13th Street entrance to the (then) Strayer College of Accounting. My father says the story appeared in the Tribune about a week later. I would greatly appreciate any help you could offer in finding the story and photo(s)!

  8. My uncle had his photo taken and was in one of Jackie’s articles. I’m not sure the exact year, around 1952. My father has the actual photo taken, but I would love to see the article. My uncle’s name was Warren Sheets.

    • Debra, how wonderful that your father has the photograph! I haven’t come across your Uncle’s name yet. These columns appeared almost daily and they haven’t been digitized, so without a way to search the only way to find these is to try and narrow down the date and look through each day. If your family is able to think of anything that could narrow down the date range, let us know! You can send us an inquiry through Ask A Librarian for more help.

  9. My Dad worked for the government in the early 50’s Russell James Abbott and was interviewed by Miss Bouvier. I would love to see the article.
    Thank you for your time
    Russell Abbott

    • Thank you Russell! I will follow up with you through our Ask A Librarian service.

  10. My mother was interviewed by Miss Bouvien, but I don’t have the date. I have a clip of the article. The question must have been who is the most dangerous drivers.
    My mother’s name is Joyce Huntly. Her answer was:
    People who try to beat lights are the most dangerous drivers on the road. Another thinkg that a lot of drivers do is turn right into a crosswalk without regard to pedestrians. Contrary to popular belief, men are the worst offenders, too.

    • Thank you for your question. We will follow up with you through our Ask A Librarian service.

  11. My father, Robert Wallace, related a story where he and a friend (Gilbert Birkhead) were interviewed and photographed by Ms.
    Bouvier in the Summer of 1948. According to my father (now deceased) this happened at the 13th Street entrance to the (then) Strayer College of Accounting.
    My father says the story appeared in the Tribune about a week later. I would greatly appreciate any help you could offer in finding the story and photo(s)!

    • John, Ms. Bouvier didn’t begin her work with the Washington Times Herald until 1951. I will follow up with you through our Ask A Librarian service though, and we’ll see if we can figure how when he might have met her!

  12. Apparently , I am told , Miss Bouvier studied photography in England , near Farnham , Surrey .
    About 20 years ago i met someone who was at the college at the same time and she said that “Jackie was a mouse ” , which would be a compliment meaning she was modest . I have liked her photographs , when ever i have seen them .

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