Overview

Scope and Content​

Out of the despair of the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy and the need to address issues of the inner city, the Goals for Dallas plan was initiated and orchestrated by Mayor J. Erik Jonsson and included a number of Dallas philanthropists and captains of industry.  Although the plan was not initiated by the City of Dallas, it was endorsed by the Dallas City Council and was purportedly modeled after the corporate planning system developed by Jonsson’s business, Texas Instruments.

Citizen groups met to develop initially 100 goals on a range of topics such as improved public transportation, better schools and higher education opportunities, economic development and environmental quality.  The process resulted in an expanded public library system, the Dallas County Community College District, a new city hall, a revamped University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the University of Texas at Dallas.  While it did make many improvements, it did not achieve all of its goals and was criticized for neglecting some sectors of the city.

The collection contains one copy of Goals for Dallas: Summaries of the Proposals for Achieving the Goals for Dallas, published in 1969, two copies of the book Achieving the Goals for Dallas, which marked the completion of the planning phase and the beginning of the achievement phase for the 205 goals established in 1976-1977, and Dallas Police Department data and summary memoranda concerning the department's involvement in public safety related issues of Goals for Dallas.

Organization​

The collection includes one copy of Goals for Dallas: Summaries of the Proposals for Achieving the Goals for Dallas, and  two copies of Achieving the Goals for Dallas and one folder of loose photocopies.

Access​

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from the Dallas Municipal Archives.  All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards.  The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Citation​

Goals for Dallas Publications and Memoranda, 1969-1985 (Box <x>, Folder <y>), Dallas Municipal Archives

Related Materials​

None

Index Terms​

City planning
City planning -- Texas -- Dallas
​Dallas -- Texas -- History

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