Image of the crowd gathered at Love Field to welcome President Kennedy to Dallas
Object number1994.003.0003.0002
Date11/22/1963
ClassificationsPhotographs
Photographer
Tom C. Dillard
ObjectNegative (b&w)
Credit LineTom C. Dillard Collection, The Dallas Morning News/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumFilm
Dimensions15/16 × 1 7/16 in. (2.4 × 3.6 cm)
DescriptionOriginal black and white 35mm negative by Dallas Morning News chief photographer Tom Dillard. The image shows the crowd at Love Field waiting on the arrival of the Kennedys for the motorcade through Dallas on November 22, 1963. The crowd is behind a chain-link fence, and many people hold signs welcoming President Kennedy to Dallas.
Curatorial CommentaryA number of similar handmade signs were freely distributed to spectators at Dallas Love Field on the morning of November 22, 1963. Although the wording on the roughly handwritten signs differed, all referenced "Grassroots Democrats," with some also indicating an affiliation with nearby Southern Methodist University. Slogans on these signs included: "All the Way with JFK," "Welcome Jack," and "We Love Jackie." One of these signs, the only surviving example known to exist, is in the Museum's Collection, 2018.021.0002. -- Stephen Fagin, Curator
The man holding the camera pointed at photographer Tom Dillard in this image is an amateur photographer named George Reid. On November 22, 1963, Reid arrived at Dallas Love Field two hours early and filmed some of the preparations for, and later the arrival of, the Kennedys. Reid filmed the presidential arrival and the Kennedys in the crowd until he ran out of film; by the time he reloaded, the motorcade had departed. His film is also in the collection of The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (1996.014.0004). - Stephanie Allen-Givens, Collections and Exhibits Manager
Tom C. Dillard
11/22/1963
Tom C. Dillard
11/22/1963
Tom C. Dillard
11/22/1963
Tom C. Dillard
11/22/1963
Tom C. Dillard
11/22/1963
Tom C. Dillard
11/22/1963
