/internal/media/dispatcher/26284/fullImage of Dallas Police Chief Jesse Curry talking to reporters11/24/19632 3/16 × 2 3/16 in. (5.6 × 5.6 cm)FilmTom C. Dillard Collection, The Dallas Morning News/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza1994.003.0035.00010Black and white 120 film negative showing an image of Dallas Police Chief Curry talking to reporters at Dallas Police Headquarters, on November 24, 1963 after Lee Harvey Oswald was killed. The image was taken by a photographer from The Dallas Morning News.
In the image, Curry is pictured near the middle, standing on an elevated platform. His body is facing the camera, but his attention is directed at something unseen, possibly a reporter, on the left side of the image. There is a circular light spot over Curry's abdomen (it appears as if a spotlight has been directed on him); however on the physical negative there is a corresponding circle of discoloration that is the actual cause of the spot. On the left side of the image there is a wooden object that is possibly a lectern.
There are several reporters, some with microphones, standing around Curry. One reporter is standing on the right side of the image (Curry's left), and holding a microphone to Curry's mouth. The microphone is connected to a machine that is possibly attached to the reporter's hip. More reporters can be seen standing below the platform looking up at Curry. One man is on the right edge of the image.
Behind Curry, King and the reporters is a black wall with rows of horizontal lines; this is possibly the wall used for lining-up prisoners.
The Dallas Morning News photographers recounted where they were throughout the day on November 22, 1963, and some also related their locations in the following days and months when they were photographing events related to the assassination (such as Lee Harvey Oswald’s transfer or the Jack Ruby Trial). Their descriptions can be found in the Belo Collection at SMU; The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza's reading room has copies of these accounts available upon request. In cases where the specific photographer who took an image is not known, the potential photographers can be narrowed down to those who said they were at the image’s location. For this image, Jack Beers was the only photographer who reported being present when the photograph was taken, but there could have been another photographer who was present and did not write about the event in their record. Additionally, prints numbered 1994.003.0099, .0100, and .0175 in this collection show a similar image of Curry at the same press conference. On the back of these three prints, a rubber stamp was applied that read, “PHOTO BY TOM C. DILLARD.” This could mean that Tom Dillard was also at the press conference and took photographs, or the stamp could have been applied at a later time to another photographer’s work.Photographs652165.60000000005.600000000011939Negative (b&w)0E-10Original black and white negative by a Dallas Morning News photographer. This image shows reporters interviewing Dallas Police Chief Jesse Curry at Dallas police headquarters on November 24, 1963 in Dallas, Texas. This image was taken at the press conference announcing Lee Harvey Oswald's death. Dallas Police Captain Glen King, who handled public relations for the department, is visible in the background.ReporterPressPress conferenceMicrophonesPhotographsOswald, Lee HarveyBeers, JackDillard, Tom C.Curry, Jesse E.Dallas Police DepartmentThe Dallas Morning NewsDallas Police HeadquartersDallas Municipal BuildingDallasJack Beers was the only photographer who reported being present when the photograph was taken, but there could have been another photographer who was present and did not write about the event in their record. Additionally, other prints in the collection show a similar image of Curry at the same press conference. On the back of these prints, a rubber stamp was applied that reads, “PHOTO BY TOM C. DILLARD.” This could either mean that Tom Dillard was also at the press conference and took photographs or the stamp could have been applied at a later time to another photographer’s work. - Stephanie Allen-Givens, Collections and Exhibits ManagerA visibly upset Dallas Police Chief Curry made a very brief announcement after Oswald was pronounced dead at Parkland Memorial Hospital. Curry simply stated: "Oswald expired at 1:07PM." An unknown reporter, apparently confused, questioned: "He died?" Curry then clarified: "He died at 1:07PM. We have arrested the man. The man will be charged with murder. The suspect's name is Jack Rubenstein, I believe. He goes by the name of Jack Ruby. That's all I have to say. I have no other statement to make at this time." The announcement took less than thirty seconds. As he was removing a microphone from around his neck, Curry was asked to repeat his statement for the reporters who missed it initially. Curry, clearly unhappy at having to repeat himself, tersely provided the same statement almost verbatim, adding only that Jack Ruby was "a local Dallas man." He ignored all other questions. Curry's full exchange with reporters at this very brief press conference took just over one minute. - Stephen Fagin, Curator