/internal/media/dispatcher/26312/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 Plaza1994.003.0037.00020Black 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.
The photograph was taken at an angle looking down at Curry and the reporters; the camera was elevated either because the photographer had climbed on top of something or raised the camera at arms' length over his head. In the photograph, Police Chief Curry stands surrounded by reporters, several of whom hold microphones to his mouth. On the left side of the image, a man is standing beside and above Curry, his head is bowed; a previous cataloger identified this man as Glenn D. King.
Behind Curry, King and the reporters is a black wall with rows of horizontal lines and at least one set of vertical numbers printed in descending order; 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.Photographs652275.60000000005.600000000011949Negative (b&w)0E-10Original black and white negative by a Dallas Morning News photographer. This image shows Dallas police chief Jesse Curry speaking to reporters 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 on the left.ReporterPressPress conferenceMicrophonesPhotographsKing, Glen D.Beers, JackOswald, Lee HarveyDillard, 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