James, Pat, and Tina Towner Oral History

James, Pat, and Tina Towner Oral History

Object number1996.055.0006

Date03/30/1996

ClassificationsOral Histories

Oral history interview subject Tina Towner Pender

Oral history interview subject Jim Towner

Oral history interview subject Pat Towner

Oral history interviewer Bob Porter

Oral history interviewer Gary Mack (1946 - 2015)

ObjectOral history

Credit LineOral History Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

MediumHi-8 videotape

Dimensions2 3/4 × 4 × 3/4 in. (7 × 10.2 × 1.9 cm)
Duration: 83 Minutes

Terms

Collections

DescriptionVideotaped oral history interview with Towner family. James, Pat, and daughter Tina Towner were eyewitnesses to the assassination. James Towner took still photographs while thirteen-year-old Tina filmed with her father's home movie camera as the presidential limousine turned from Houston onto Elm Street. Interview recorded at the Towners' home on March 30, 1996 by Bob Porter and Gary Mack. The interview is one hour and twenty-three minutes long.

Curatorial Commentary

This 1996 recording is the only known video interview with all three members of the Towner family. James and daughter Tina subsequently took part in a group interview with other Dealey Plaza photographers on November 22, 1996. On her own, Tina Towner Pender recorded an oral history in 2008 and participated in Museum programs in 2000 and 2010. Pender, who donated her family's images to the Museum in 2015, also authored the memoir, Tina Towner: My Story as the Youngest Photographer at the Kennedy Assassination (2012).

James Towner passed away on November 13, 2002. His wife, Patricia Towner, passed away on August 29, 2005. -- Stephen Fagin, Curator

Curatorial Commentary

The Tina Towner film and Jim Towner images, as well as the cameras used by the Towners, can all be seen here in our online collections database: Towner Collection – Collections – eMuseum (jfk.org).