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Image of tribute in Dealey Plaza after the assassination, Slide #13
Image of tribute in Dealey Plaza after the assassination, Slide #13

Image of tribute in Dealey Plaza after the assassination, Slide #13

Object number2001.004.0010
Date11/23/1963
ClassificationsPhotographs
Photographer Jerry Mainer
ObjectSlide
Credit LineJerry Mainer Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumFilm
Dimensions2 x 2 in. (5.1 x 5.1 cm)
Collections
DescriptionOriginal 35mm color slide taken by amateur photographer Jerry Mainer. Image shows a floral tribute in Dealey Plaza on the afternoon of November 23, 1963, the day after the assassination of President Kennedy. The tribute, which is situated in the grass in front of the north pergola, consists of a cross made of red and white flowers with an eternal flame at the foot. The sign next to the cross reads: "In respectful memory of our late President John F. Kennedy, The Russell and Kiest Forest Development Corp."
Curatorial Commentary
Dealey Plaza was transformed into a memorial shrine during the weekend of the assassination as mourners left wreaths, floral displays and notecards in memory of President Kennedy. One plaza visitor, George Reid, recalled in his Museum oral history: "People were starting to leave things and then, by Sunday morning, there was quite a bit of stuff there--quite a lot of flowers.... And people were coming down there, and people were standing there crying. People just bawling and just talking to each other, hugging each other, you know. It was an emotional scene that day." - Stephen Fagin, Curator
The slides are numbered sequentially starting at #4 and going through #36, skipping #20, for a total of 32 slides. They were donated to the Museum like this, and it is unknown what happened to the missing slides from this sequence.   - Stephanie Allen-Givens, Collections and Exhibits Manager
This ornate floral arrangement, which included a flower cross and small "eternal flame," was placed in Dealey Plaza by local real estate developer Tom Russell. Because Russell prominently put the name of his corporation on the arrangement, it was considered to be advertising by the City of Dallas Parks Department. After being asked to remove the tribute, Russell placed it in front of his home and left it standing for a full year. Mr. Russell donated photographs of the floral display and recorded an oral history with the Museum in 2004. - Stephen Fagin, Curator