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Photograph of the Texas School Book Depository shortly after shots were fired
Photograph of the Texas School Book Depository shortly after shots were fired

Photograph of the Texas School Book Depository shortly after shots were fired

Object number1994.003.0109
Date11/22/1963
ClassificationsPhotographs
Photographer Tom C. Dillard
ObjectPhotograph (b&w)
Credit LineTom C. Dillard Collection, The Dallas Morning News/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumPaper, Photo
Dimensions8 x 10 in. (20.3 x 25.4 cm)
Collections
DescriptionBlack and white photograph showing the south facade of the Texas School Book Depository building on Elm Street in Dealey Plaza. Taken by chief photographer at The Dallas Morning News, Tom C. Dillard, moments after shots were fired. Dillard was riding in a press car in the presidential motorcade. Only the top five floors of the building are visible. A corner of the Hertz sign on the roof is visible on the southeast corner of the roof. The building fire escape can be seen on the right side of the image. A corner of a box is visible in the open sixth floor corner window; there are two men visible in the open fifth floor windows - Bonnie Ray Williams on the left and Harold Norman on the right. Both were Texas School Book Depository employees. There is another man visible in the fifth floor window to the left of Williams and Norman. On the back of the photograph in the lower right corner a black rubber stamp has been applied that reads, "PHOTO BY TOM DILLARD".
Curatorial Commentary
Tom Dillard, chief photographer at The Dallas Morning News, was traveling in Camera Car #3 in the Dallas parade, eight vehicles behind the presidential limousine. Seated behind Dillard in the car was his friend and professional competitor, Dallas Times Herald staff photographer Bob Jackson. When the assassination took place, as their vehicle made its way toward the Houston and Elm intersection with the Texas School Book Depository in front of them, Jackson saw a rifle extended from the southeast corner window of the Depository's sixth floor. Jackson's camera was out of film, but upon hearing his friend remark that he saw a rifle, Tom Dillard raised his Leica camera and took this haunting black and white photograph of the Depository. No rifle is visible, but Depository employees Harold Norman, James Jarman, Jr. and Bonnie Ray Williams can be seen on the fifth floor. - Stephen Fagin, Curator