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Image of the view of Dealey Plaza from the recreated sniper's perch
Image of the view of Dealey Plaza from the recreated sniper's perch

Image of the view of Dealey Plaza from the recreated sniper's perch

Object number1989.100.0023.0019
Date11/22/1963
ClassificationsPhotographs
Photographer William Allen
ObjectNegative (b&w)
Credit LineWilliam Allen, photographer, Dallas Times Herald Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumFilm
Dimensions15/16 x 1 7/16 in. (2.4 x 3.6 cm)
DescriptionOriginal 35mm black and white negative taken by Dallas Times Herald staff photographer William Allen. This image shows the view looking onto Elm Street and towards the triple underpass from the recreation of the sniper's perch by the Dallas Police on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository on November 22, 1963. Police moved the boxes during their search for evidence; this recreation shows the boxes after the police had put them back in what they thought were their original positions.
Curatorial Commentary

All six images in this series were taken about three hours after the assassination. 

Only one news photographer was inside the Depository when investigators started their search shortly before 1 p.m. and, because some of them knew the man – Tom Alyea of WFAA-TV – he was allowed to stay.  All films of the search were made by Alyea.  Later, around 3:30, other news photographers were allowed inside the building.  These pictures by Dallas Times Herald photographer William Allen show the sniper’s perch area.  By the time these were taken, Dallas Police had photographed the boxes as originally found before they moved some of the boxes while they searched for fingerprints.  Once that task was completed, police moved the boxes back into the position they thought they were found.  Unfortunately, the boxes directly in front of the window were not correctly placed, so viewers of these pictures do not get an accurate view of where the boxes were before the police began their investigations. – Gary Mack, Curator