Image of Lee Harvey Oswald during the midnight press showing

Object number1989.100.0036.0010

Date11/23/1963

ClassificationsPhotographs

Photographer Dallas Times Herald photographer

ObjectNegative (b&w)

Credit LineDallas Times Herald Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

MediumFilm

Dimensions15/16 x 1 7/16 in. (2.4 x 3.6 cm)

Terms

Collections

DescriptionOriginal 35mm black and white negative taken by an unidentified Dallas Times Herald staff photographer. The image shows suspect Lee Harvey Oswald during the midnight press showing at Dallas Police Headquarters. Oswald is surrounded by law enforcement and a large crowd of journalists. The largest of the cameras in the room appears to be the KRLD-TV camera in the top right corner. Darryl Heikes and another, unidentified, Dallas Times Herald photographer attended the midnight press showing. It is not known which of the two photographers took this picture.

Curatorial Commentary

The journalist wearing the coat and tie on the far right side of this image is KRLD-TV broadcaster Bill Mercer. At this midnight press showing, Mercer was the one who informed a surprised Lee Harvey Oswald that he had been formally charged with the murder of President Kennedy (although that formal charge did not actually take place until 1:30AM, about ninety minutes after this press showing). Bill Mercer discussed this moment and other experiences that he had during the weekend of the assassination at a special anniversary program at the Museum on November 22, 2019. That program may be viewed in full on the Museum's YouTube channel: Living History with Bill Mercer - YouTube. -- Stephen Fagin, Curator