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Photograph of courtroom sketch of viewing video evidence during Jack Ruby trial
Photograph of courtroom sketch of viewing video evidence during Jack Ruby trial

Photograph of courtroom sketch of viewing video evidence during Jack Ruby trial

Object number2019.026.0009
Date03/06/1964
ClassificationsArt
Artist Woodi Ishmael
ObjectCourtroom sketch
Credit LineThe Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza Collection
MediumPaper, Photo
Dimensions8 1/8 × 10 in. (20.6 × 25.4 cm)
Collections
DescriptionPhotograph of courtroom pencil sketch on paper by Associated Press courtroom artist Woodi Ishmael. The sketch shows Dallas Police Lt. Jack Revill pointing to a screen during the Jack Ruby trial on March 6, 1964. The sketch shows the viewing of film evidence with Lt. Revill standing in front of the screen pointing at the screen. Judge Joe B. Brown is visible at the judge's bench in the background on the right edge of the image. In the foreground are a group of men including Dallas Police Captain Glenn King as well as the defendant, Jack Ruby. A typed caption reads: "(DN10) Dallas, Tex., March 6-- Oswald Shotting Film Shown in Court-- This sketch by Artist Woodi Ishmael depicts the scene in Criminal District Court in Dallas today when films of the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald were shown. Lt. Jack Revill of the Dallas Police Dept. points to the screen as he narrates the film. Judge Joe B. Brown is seated on the bench. Seated in foreground, left to right: Capt. Glenn King of Dallas police; a guard; and the defendant Jack Ruby. (AP Wirephoto)." Ishmael's signature "Woodi Ishmael" is located along the bottom edge of the sketch. Ishmael made the original sketches for the Associated Press during the trial of Jack Ruby after the judge barred cameras from the courtroom.
Curatorial Commentary
In addition to covering the Jack Ruby trial as a sketch artist for the Associated Press, artist Woodi Ishmael (1914-1995) illustrated more than thirty-five books, painted portraits of fifty-four Air Medal of Honor winners, served as artist-in-residence aboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth 2, and illustrated for a number of publications, including the Saturday Evening Post, Cosmopolitan and National Geographic. -- Stephen Fagin, Curator
Several of the individuals who appear in this courtroom sketch recorded oral histories with the Museum. Jack Revill, a lieutenant with the Dallas police in 1963, recorded an interview in 2005. His supervisor, Captain Glen King, recorded an oral history in 1996. Although not identified by name, this sketch likely includes defense attorney Joe Tonahill (interviewed 1996) and possibly defense attorney Phil Burleson (interviewed 1995 just a few weeks before his death). In addition, family members of the late Judge Joe B. Brown participated in oral histories--his son, Joe Brown, Jr. (also a judge) was interviewed in 2004 and his daughter, Joan Norwood, and son-in-law Don Norwood provided interviews in 2019. -- Stephen Fagin, Curator