James Leavelle Living History Program

Although I have traditionally hosted all of the Museum's Living History programs over the years, having known Jim Leavelle for more than twenty years at that time, Curator Gary Mack asked to moderate this particular program in 2008. This recording is notable as the only Living History moderated by the late Gary Mack, as well as the only Living History featuring the late Jim Leavelle. Gary Mack passed away on July 15, 2015 at the age of 68. Jim Leavelle passed away at the age of 99 on August 29, 2019. - Stephen Fagin, Curator 

James R. "Jim" Leavelle recorded an oral history in June 2002, which may be viewed here: James Leavelle Oral History – Works – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. Following this, he participated in a number of public programs at The Sixth Floor Museum, including a 2007 conversation with former KRLD-TV news director Eddie Barker (A Conversation with Jim Leavelle and Eddie Barker) and a 2012 panel discussion about the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald: "Oswald Has Been Shot!" Program – Works – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. - Stephen Fagin, Curator

As a key law enforcement figure during the weekend of the Kennedy assassination, Jim Leavelle appears in several photographs in the Museum's Collection, as well as documents, courtroom sketches and even depictions in 1960s wax museums! All online objects in the Museum's Collection connected to the late Jim Leavelle may be found here: Thesaurus – Vocabularies – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. - Stephen Fagin, Curator