Past Programs 2004-2012

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in downtown Dallas. If you had the chance to change history, would you? Stephen King’s latest novel 11/22/63, on shelves November 8, addresses this very scenario as the book’s main character travels back in time on a mission to prevent the assassination of President Kennedy.

In what is expected to be a sell-out event, King will be front and center at a fundraiser at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas on Thursday, November 10, benefiting The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. There will be an exclusive reception featuring the author at 5:45 p.m. followed by an interview with King at 7 p.m. The conversation will be facilitated by Dallas columnist and broadcaster Lee Cullum.

Meet the Museum – Voices: An Oral History of November 22, 1963
August 12, 2011
Stephen Fagin

Journey back to the day of President Kennedy’s assassination and experience the emotion of this historic event through still photography and firsthand accounts. More than 60 photographs from the Museum collections provide the backdrop to a dramatic voice over by the Museum’s Associate Curator, Stephen Fagin, who draws upon over 35 oral history interviews.

Meet the Museum – Discover the Museum: CSI
July 8, 2011
Lindsey Richardson and Sharron Conrad

The Museum’s collection includes artifacts, photographs and films related to the assassination crime scene investigation at the Texas School Book Depository. Learn exactly what was in the crime scene investigative kit that belonged to Lt. Carl Day, head of the Dallas Police Crime Scene Search Unit in 1963.

Meet the Museum – Collections Spotlight: Civil Rights
June 10, 2011
Lindsey Richardson

The Museum’s collection of civil rights materials includes historic photographs of Dallas’ Piccadilly Cafeteria desegregation protests in 1964, oral histories with members of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, as well as a civil rights training handbook and activist support poster. Collections Manager Lindsey Richardson shares these amazing, rarely-seen items.

Meet the Museum – Living History with Col. Walt Cunningham, Apollo 7 Astronaut
May 20, 2011
Col. Walt Cunningham

America's second civilian astronaut, Walt Cunningham in 1968 was the lunar module pilot for Apollo 7, the first manned mission in the Apollo program. He joined NASA in October 1963, less than one month before the Kennedy assassination.

Meet the Museum – Voices: An Oral History of November 22, 1963
April 8, 2011
Stephen Fagin

Journey back to the day of the Kennedy assassination and experience the emotion of that historic event through still photography and firsthand accounts. More than 60 photographs from the Museum collections provide the backdrop to a dramatic voice over by the Museum’s Associate Curator, Stephen Fagin, who draws upon over 35 oral history interviews.

CSI Family Day
March 13, 2011
University of North Texas Forensic Science Department

For the 5th straight year, CSI Family Day gives guests the chance to examine a mock crime scene, perform forensic analysis at evidence stations and solve a hypothetical crime. It’s a fun and engaging way to learn about modern investigative techniques and the real-life challenges to solving crime.

Meet the Museum – Living History with Allen Mondell
March 11, 2011
Allen Mondell

Allen Mondell decided to join the Peace Corps immediately after President Kennedy announced the launch of the program in 1961. He was working as a member of the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone at the time of the assassination. Years later he teamed with his wife Cynthia to write, produce and direct the documentary films seen in the permanent exhibition at The Sixth Floor Museum.

50 Years of Service: Peace Corps Volunteers from 1961-2010
March 5, 2011
Jonathan Braddick; Rodney Davis-Gilbert; Paula Selzer; Sharon Sugarek; Allen Mondell, moderator

President Kennedy launched the Peace Corps in March of 1961 to challenge young Americans to contribute two years of their lives in service to people in developing countries. Fifty years later, The Peace Corps continues with the same mission, but with new challenges. Five generations of Peace Corps Volunteers reflect on how the experience changed their lives and made a difference in the countries where they served.

JFK and LBJ: The Evolution of Presidential Legacies
February 23, 2011
Alan C. Lowe; Sidney M. Milkis; Mark K. Updegrove; Dennis Simon, moderator

To commemorate Presidents Day, The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is collaborating with SMU’s Tower Center to reflect upon a transformative period in United States history.  Moderated by Dennis M. Simon, Professor of Political Science at Southern Methodist University, panelists discuss how Presidents Kennedy and Johnson responded to landmark events of the era and will consider the ways their decisions continue to influence each president’s evolving legacy. Panelists are Alan C. Lowe, director of the George W. Bush Presidential Library; Sidney M. Milkis, Professor of Politics and assistant director, Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia; Mark K. Updegrove, Director of the Lyndon B. Johnson Library & Museum.

Meet the Museum – Concrete, Grass, Bricks: A History of the Museum
February 11, 2011
Stephen Fagin

In this slide presentation, Associate Curator Stephen Fagin recounts the fascinating history of The Sixth Floor Museum, which celebrated 22 years on Presidents Day, Monday, February 21, 2011.

Meet the Museum – Gallery Talk with the Curator
January 4, 2011
Gary Mack 

Curator Gary Mack shares stories about Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby.  Ruby’s life is featured in the Museum’s collections spotlight exhibition Jack Ruby: The Man in That Hat.

2010

Meet the Museum – Kennedy Scrapbooks: Insights from the Collections Manager
December 10, 2010
Lindsey Richardson

People all over the world created scrapbooks to commemorate President Kennedy’s life and death. A few of those scrapbooks are now part of the Museum collections! Get a rare glimpse at some of our treasures and learn how you can protect your own keepsakes.

The Kennedy Detail: JFK’s Secret Service Agents Break Their Silence – Lecture and Book Signing
November 20, 2010
Gerald Blaine; Clint Hill; Lisa McCubbin; Gary Mack, moderator

In The Kennedy Detail, Jerry Blaine – one of 34 Secret Service agents on President Kennedy’s Detail when he was assassinated – sets history straight on what happened that afternoon and in the months leading up to and following the tragedy. Written with award-winning journalist Lisa McCubbin, this insider account includes contributions from many of the Secret Service agents who were serving on the Kennedy Detail and draws upon their daily reports, expense accounts, personal notes and vivid recollections.

Meet the Museum – The Parkland Experience
November 19, 2010
Stephen Fagin

The Kennedy motorcade arrived at Parkland Memorial Hospital five minutes after the shooting in Dealey Plaza. Approximately 48 hours later, accused assassin Lee Harvey Oswald died there after being gunned down in the basement of police headquarters. Find out more through physicians’ notes, oral histories, hospital records and other unique accounts.

Behind the Lens: The Making of A Photographer’s Story with Bob Jackson
October 16, 2010
Bob Jackson; Stephen Fagin, moderator

On the closing weekend of this exhibit, discover how Bob Jackson’s amazing portfolio of photographs became a Museum exhibit. Listen as Jackson recounts the story behind the exhibit and his Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph with museum curator Gary Mack and associate curator Stephen Fagin.

Meet the Museum – Q&A with Curator Gary Mack
October 8, 2010
Gary Mack

Gary Mack has been researching the Kennedy assassination since 1975, served as a consultant to the Museum since the planning stages in the early 1980s and joined the Museum staff in 1994. Bring your questions—and theories—to this informal Q&A session.

Meet the Museum – Living History with Bob Jackson
September 10, 2010
Bob Jackson; Stephen Fagin, moderator

On Friday, November 22, 1963, newspaper photographer Bob Jackson was assigned to take pictures of President Kennedy’s visit to Dallas for the Dallas Times Herald. Learn how he covered one of the largest news events of the 20th century.

Meet the Museum – Student Voices: A Conversation with the Curator of Education
August 13, 2010
Sharron Conrad

What do young people really think about the assassination of President Kennedy in November 1963, and how do they define his legacy? Listen to this enlightening conversation that puts student voices on center stage!

Meet the Museum – An Introduction to the Reading Room
July 9, 2010
Pauline Martin

So, just how does a researcher gain access to the books, DVDs, oral histories and other materials in the Museum’s new Reading Room? Find out during this orientation led by our librarian.

The John F. Kennedy Memorial at 40: A Conversation with Frank Welch and Dale Sellers
June 15, 2010
Frank Welch; Dale Sellers; Veletta Lill, moderator

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, the American Institute of Architects Dallas and the Dallas Architecture Forum present “The John F. Kennedy Memorial at 40: A Conversation with Frank Welch and Dale Sellers.” The program includes a reception, book signing and walk to the Memorial.

Meet the Museum – JFK and the Dallas Civil Rights Movement
June 11, 2010
Stephen Fagin

Photographs, oral histories and documents from the 1960s illustrate the local Civil Rights Movement and its effect on Dallas. Discover how the death of President John F. Kennedy, whose call for equality inspired millions, made an impact on Dallas activists. This event marks the 47th anniversary of President Kennedy’s televised national address on civil rights.

Meet the Museum – History Detectives
May 14, 2010
Sharron Conrad

Use your detective skills to uncover the history and meaning behind items in the Museum’s collection of 1960s teaching artifacts - a fun assortment of books, magazines, cameras, toys, clothing, newspapers, music and more! The Museum’s curator of education leads this hands-on adventure.

Meet the Museum – Dallas Police vs. the World Press: November 1963
April 9, 2010
Stephen Fagin

Explore the difficult relationship that existed at Dallas police headquarters between law enforcement officials and more than 300 journalists during the weekend of President Kennedy’s assassination. This presentation is told through the firsthand recollections of key participants and is presented by the Museum’s associate curator.

CSI Family Day
March 14, 2010
University of North Texas Forensic Science Department

For the 4th straight year, CSI Family Day gives guests the chance to examine a mock crime scene, perform forensic analysis at evidence stations and solve a hypothetical crime. It’s a fun and engaging way to learn about modern investigative techniques and the real-life challenges to solving crime.

Meet the Museum – Discover the Museum: CSI
March 12, 2010
Sharron Conrad; Lindsey Richardson

The Museum collection of approximately 35,000 items includes artifacts and photographs related to the November 1963 crime scene investigation at the Texas School Book Depository. The Museum’s collections manager reveals exactly what was in the kit that belonged to Lt. Carl Day of the Dallas Police Crime Scene Search Unit.

Letters to Jackie: Condolences from a Grieving Nation – Lecture and Book Signing
March 11, 2010
Ellen Fitzpatrick

Within seven weeks of President John F. Kennedy's death in 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy received more than 800,000 condolence letters. Two years later, the volume would exceed 1.5 million letters. For the next 46 years, the letters would remain essentially untouched. Now, historian and News Hour with Jim Lehrer commentator Ellen Fitzpatrick has selected approximately 250 of these letters for inclusion in Letters to Jackie, the first book ever to examine this extraordinary collection.

Meet the Museum – Living History with Bob Jackson
February 12, 2010 – Cancelled due to inclement weather
Bob Jackson; Stephen Fagin, moderator

On Friday, November 22, 1963, newspaper photographer Bob Jackson was assigned to take pictures of President John F. Kennedy’s visit to Dallas for the Dallas Times Herald. Discover how Jackson came to cover one of the largest, most tumultuous news events of the 20th century, and hear the back story on how he captured one of the most recognizable still images of the twentieth century when he photographed the moment Jack Ruby fatally shot Lee Harvey Oswald.

Meet the Museum – Voices: An Oral History of November 22, 1963
January 8, 2010
Stephen Fagin

Journey back to the day of President Kennedy’s assassination and experience the emotion of this historic event through still photography and firsthand accounts. More than 60 photographs from the Museum collections provide the backdrop to a dramatic voice over by the Museum’s Associate Curator, Stephen Fagin, selected from over 35 oral history interviews.

2008

Filming Kennedy: Home Movies from Dallas Daytime Gallery Talks

Free with paid Museum admission, this monthly series presents gallery talks by some of the amateur photographers featured in the special seventh floor exhibit, Filming Kennedy: Home Movies from Dallas.  Each talk is a seated “live” oral history session with Museum curator Gary Mack or Museum oral historian Stephen Fagin.

Tina Towner Pender
Friday, February 1, 2008
Experienced at using her father's Sears Tower Varizoom home movie camera, the teenager went with her parents to Dealey Plaza to view the presidential parade. Standing on the southwest corner of Elm and Houston streets, she filmed the motorcade as it turned onto Elm Street, seconds before shots were fired.

Maury Seitz
Friday, March 7, 2008
A longtime commercial airline pilot who served as a co-pilot on numerous chartered flights backing up Air Force One during the Kennedy presidency, Mr. Seitz met the Kennedy family and spent time with Caroline and John, Jr.  He filmed President Kennedy in Michigan in 1962.

Jack Daniel
Friday, April 4, 2008
Mr. Daniel was standing on the west side of the Triple Underpass with his home movie camera and captured the motorcade on film seconds after the assassination took place. He returned to Dealey Plaza afterwards to take film of the flowers and memorial tributes left by mourners.

Jackie Tindel
Friday, May 2, 2008
As an adjustor for Travelers Insurance Company, Mr. Tindel often had to obtain accident reports from Dallas Police headquarters at Main and Harwood. On November 22, 1963, he stood at that intersection and filmed the presidential motorcade as it turned onto Main Street.

George Jefferies
Friday, June 6, 2008
Hoping to film the presidential motorcade from Dealey Plaza, Mr. Jefferies instead accompanied a co-worker who suffered from emphysema to Main Street, just east of Lamar, which was as far as the man could walk. Mr. Jefferies' footage includes remarkable images of Mrs. Kennedy.

“Shooting Kennedy: JFK and the Culture of Images” with Dr. David M. Lubin
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Lecture and book signing with Dr. David M. Lubin, author and Charlotte C. Weber Professor of Art at Wake Forest University. Dr. Lubin has authored several books on diverse subjects, including a critical analysis of the film “Titanic.”  His 2003 book, “Shooting Kennedy: JFK and the Culture of Images,” examines the cultural impact of iconic images of John and Jackie Kennedy, 1953 to 1963.  The Abraham Zapruder film is covered in-depth.

2007

A Voice from History: Jim Leavelle
Friday, October 12, 2007
Jim Leavelle talks about his role as a Dallas police detective immortalized in the Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by Bob Jackson of the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald. Wearing a light-colored suit and a cowboy hat, he was handcuffed to Oswald and helped wrestle Jack Ruby to the ground.

A Voice from History: Paul Bentley
Friday, September 14, 2007
Paul Bentley discusses his role as the chief polygraph examiner with the Dallas Police Department in 1963. Bentley was involved in the arrest of Lee Harvey Oswald at the Texas Theatre.

Women in Law Enforcement
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Krys Boyd, host of KERA-TV's Think, leads a discussion with Monica Smith, the first and only female president of the Dallas Police Association, and Shirley Gray, the highest ranking African-American female when she retired from the Dallas Police Department, about their accomplishments and challenges.

CSI: Family Day
Sunday, June 17, 2007
The University of Central Oklahoma Forensic Science Outreach Program, under the supervision of Dr. Dana Rundle, presents an array of educational demonstrations and hands-on activities for families. Learn how forensic science is applied in the real world, including fingerprinting, DNA evidence and bullet trajectory analysis.

CSI: Dallas
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Dr. Tim Sliter, chief of physical evidence for UT Southwestern Institute of Forensics, leads a panel discussion about the equipment and procedures used in modern forensic investigations and how they compare with those used in 1963 by Lt. Carl Day, who headed the Dallas Crime Lab when President Kennedy was assassinated.

Arresting Oswald: Memories from the Texas Theatre
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Moderated by acclaimed journalist Hugh Aynesworth, who covered the Kennedy assassination as a Dallas Morning News reporter, panelists Paul Bentley and Jerry Hill talk about their roles as Dallas police officers involved in the arrest of Lee Harvey Oswald at the Texas Theatre on November 22, 1963.

Highlights from the Dallas Municipal Archives
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Dallas City Archivist John Slate focuses on the John F. Kennedy Collection, comprised of records from the Dallas Police Department. Transferred to the archives in 1989, the collection contains more than 11,400 documents and photographs, including homicide reports, affidavits, witness statements, fingerprint cards and mug shots, newspaper clippings and correspondence. Original artifacts from the archives will be on display as part of the exhibition.

An Evening with Bob Jackson
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
From Dallas Love Field to Parkland Memorial Hospital and Dallas police headquarters, the award-winning photographer retraces his steps November 22-24, culminating in the dramatic photograph that won him a Pulitzer Prize in 1964—a photo of Jack Ruby shooting assassination suspect Lee Harvey Oswald in the basement of Dallas police headquarters. At the time, Jackson was on assignment for the Dallas Times Herald. Held in cooperation with the Boy Scouts Circle Ten Council.

A Conversation with Jim Leavelle and Eddie Barker
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Judge Joe B. Brown, Jr. introduces the Dallas Law Enforcement: Voices From History program series and the inaugural program, a discussion between retired Dallas police Detective Jim Leavelle and former KRLD News Director Eddie Barker. Leavelle was handcuffed to Lee Harvey Oswald when the suspect was shot by Jack Ruby. Barker was the first reporter to announce that Kennedy was dead. Topics include the Kennedy assassination, the murder of Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippit, the arrest and shooting of Oswald, and how the media and law enforcement worked together the weekend of the assassination.

Dallas Police vs. World Press
First Friday of Each Month, January–October, 2007
A multimedia presentation by the Museum's oral historian, Stephen Fagin, examines the unique relationship that existed between the Dallas Police Department and the hundreds of local, national and international reporters covering the breaking news in the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination. Visitors experience the events of that fateful weekend through photographs and seldom-seen news footage.

2006

Exhibit Opening - Dallas Law Enforcement: Voices from History
Monday, November 20, 2006
Appearing together for the first time, moderator Pierce Allman leads a discussion with Gene Boone and Luke Mooney about the search of the Texas School Book Depository, how the rifle and shells were found, what was said among the officers and reporters and other dramatic details about that chaotic weekend.

Call to Action: The Disability Rights Movement
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Dr. Richard Scotch of the University of Texas at Dallas leads a dialogue with recognized disability advocates Kent Waldrep, Bob Kafka and Ralph Rouse on the decades-long fight leading to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Call to Action: La Calle to City Hall
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Mercedes Olivera of The Dallas Morning News moderates a panel discussion about the Mexican-American rights movement, featuring Adelfa Callejo, Frank Hernandez and Dr. Roberto Calderon of the University of North Texas.

Call to Action: The SNCC Experience in Dallas
Wednesday, September 6, 2006
Bob Ray Sanders of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram interviews 1960s civil rights activists Bishop Mark Herbener, Ernest McMillan and Edward Harris about the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

Call to Action: A Conversation with Vivian Castleberry
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Vivian Castleberry, longtime women’s editor at the Dallas Times Herald, has been called the “grandmother of women journalists in Dallas.” She was instrumental in taking local women’s issues to a new level by publishing genuine news stories instead of just debutante notices. She discusses the history and sociology of local women’s rights movement: who was involved, what were their goals, what was accomplished and what challenges and opportunities remain.

The Gay Rights Movement in Dallas
Wednesday, July 16, 2006

Long-time gay rights activist Louise Young leads a panel discussion with representatives of Dallas' large and diverse gay community. Panelists include Ron Jefferson and Monica Greene.

Call to Action: Crisis with Robert Drew
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
A screening of Crisis will be held, followed by a Q&A with Robert Drew. Crisis (Robert Drew, 1963, 52 minutes) chronicles the struggle between President John F. Kennedy and George Wallace during the segregation of the University of Alabama. Drew recorded an oral history with the Museum in 2004 and appeared in Dallas for a screening of his 1960 film Primary with the Dallas Video Festival.

Call to Action: Dallas at the Crossroads
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
A screening of Dallas at the Crossroads will be held, followed by a Q&A with Southern Methodist University professor Dr. Glenn Linden. This 1961 film was produced to prepare Dallas for peaceful school integration. Screened in cooperation with the Dallas Public Library.

Call to Action: Opening Program
Wednesday, April 20, 2006
Respected former journalist, author and noted historian Dr. Darwin Payne leads a presentation on the history of civil rights in Dallas.

Exhibit Opening - Parkland Hospital: Voices from History, with Special Guest Dr. Ronald C. Jones
Monday, November 21, 2005
Dr. Ronald C. Jones was chief surgery resident at Parkland Memorial Hospital on November 22, 1963. He was having lunch when he received word that the president had been shot and was en route to the hospital. He and Dr. Malcolm Perry immediately ran to the emergency room, where they joined other physicians in the effort to resuscitate the president. Jones' continued involvement in the assassination includes a 1964 interview by the FBI and the Warren Commission, appearances in numerous books and documentaries about the death of President Kennedy and an interview by the Assassination Records Review Board in 1998. Since 1987, Jones has served as chief of surgery at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.

2004

When the News Went Live: Dallas 1963
Thursday, October 28, 2004
In "When The News Went Live: Dallas 1963," journalists Bob Huffaker, Bill Mercer, George Phenix and Wes Wise recount their coverage of President John F. Kennedy's assassination and its aftermath, discuss how this tragedy brought live television to the forefront of news and how broadcast news has changed since 1963. A book signing event follows their presentation.

The Jack Ruby Trial: 40 Years Later
Saturday, March 14, 2004
This program examines one of the most fascinating trials in American history. Former ABC reporter and anchor Murphy Martin covered the events following President Kennedy's assassination and Jack Ruby's trial and was able to persuade Judge Joe B. Brown to allow a single camera in the courtroom when the verdict was read. (This may have been the first time a verdict had ever been broadcast live in the United States.) Martin is also the author of the new book, "Front Row Seat: A Veteran Reporter Relives the Four Decades That Reshaped America."

The Jack Ruby Trial: 40 Years Later includes video clips from The Sixth Floor Museum's collection. Some of the clips included are Ruby shooting Oswald, scenes from the courthouse during Ruby's trial, and the reading of the verdict.  The program will conclude with clips about the reversal of the verdict, the changes in the Ruby defense team, and Jack Ruby's death. This is a rare opportunity to see and discuss history with the people who were there.

Participating as panelists are Hugh Aynesworth, George Bramblett, Jr., Judge Joe B. Brown, Jr., Helen Holmes and J. Waymon Rose.