Sniper's perch

Windows

Boxes

Investigations

Evidence

Photographs

Allen, William

Dallas Times Herald

Texas School Book Depository

Dallas

Film

15/16 x 1 7/16 in. (2.4 x 3.6 cm)

William Allen, photographer, Dallas Times Herald Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

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

The sniper's perch is preserved for visitors to see on the sixth floor at the Museum, including the original hardwood floor visible in this photo. Using reproductions of the boxes seen in photos, Museum staff placed boxes to reflect the arrangements as documented before police moved the boxes in the course of their investigations. Because this photo by William Allen was taken after police had searched the area for fingerprints, the boxes are in different positions than they were originally, and the arrangement does not look exactly like the boxes on the sixth floor today. - Lindsey Richardson, Curator of Collections