Kennedy John

Kennedy's Funeral, 24 Vintage 8” x 10” Color Photos by Cecil Stoughton from his Personal Album

Twenty-four 8” x 10” chromogenic prints apparently produced in the 1960s by JFK White House photographer Cecil W. Stoughton (1920-2008). The photographs are stored in Stoughton's personal red calfskin photo album, the spine gilt embossed with his initials, “CSW”, the name of the event, “JFK Funeral”, and the date, “Nov. #3”, and "1963". Almost all of the photographs have been stamped and hand-inscribed verso as part of Stoughton's unique numbering and filing system. The double-weight, glossy color photographs are printed on Kodak paper. Expected wear including slight fading and lightly chipped or wrinkled edges. Two photographs are currently stuck in their translucent sheet protector sleeves, but could perhaps be removed by a professional. Else in near fine condition. Provenance: Sold by Stoughton's estate at Bonham's, December 10, 2010, Lot 6200 and part of Lot 6191.

White House photographer Cecil W. Stoughton took a series of candid photographs of President Kennedy's grave side funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery. The archive represents a visual record of the culmination of the 3-day-long services, between early Saturday morning, when Kennedy's body was brought to the White House, and Monday afternoon, when it was interred at Arlington. Stoughton captured moving views of Kennedy's principal mourners, including heavily veiled widow Jackie, as well as solemn shots of Lyndon B. Johnson and other foreign heads of state.

35th U.S. President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) had been assassinated by deranged gunman Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas, Texas around lunchtime on November 22, 1963. Later that afternoon, JFK's body was transported to Bethesda Naval Hospital for an autopsy. It was then enshrined in the East Room of the White House where it would remain in state for the next 24 hours. At Jackie's request, a mixed military honor guard and two priests attended the body at all times.

On Sunday, November 24th, JFK's body was transferred by honor guard pall bearers to a horse-drawn caisson, where it was taken down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol Building. Over the 18 hours it reposed there, an estimated 250,000 people filed past Kennedy's body to pay their final respects.

JFK's remains were then taken from the Capitol Building to downtown Washington, D.C.'s Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle on Monday morning, November 25, 1963. Archbishop of Boston Richard Cardinal Cushing, a close personal friend who had officiated at JFK and Jackie's wedding and baptized their children, led the requiem mass at the church where the presidential family regularly worshipped.

Our archive begins as the funerary procession proceeded to Arlington National Cemetery for Kennedy's interment. Kennedy's family, friends, staff, and colleagues filed to the grave site; afterwards, Irish Army cadets performed the Queen Anne drill, a silent tribute to the beloved Irish-American president. Heads of state and representatives from nearly 20 countries saluted the casket as honor guard pall bearers representing the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps ceremoniously folded the American flag. Our archive ends after Jackie Kennedy was presented this flag.

Stoughton's photos include the following views; all photos can be found in the collection of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum unless otherwise stated.

1. C422-7-63 – Foreign dignitaries salute the American flag being raised above President Kennedy's casket by honor guard pall bearers at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia on November 25, 1963.

*Not in the collection of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

2. C422-11-63 – President Kennedy's graveside is ringed with onlookers. Foreign heads of state and representatives from Ireland, France, Germany, West Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Portugal, Greece, the Netherlands, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Iran, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Liberia, South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines join members of Congress as well as JFK's family, friends, and former staff.

3. C422-12-63 – Honor guard pall bearers fold the flag.

4. C422-21-63 – Honor guard pall bearers lift the flag, while Irish Army cadets perform drill in the left background.

5. C422-22-63 – Honor guard pall bearers carefully lift the flag. An eerie view of the extended funeral cortege--a cavalcade of limousines--appears in the middle ground, and orderly rows of tombstones glow in the background.

6. C422-66-63 – The funeral procession approaches the grave site; Jackie Kennedy and other family members appear at middle right.

7. C422-67-63 – Military and ecclesiastical officials, including the Archbishop of Washington Patrick A. O'Boyle, process to the grave site.

8. C422-68-63 – The United States Air Force Bagpipe Band performs near the grave site.

9. C422-70-63 – Honor guard pallbearers carry JFK's casket towards the grave site.

10. C422-71-63 – Members of JFK's immediate family advance towards the grave site. Pictured: Jackie Kennedy, widow; younger brothers Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and Senator Edward M. Kennedy; younger sisters Patricia Kennedy Lawford, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and Jean Kennedy Smith; sister-in-law Princess Lee Radziwill of Poland; and brothers-in-law Peter Lawford and Prince Stanislaus Radziwill of Poland.




11. C422-73-63 – A close up of the honor guard pall bearers folding the flag.

12. C422-74-63 – President Lyndon B. Johnson observes the ceremony, flanked by Secretary of State Dean Rusk and foreign dignitaries.

13. C422-75-63 – Archbishop of Boston Richard Cardinal Cushing reads aloud at the grave site. Cushing, who served as Archbishop of Boston between 1944-1970, later conducted numerous televised funeral masses for the slain president in Washington, D.C. and Boston.

14. C422-82-63 – Honor guard pall bearers lift the flag. Foreign dignitaries shown here include the presidents of France, Germany, South Korea, and the Philippines; the Emperor of Ethiopia; the King of Belgium; the Queen of Greece; and the Chancellor of West Germany.

15. C420-85-63 – Honor guard pall bearers lift the flag while onlookers look stunned and distressed.



16. C422-86-63 – Foreign dignitaries representing Tunisia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Japan, and the Netherlands bow their heads near the grave side.

17. C422-94-63 – Jackie Kennedy, clutching the folded American flag which had draped her husband's casket, walks by honor guard pall bearers, accompanied by Robert Kennedy (mostly hidden).

18. C422-98-63 – Mourning family members at grave side include: Jackie Kennedy; Robert F. Kennedy; Edward M. Kennedy; Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, JFK's mother; and Peter Lawford and Prince Stanislaus Radziwill of Poland, brothers-in-law. Others include: President Lyndon B. Johnson; Evelyn Lincoln, President Kennedy's longtime personal secretary; and George E. Thomas, JFK's devoted White House valet.

19. C422-109-63 – A long-range view of the grave site, showing onlookers filing out while the honor guard pall bearers remain at attention along the grave's edge.

*Not in the collection of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

20. C422-110-63 – A hillside in Arlington National Cemetery covered in funerary wreaths. (Erroneously marked by Stoughton as "109" verso.)

21. C422-112-63 – Irish Army cadets march near the open grave site.

22. C422-113-63 – Stoughton turns his camera on fellow photojournalists, to disconcerting effect. Members of the press, including those hidden behind a row of early television cameras, capture the event.

23. C422-117-63 – A long-range view of the funerary procession, with the Washington monument visible in the distance.

Also including one photo unnumbered by Stoughton, but identified and described by the JFK Presidential Library and Museum.

24. ST-C422-111-63 - A hillside in Arlington National Cemetery covered in dozens of enormous flower arrangements, stamped "Cecil Stoughton / The White House" verso.

An incredible collection of Stoughton's original, hand-inscribed color photographs showing John F. Kennedy's burial. Stoughton had been at Arlington Cemetery just two weeks before, shooting photographs of the hale and handsome JFK participating in Veterans' Day observances.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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