John F. Kennedy Assassination: Lee Harvey Oswald Warren Commission Vertical File

Description

The collection consists of 12,430 pages of documents related to Lee Harvey Oswald, organized into 91 folders. These documents were chosen from the “Key Persons” file of the Warren Commission, which was the official name of the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy.

The Commission made copies of these documents from the large amount of material they generated or collected between December 1963 and November 1964, although some documents are older. The files are organized chronologically into four periods: before Oswald’s time in Russia, his time in Russia, after his time in Russia, and the time of his murder by Jack Ruby. They are then further divided into 91 folders based on specific topics related to Lee Harvey Oswald.

The majority of the documents not produced by the Commission itself came from the FBI. Other sources include the Department of State, Secret Service, Department of Defense, the CIA, the Dallas Police Department, and other government bodies. These files provide a comprehensive look at Lee Harvey Oswald’s history and actions. The documents include various forms of information, such as reports, testimony transcripts, sworn statements, written declarations, background memos, investigative suggestions, administrative papers, notification letters, and transmittal documents.

President Lyndon Johnson established the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy through Executive Order 11130 on November 29, 1963. It is widely known as the Warren Commission, named after its chairman, Chief Justice Earl Warren. The commission was tasked with investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963, as well as the subsequent death of Lee Harvey Oswald. The commission was also responsible for analyzing its findings and reporting its conclusions to the President. Lee Harvey Oswald was apprehended by Dallas police on November 22, 1963, as a suspect in the killing of officer J.D. Tippit. Based on evidence from various law enforcement agencies, Texas formally charged Oswald with the murders of both President Kennedy and Officer Tippit, 12 hours after his arrest. Two days later, on November 24, 1963, Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub owner, fatally shot Oswald in the basement of the Dallas Police Department headquarters.

The documents were organized into sections, primarily focusing on Oswald’s life.

Oswald, Lee Harvey:

Before Russia:

1. His group affiliations.
2. Physical descriptions and identifications.
3. His educational background.
4. His employment history.
5. His financial status.

   5.1. His income tax records.

6. His military service.
6.1. His dishonorable discharge.
6.2. His court martial proceedings.
7. His psychological evaluations.
8. His connections with associates and family.
9. His places of residence.




During his time in Russia:

• General information.
• His preparations for the trip.
• His arrival in Russia.
• A timeline of his activities.
• His employment.
• His correspondence with family.
• His marriage.
• His return to the United States.

  7.1. Preparations for his return.
  7.2. His repatriation loan.
  7.3. FBI interviews he had.

• His defection to Russia.
• His finances.
• His suicide attempt.




After Russia:

• General information.
• His places of residence.
• His political activities and foreign connections (contained in a black binder).

  2.1. Involvement with the Communist Party.
  2.2. Involvement with the Young Communist League (folder was empty).
  2.3. Involvement with the Fair Play for Cuba Committee.
  2.4. Involvement with the Socialist Workers Party.

• His travel history.
3.1. His trip to Mexico.
3.2. His planned trip to Russia in 1963.
• His aliases.
• His employment history:

  • Jaggers-Chiles-Stovall, Inc.
  • Leslie Welding Company
  • William B. Reilly & Company
  • Texas School Book Depository, Dallas
  • Unemployment Compensation (folder was empty).
• His finances.
• His connections with associates and family.
• Physical descriptions and identifications.

Ruby’s Killing of Oswald:

1. Oswald’s transfer to the county jail.
2. The murder of Oswald.
3. Oswald’s remains. 3.1. Oswald’s autopsy.

Two folders were found to be empty when transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration: “Post-Russian Period, 2-2 – Young Communist League” and “Post-Russian Period, 5 – Employment – Unemployment Compensation.”