What the Zapruder Film Is and Why It Is Still Referenced
The Zapruder film is a silent 26-second color home movie shot by Abraham Zapruder on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, using an 8mm Bell & Howell Zoomatic camera. It captures the motorcade of President John F. Kennedy and the fatal shooting in Dealey Plaza, making it one of the most studied pieces of visual evidence in American history. The original film was donated to the National Archives and is now held as a key artifact for researchers, journalists, and legal proceedings related to the assassination.
Today, the Zapruder film is widely cited in documentaries, books, and official reviews because it provides a continuous, frame-by-frame view of the events in Dealey Plaza. Researchers use it to study movement, timing, and ballistics, while archivists use it to demonstrate how amateur footage can become a primary source. Its public availability has made it a reference point for discussions about transparency, evidence preservation, and the role of citizen recordings in major historical events.
Where the Zapruder Film Is Stored and How It Is Managed
The original Zapruder film is stored at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in College Park, Maryland, as part of the John F. Kennedy assassination records collection. NARA maintains the film under strict archival conditions, and access is governed by federal records laws and any applicable deed restrictions that were part of the original donation.
High-resolution scans and frames from the film are available through NARA's online catalog and partner platforms, allowing researchers and the public to view the footage without handling the original. Several organizations, including the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, reference the film in exhibits and educational materials. These institutions help ensure the film remains accessible while preserving its physical integrity for future generations.
Value, Licensing, and Public Access to the Zapruder Film
The Zapruder film has significant historical and monetary value because of its rarity and role as primary evidence in the Kennedy assassination. The original frames were once sold in parts to various entities, and today the film's commercial use is controlled by the Zapruder family and associated rights holders, with licensing managed through NARA and the Sixth Floor Museum.
Public access to the film is available through NARA's research rooms and online digital copies, while commercial or broadcast use typically requires permission and may involve fees. Researchers can request specific frames or segments for academic study, and journalists often rely on NARA's guidance when citing the film in reports. For details on current access policies and licensing, see the National Archives page on the Zapruder film and the Sixth Floor Museum resources.