Robert Stroud, the "Birdman of Alcatraz", Autograph Letter Signed Twice. Two pages, 8" x 10", July 24, 1948, Alcatraz, Calif...
Description
Robert Stroud, the "Birdman of Alcatraz", Autograph Letter Signed Twice. Two pages, 8" x 10", July 24, 1948, Alcatraz, California, on lined paper. Signed once at the top of page one next to "From" and once in the closing ("Bob/ Robert Stroud #524"). Written to Fred Daw of Florida concerning birds and former President Herbert Hoover's opinion of Stroud. In part: "I don't know about that Hoover idea. In fact, I don't really think much could come of it. He had a chance once himself. He said at that time that he thought I deserved a break, but he did not do anything about it. Of course, that was almost twenty years ago, but I doubt that he would do anything now. I am certain that the man who is there now [President Harry Truman] would do something if it were put up to him, but so far I've not been able to arrange that. I know that he is personally familiar with the case, since he has been a reader of the Kansas City Star all his life."After nineteen-year-old Robert Stroud murdered a man in Juneau, Alaska, in 1909, he spent the rest of his life, fifty-five years, as a prisoner in Leavenworth and Alcatraz. During that time, he raised birds and became a respected ornithologist known as the Birdman of Alcatraz (he was the subject of a 1962 film, Birdman of Alcatraz, starring Burt Lancaster). He gained the attention of several presidents, including, Harry Truman, several years after he had left office. Includes an image of Stroud in his latter years. The letter is carefully written in dark ink. Fine.
More Information:
Concerning birds, Stroud writes: "I've just finished writing up the results of an extensive study of sulfa drugs and their application to bird diseases which should be of considerable value to bird breedor [sic] everywhere. Pet birds are about the last of our domesticated animals to derive any benefit from the development of antibiotics. . . . I doubt that Canary World will make the grade as a weekly. She would havt to charge at least 5.00 per year, and I doubt that the breeders will think a paper she could put out would be worth that price. On the other hand, I think that all pets will be giving her some competition. If plans I have work out, I know it will, because I know I can write stuff that is new and different and that people will want to read. I will tell them things they have always wanted to understand in language they can understand."
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