Alcatraz Archive Including Items Belonging to Prison Guard Fred Freeman and Photo and ALS from Robert Stroud, "Birdman of Alcatraz"

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American Historical Ephemera & Photography, I...

By Cowan's Auctions

Jun 26, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-06-26 10:00:00 2020-06-26 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American Historical Ephemera & Photography, Including African Americana:Premier Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-historical-ephemera-photography-including-african-americana-premier-auction-5208
Cowan's Auctions is delighted to present the June 26 American Historical Ephemera and Photography Auction, including 55 lots devoted to the African American experience, over 175 lots dating from the Civil War Era, and more than 60 lots documenting life in the American West. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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• Lot Description
  Alcatraz Archive Including Items Belonging to Prison Guard Fred Freeman and Photo and ALS from Robert Stroud, "Birdman of Alcatraz"
  
  Lot of 10+ items owned by Fred A. Freeman (1933 - 2007), who served in the Federal Prison system as a correctional officer from 1958 to 1983 after his service in the US Navy (1950-1953). He was assigned to eight federal institutions, including Alcatraz. Contents include: 
  
  Hat with plaque on front with "Federal Prison Service / United States / Dept. of Justice"; Guard's Prison Gun Check - for Emergencies, issued to Fred Freeman at Alcatraz; metal tag 1.75 x 0.5 in. with "FREEMAN" stamped on it; letter from Lu Ann Freeman for Fred Freeman mentioning that the family lived on Alcatraz from 1958-1963 and Fred worked for the Federal Prison Service for 25 years.
  
  Notebook, 4.25 x 6.25 in. Front cover identified to "Fred Freeman / U.S.P ALCATRAZ" and includes a hand-drawn symbol of the Bureau of Prisons. On the pages, Freeman wrote last name, prisoner number, a symbol for race (N, W, Mex., Indian), crime and sentence. The first, for example, is "325 Karpavicz life W Kidnap." Prisoner 1059 is interesting. "Kawakita, life, Japanese, Treason, sadistic, cruel treatment of US prisoners in Japanese prison camp 1944-45" with a later note: (deported). This may be Freeman's record of who was in his section, because it does not include all prisoners. He identifies inmates by number.
  
  Among others noted in Freeman's book are: Karpavicz, Alvin "Creepy Karpis" sentenced to life for kidnapping; Carnes, Clarence, "The Choctaw Kid,"sentenced to 99 years plus life for kidnap, murder & riot; Kawakita, Tomoya, sentenced to life, then deported; James "Whitey" Bulger, 20 years for bank robbery; and many more.
  
  Seven blue registration cards, 3 x 5 in., with hole in top for filing. Pre-printed information for: Sentence, Offense, Received, Release Date, Name, Custody, Race, Religion, then columns for Dates and Quarters and Dates and Work Assignments. Most have manuscript notes at bottom.
  
  Cards for:
  Gumersindo Gomez, in for Life for Murder-Robbery. Note indicates "Beat to a 'vegetable' by 3 other inmates in dish tank room." No. 1398.
  
  John William Anglin, 10 years for Bank Robbery. (No. 1476) "[E]scaped June 1962."
  
  Clarence Anglin, 15 years for Bank Robbery. (No. 1485) "[E]scaped June 1962."
  
  Frank Lee Morris, 14 years for Bank Robbery (No. 1202) "[E]scaped June 1962."
  
  Allen Clayton West, 10 years for Motor Vehicle Theft, (No. 1335). "[A]ttempted escape 1962." West was the fourth member of the June 12 escape conspirators, but he made it on the crumbling edges of his ventilation grate in an attempt to disguise the work the men had been doing on them. The concrete hardened too much and he could not get his grate off (and the hole re-widened) in time to join the other three men. He did reveal the entire plot to the investigators.
  
  Curtis Lee Jones, 5 year for Motor Vehicle Theft (No. 1506). "[S]teel plate in head."
  
  Orville Gene Vinson, 5 years for Robbery-Assault (No. 1450). "[T]hrew cookies in mess hall."
  
  The Anglin brothers and Frank Morris are, of course, the ones who may have escaped on a raft made of raincoats. The raft, or parts of it, was the main evidence recovered over the following days, plus part of a homemade life jacket, a paddle and a wallet wrapped in plastic. Since no bodies were found, and none washed ashore over the next few weeks, it was assumed that the three men drowned or died of hypothermia. However, inconclusive evidence emerged periodically suggesting that they had survived and at least the Anglins were in Brazil.
  
  Then in 2013 a letter was sent to SFPD claiming to be from John Anglin. In it, he said that Morris had died some years ago and his brother, just a few years before the letter was written. John (if it was he) said he had cancer and would turn himself in to get treatment. Those in charge thought the letter inconclusive and ignored it, but it finally came to light a few years later. The official stand is still that the men perished in the cold waters of the Bay.
  
  Stroud, Robert. ALS, 1p. January 10, 1949. Alcatraz, California. To his sister, Mamie, E. Stroud, Metropolis, Illinois. He makes reference to his lawyers, that they were not notified of the "action taken," and were going to file a "new action." He also tells her that "I was up before the board the other day and I told them that the best thing the[y] could do for me is just to leave me alone where I am at. The associate warden said that he thought that was best, too..."
  
  Postcard-sized photograph with front and side views, identified as "Alcatraz 594" in the photo, dated 10-29-51. On verso is "Robert Stroud / Birdman of Alcatraz" in large letters. Around these letters is a lengthy note by James ("Whitey") Bulger. "Bob could speak 4 languages and border line pscho [sic] case - who wouldn't be w/ all the years of isolation. Set an American record 54 years in isolation and did not see much sunshine, the night sky, moon and seldom a civilian - only when they got in to see "The Freak Show." Stroud wrote a book - Gov. sealed it 0 never seen or read by Public - Why? At 69 year old Was said "Enough" shipped Bob to Springfield Med - Saw TV fpr 1st time - had been in prison since around 1904 - he died in bed at 73 years old. Killed a couple of people in Leavenworth Prison Stabbed Lt to death in front of all the convicts."
  
  Objects from the legendary Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary scarcely come to the surface, making this a rare and desirable collection.
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