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Robert Stroud, "Birdman of Alcatraz" 2x Signed ALS: "I have looked into too many test tubes to have any faith in any superstition"
Robert Stroud, "Birdman of Alcatraz" 2x Signed ALS: "I have looked into too many test tubes to have any faith in any superstition"
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Description:

Stroud Robert



Robert Stroud, "Birdman of Alcatraz" 2x Signed ALS: "I have looked into too many test tubes to have any faith in any superstition"

 

2pp ALS inscribed overall and 2x signed by notorious criminal Robert F. Stroud (1890-1963), the first as "Robert Stroud" at top left of first page, and the second as "Bob, Robert Stroud, #594" at bottom of second page. Written at the U.S. Federal Penitentiary at Alcatraz Island, California on March 12, 1947. On a partly printed prison form letter on blue-lined cream paper. A few scattered pencil inscriptions and stamped at upper right. Expected light paper folds throughout, and a light paper clip rust impression in the upper left corner, else in near fine condition. 8" x 10.25".

 

Federal prisoner Robert Stroud wrote this letter from his Alcatraz prison cell in the spring of 1947. Stroud, a self-educated ornithologist and published author, frequently corresponded with fellow bird enthusiast Fred E. Daw of Coral Gables, Florida.

 

Stroud's letter discusses at length several subjects that were significant to him: bird medicine, the field of ornithology, writing, personal belief systems, and the status of his most recent court case. All excerpts from Stroud's letter include his idiosyncratic--and often phonetic--spelling and grammar.

 

Stroud's pride in both his work ethic and scientific accomplishments becomes evident in the letter. In 1933, Stroud had published his definitive medical manual Diseases of Canaries, and its second edition reprint Stroud's Digest on the Diseases of Birds was published in 1943. In explaining how he achieved this, Stroud contrasts himself with a rather undependable mutual acquaintance named Mark. Stroud wrote: "I'm progressive, but it takes the stubbornness, the fixity of purpose, of a mule to convert mere ideas in accualities. If I did not have lots of that and the kind of adrenal glands that will drive me to work twenty hours per day, I would never have accomplished what I have."

 

The letter is full of references to experts and amateur enthusiasts in the fields of ornithology and zoology. Stroud provides a comical running commentary on some of his fellow bird scientists: "American Canary put out a large 74 page Show issue for February…which contains pictures of all their regular writers. I was glad to see what a lot of my friends look like…Old Carter looks like a judge. He can't forget that he was educated at Eaton. That Armitage is a fine, intelligent looking man, and doesn't look over forty in the picture…Virginia Miller is not bad looking, but one glance at her pictures is enough to tell me why she does not like a book dealing with the insides of a bird." Stroud's critiques of his cohort are biting, and perhaps betray some resentment over his own personal isolation.

 

Stroud discussed Arthur Greenhall (1911-1998), a well-known mid-twentieth-century zoologist, at the top of page 2. Greenhall had studied reptiles and amphibians in the Caribbean and South America after receiving his doctoral degree from the University of Michigan. He served for several years as the Director of Portland Zoo (Portland, OR) before being appointed Director of the Detroit Zoo in 1947. While Director there, Greenhall conducted state-of-the-art scientific research by audio recording animal vocalizations. Stroud noted that even Greenhall acknowledged Stroud's writing ability, saying (purportedly) "'he [Stroud] has a style that is very convincing and direct.'"

 

Did Stroud feel at all like the animals in Greenhall's zoo? He mentions in passing, without rancor or despondency, that his most recent court case had been summarily dismissed. "The court considered my petition and promptly dismissed it. I have ninety days in which to appeal to a higher court, and it is my intention to do that. It is possible that a higher court will be glad to hear me. I have some rather convincing arguments for them." As we know, Stroud would never have much luck with the judicial process. He would write an expose of the American prison system that was published posthumously.

 

Stroud's all-consuming commitment to science comes through in the letter. He wrote: "…I never discuss such things [personal religious beliefs] in my letter unless the other fellow brings them up, and then I tell them politely that I have looked into too many test tubes to have any faith in any superstition, and my definition of superstition is anything that cannot be proved or demonstrated; that I think such thing are fine for person who feel a need of them, but I do not fined either the idea of a diety or of immortality are not necessary to me, nor do they appeal to me. In all of my studies, I have found nothing which cannot be explained without such assumptions."

 

Stroud's interest in birds began as an inmate at the U.S. Federal Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas around 1920, after nursing some jail yard sparrows back to health. He later obtained permission to breed, house, and study up to 300 birds in 2 adjacent prison cells. He also maintained a research laboratory where he could have experimented with the abovementioned chemicals, or produced homemade mail-order bird medicine. Stroud's two published books on the causes, symptoms, and treatment of common bird diseases established him as a leading expert in the field. His mastery of the subject is even more impressive when one considers he was entirely self-taught.

 

Stroud had been transferred to Alcatraz in December 1942. The official reasoning is recorded in an Alcatraz warden's notebook as: "In view of this man's homicidal traits and impulsively dangerous tendencies, he cannot be released with general population…also wishes to call attention to need for eliminating the insanitary condition…from this man's bird breeding activities here…Rec. trans. to Alcatraz." In reality, Leavenworth prison officials had attempted to transfer Stroud as early as 1933 because of his unwelcome celebrity. Stroud remained at Alcatraz until 1959.

 

Robert Stroud spent 54 years in prison, 42 of which were in solitary confinement. After his initial 1909 arrest for manslaughter, Stroud compounded his sentence by assaulting fellow inmates and staff, as well as by killing a prison guard in 1916. At Alcatraz, prohibited from caring for birds, he devoted his energies instead to learning French, studying the law, and writing.

 


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