Description:

Stroud Robert

Robert Stroud, "Birdman of Alcatraz" ALS Re: Studying Cancer in Guinea Pigs, Playing Handball, and Taking Male Sex Hormones

 

2pp autograph letter inscribed overall by notorious criminal Robert F. Stroud (1890-1963), and 3x signed by him, the first and second times as "Bob" and "Robert Stroud, 594" at the conclusion of the letter; and the third time as "Robert Stroud" at the top of the first page above the preprinted recipient's address panel. Written at the U.S. Federal Penitentiary at Alcatraz on November 4, 1945. Pencil on blue-lined cream paper. Stamped "R.R.B." at upper right. In near fine condition, with expected paper folds. 8" x 10.25".

 

Robert Stroud, Federal prisoner #594, wrote this letter to his half-sister Mamie E. Stroud (1881-1969) about three years after his surprise transfer to Alcatraz Island on December 19, 1942. The initial adjustment was difficult; Stroud had been incarcerated at Leavenworth for 30 years, and it was there that he had first studied his beloved birds. Yet on page 1, Stroud wrote, "We are having the warmest weather that we've had since I've been here, and it seems to agree with me."

 

Stroud provides us with insights into daily prison life. Some revelations are consistent with our understanding of this highly intelligent psychopath, while others are surprising.

 

Stroud had maintained his intense interest in animal health and husbandry, this time with guinea pigs. He wrote: "All day to-day I have been studying cancer in guinea pigs, induced by estriadol [estradiol] (the female sex hormone). They are making wonderful progress against cancer of the sex organs in both males and females. They now cure breast cancer in dogs and prostate cancer in both men and dogs by the administration of hormones."

 

At Alcatraz, Stroud was confined to a cell in D Block, where he would eventually spend six years of segregation before being transferred to the prison hospital. This was due to Stroud's track record of aggressive and violent behavior towards other inmates and prison guards. Yet the letter reveals that Stroud was occasionally permitted to interact with fellow prisoners in the recreation yard, where he played handball. Stroud proudly reported to Mamie that he held his own against a younger, much more athletic competitor. "Well, I beat him three games, the first time I have been able to beat him. Not bad for a man [of] 56."

 

At the conclusion of the letter, Stroud mentions in passing that he had been self-medicating with male sex hormones. He wrote: "My prostatic conditions was [sic] greatly improved by the male sex hormone I took and the thyroid I am still taking has just about fixed up my liver…This is not yet an accepted treatment. I found it in an experiment work on dogs and made up my mind to try it." Considering Stroud's already quick temper and his tendency towards aggressiveness, we can only speculate how his ingesting a male sex hormone like testosterone would impact his behavior.

 

Stroud's interest in birds had begun as an inmate at Leavenworth 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 there where he produced homemade mail-order bird medicine. Stroud's Diseases of Canaries (1933) and Digest on the Diseases of Birds (1943) are still acknowledged as authoritative reference books for ornithologists.

 

In mid-December 1942, with apparently only 10 minutes' notice to pack, Stroud would be transferred 1,700 miles east of Leavenworth to Alcatraz. The official explanation for Stroud's transfer was 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 to learning French, studying the law, and writing.

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice, unless you inform us otherwise, immediately upon your receipt of invoice***

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.


After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item.Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000