Description:

Sarah Collins Rudolph
Birmingham, AL, September 15, 1963
Sarah Collins Rudolph, "The 5th Little Girl", Signed Photo
Signed photograph
A 20" x 16" glossy black and white photograph with a handwritten essay signed by Sarah Collins Rudolph (b.1951), "The 5th Little Girl" whose sister and friends perished in the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing. Described by Martin Luther King, Jr. as "one of the most vicious and tragic crimes ever perpetrated against humanity", Sarah Collins Rudolph is the lone survivor of the five little girls who were in the basement during the attack. Accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity signed by Collins Rudolph and an image of her signing photographs. In near fine condition.

In a lengthy inscription, Collins Rudolph describes the moments before and after the bombing, and the wounds she endured. Penned in white felt tip above photos of the four victims, Collins writes, "My two sisters and I were so excited and happy that day walking about 17 blocks to the 16th Street Baptist Church to go to Sunday School. When we got there, Sunday School was already in session. So we went to the ladies lounge of the basement of the church that morning waiting for Sunday School to end. Denise McNair, Carol Robertson and Cynthia Wesley came into the bathroom. My sister was standing by the stained-glass window and I was standing by the sink. Denise ask Addie to tie the sash on her dress. I never got a chance to see her tie it because all of a sudden I heard a loud noise. Boom! And I heard someone holler, Somebody bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church! I called out for Jesus and for my sister Addie! Addie! Addie! but she didn't answer. I lost my right eye in the bombing and I'm reminded of it everyday when I look into the mirror, by seeing the scars on my face and the prosthetics. / Sarah Collins Rudolph / 'The 5th Little Girl' / Survivor of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing".

The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing was a white supremacist terrorist bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, September 15, 1963. Four members of a local Ku Klux Klan chapter planted nineteen sticks of dynamite attached to a timing device beneath the steps located on the east side of the church. In the basement, four little girls were killed: 14-year-old Addie Mae Collins, 14-year-old Denise McNair, 14-year-old Carole Robertson, and 11-year-old Cynthia Wesley.

Although the FBI had concluded in 1965 that the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing had been committed by four known Klansmen and segregationists, no prosecutions were conducted until 1977, and it was decades later that only three of the men were prosecuted.

The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing marked a turning point in the United States during the civil rights movement and also contributed to support for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by Congress.

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!

  • Provenance: LOA and signing photo.
  • Dimensions: 20" x 16"
  • Medium: Signed photograph

Accepted Forms of Payment:

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

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, 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. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

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. 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 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

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

August 7, 2024 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

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