Imprisoned for murder at the age of 18, Stroud spent more than fifty-four years in jail (forty-seven in isolation), where he became a self-educated authority on birds and bird diseases and author of an important reference, Stroud’s Digest of the Diseases of Birds, published in 1942. A self-taught legal scholar as well, Stroud wrote an exhaustive history of the federal legal system. ALS, in pencil, signed “Bob, Robert Stroud #594,” one lightly-lined page both sides, 8 x 10.25, December 5, 1954. Letter to his sister Mamie. In part, “I was finally able to get an Italian grammar, so I am studying Spanish and Italian, but not as most English-speaking persons would do it. For I am doing all the work in French. That way I do not lose my French. Any foreign language that you do not use constantly you will forget easily , and I do not want to forget the French. I am finding both the Spanish and Italian very easy, and if I can get a dictionary it will not take me long to learn them both…If I am every lucky enough to get out, I will get me an electric typewriter. They say that it is impossible for anyone to type faster they will write. A person can, as you say, always learn what interests him, but I think that it is a crime to try to force a child to learn things in which he is not interested or to educate people above their brains. I see so many of them who have been made misfits by being given more education than they could use. What I have I’ve gotten for myself, and I have always been able to use it.…The book was supposed to be ready to submit to the publisher before the first of December, but I do not know if it has been done or not, as Mark has not written. I would not be surprised if he has fowled things up again. It is usual practice with him, just because he is too mentally lazy to think things through from beginning to end, make a sound plan, and stick to it, which is the only way to accomplish anything.” Stroud’s full signature appears again in the return address area on the front of the letter. In fine condition, with intersecting mailing folds and a couple small notations. R&R COA.
