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Chessman-Asher Collection, 1921-1996.
MANUSCRIPT3409-3470
Collection Overview
Title:
Chessman-Asher Collection, 1921-1996Chessman-Asher
Creator/Contributor:
Arbeiter, Jean.Creator/Contributor:
Barnes, Harry Elmer, 1889-1968Creator/Contributor:
Biersdorff, Charles.Creator/Contributor:
Bolds, Richard.Creator/Contributor:
Caen, Herb, 1916-1997Creator/Contributor:
Caffin, Louise.Creator/Contributor:
Clark, Myron H.Creator/Contributor:
Clifton, Ron.Creator/Contributor:
Cowan, Earl.Creator/Contributor:
Deukmejian, George.Creator/Contributor:
Duffy, Clinton T., 1898-1982Creator/Contributor:
Gilman, Mary Louise.Creator/Contributor:
Gressley, Gene M., 1931-Creator/Contributor:
Hallinan, Vincent.Creator/Contributor:
Hanley, Shawn.Creator/Contributor:
Hawkins, James D.Creator/Contributor:
Hoover, J. Edgar (John Edgar), 1895-1972Creator/Contributor:
Kaletsky, Richard.Creator/Contributor:
Kerr, Leslie.Creator/Contributor:
Lanier, Jerry P.Creator/Contributor:
Longstreth, Joseph, 1920-Creator/Contributor:
McKinney, Olive.Creator/Contributor:
McMillan, Lester K.Creator/Contributor:
Machlin, Milton.Creator/Contributor:
Moscone, George, d. 1978Creator/Contributor:
Mosk, Stanley, 1912-2001Creator/Contributor:
Mundt, Albert H.Creator/Contributor:
Nolen, Lola.Creator/Contributor:
Parker, Francine.Creator/Contributor:
Reidel, Ellen.Creator/Contributor:
Rosko, Richard A.Creator/Contributor:
Schaber, Gordon D.Creator/Contributor:
Simpson, Barbara.Creator/Contributor:
Tiffany, Willis N.Creator/Contributor:
Voelker, Roy.Abstract:
Legal briefs and other documents pertaining to Caryl Chessman's trial and appeals. Correspondence to and from Caryl Chessman,
Rosalie Asher, and others. Caryl Chessman's books in English and translated into a multitude of languages. Writings about
Caryl Chessman in books, magazines, and newspapers-in English and other languages. Caryl Chessman's personal effects, including
photographs and his typewriter. Other material collected by Rosalie Asher, including those pertaining to the death penalty
in general, post-1960 material dealing with Chessman including the 1977 film "Kill Me If You Can," and personal items.
Date:
1921 (issued)Contents:
Boxes 3409-3419: Legal documents; Boxes 3419-3429: Files; Boxes 3429-3430: Correspondence; Box 3430: Manuscripts & proofs;
Box 3430: TV scripts; Box 3430: Photos; Boxes 3430-3443: Books; Boxes 3444-3451: Periodicals; Boxes 3451-3464: Clippings;
Boxes 3465-3466: Video & audio; Boxes 3466-3469: Miscellaneous; Box 3470: Chessman's typewriter; Room 355 Cubicle 357B: Side
of wooden box containing Chessman's property after his death.
Subject:
n-us-caChessman, Caryl, 1921-1960
Asher, Rosalie
California State Prison at San Quentin.
Capital punishment
Death row -- California -- Marin county
Legal briefs -- California
Books
Correspondence
Newspapers
Periodicals
Photographs
Note:
Caryl Whittier Chessman was born in St. Joseph, Michigan on May 27, 1921. He turned to a life of petty crime in his teens,
and in 1948 was charged as the Los Angeles area's notorious "Red Light Bandit," being subsequently convicted on 17 counts
of robbery, kidnapping and rape. Under California's version of the "Little Lindbergh Law," the kidnapping aspect became a
capital offense, and Chessman went to San Quentin's Death Row. He spent the next twelve years fighting his conviction on the
basis of improper trial procedure (becoming something of a legal expert in the process), and wrote several books while in
prison (some of which had to be smuggled out). These factors, plus his not being convicted for actually killing anyone, made
him a cause celebre for the anti-capital punishment movement, and he received support from all over the world. But despite
California Governor Edmund G. Brown's anti-death penalty beliefs, Chessman finally went to the gas chamber on May 2, 1960.
Rosalie S. Asher graduated from McGeorge Law School in Sacramento, California in 1940, and became a practicing attorney and
Sacramento County Law Librarian. She acted as Caryl Chessman's legal counsel for most of his time on Death Row (even though
he basically represented himself in court) along with George T. Davis and others for lesser periods of time. Asher was also
named executor of Chessman's estate, and spent much of the rest of her life attempting to keep his name in the public eye
and obtain some sort of vindication for him. She served in an advisory role on the 1977 television film about Chessman, "Kill
Me If You Can," in which Alan Alda portrayed Chessman and Talia Shire played Asher. Asher passed away in Sacramento in 2004.
Chessman-Asher.
Inventory available in library; folder level control.
Restricted. Under the terms of his will, none of Chessman's writings may be published without the consent of Joseph Longstreth,
his literary executor, and Rosalie Asher, his attorney and executor of his estate. Neither Mr. Longstreth nor Ms. Asher are
still living.
Gift; Rosalie Asher; 1996.
Gift; Rosalie Asher's niece, Mary Fonvinci; 2006.
Gift; Rosalie Asher's niece, Mary Fonvinci; 2008.
Type:
biographyPhysical Description:
print
47 archival boxes; 16 x 12 x 12.
1 archival box; 19 x 16 x 9 1/2.
13 manuscript boxes; 21 x 17 x 3.
1 manuscript box; 25 x 19 x 4.
Language:
English
Identifier:
Origin:
CaliforniaCopyright Note:
Restricted. Under the terms of his will, none of Chessman's writings may be published without the consent of Joseph Longstreth,
his literary executor, and Rosalie Asher, his attorney and executor of his estate. Neither Mr. Longstreth nor Ms. Asher are
still living.