Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Lot #250
Madalyn Murray O’Hair

This lot has closed

Estimate: $0+
Sell a Similar Item?
Refer Collections and Get Paid
Share:  

Description

Social activist. She enjoyed a normal, happy childhood, but was overwhelmed when she read the Bible cover-to-cover at age 13. She gradually became an atheist and when her son Bill objected to school prayers, she took the case to the Supreme Court; in a landmark decision outlawing prayers in public schools, she won, in her words, the "unalienable right to freedom from religion as well as freedom of religion. Interesting archive of handwritten notes, typed letters and memos. Many are addresses to an office worker named Jes, mostly concerning a project being worked on by the entire office. Twelve of these are signed 'Mem O'H.,' and one signed Mem O'Hair. Several of the notes deal with office supplies, movement of personnel and proofreading a current work. One interesting one concerns the disposition of several members remains 'We have had the ashes of two members...tossed into one of the Great Lakes...A Louisiana members was dumped into the Gulf of Mexico...none of them can be classified under the generic word 'sea.'' Also included are approximately ten 'Post-It' slips with unsigned notes in O'Hair's hand, apparently put on a work in progress to point out corrections. A full page of possible Atheist titles in O'Hair's hand lists twenty five titles including 'An Atheist Epic,' and 'Atheists Speak.' Also included is a photocopied list of purported Hollywood atheists, including Brando, Carson, Hepburn and Neil Armstrong. In fine condition. RRAuction COA.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title:
  • Dates: #286 - Ended June 16, 2004