The Birdman of Alcatraz. Imprisoned for murder at age 18, Stroud spent over 54 years in jail (47 of them in isolation!) where he became a self-educated authority on canaries and bird diseases, publishing Stroud's Digest of the Diseases of Birds in 1942. Also a self-taught legal scholar, Stroud wrote an exhaustive history of the federal legal system. TLS, three pages, 8.5 x 11, February 1, 1938. Letter to a fellow bird breeder. In part, 'In using color food, the color is added to the blood stream. In this case, with the light, the color is made by the skin cells. I expect to irradiate some of my buffs this season, even of [sic] I have to use nails for elements. If I am not mistaken, they will be the reddest finch-bred birds that you ever saw.' Stroud also discusses the use of ultra violet lamps. In fine condition, with pencil notations along left edges, several pencil notations in Stroud's hand, expected folds, rusted paper clip impression to upper left and staple holes. RRAuction COA.
