View full finding aid (PDF)
  • Creator Names Leopold, Nathan Freudenthal, 1904-1971.
  • Title Nathan F. Leopold papers [manuscript], 1924-1970, bulk 1940-1970.
  • Physical description
    • 23.5 linear ft. (54 boxes and 1 v.)
    • 1 oversize folder.
    • 8 sound recordings.
  • Access and usage restrictions
    • For listening purposes, it is necessary to use a copy, not the original (and to have a listening copy made if one is not available).
    • Advance appointment with special permission required to see some items in security storage.
  • Collection summary Correspondence with family, friends, attorneys, and prominent individuals solicited to advocate the parole of Nathan Leopold, Jr., from Stateville penitentiary in Joliet, Illinois, where he was serving a life sentence for the murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks, a crime committed with Richard Loeb in 1924. Also present are materials on his life in Puerto Rico following his 1958 parole; together with the manuscript of Leopold's published autobiography, Life Plus 99 Years (1958), and materials concerning Leopold's invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against author Meyer Levin concerning Levin's play, Compulsion (1959), book, and motion picture based on the Franks murder case. Additional topics include education in prison, ornithology, and tropical medicine. Correspondents include his lawyer, Elmer Gertz, and family friend, Ralph G. Newman.
  • Acquisition information Part 1 of this collection was a gift of Nathan F. Leopold, Jr., in 1970 (M1970.0064). Part 2 of the collection was a gift of Ralph G. Newman (M1975.0050). Most of the collection was closed to researchers until Sept. 1, 1976. In 1976, Henry S. Johnson donated 44 letters from Leopold (M1977.0001), which were integrated into Part I of the Leopold papers
  • Finding Aids Note Descriptive inventory available online.
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note
    • Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Nathan Leopold, Jr., collection of photographs (1982.0020); the Hal Higdon research papers on the Leopold and Loeb case; the Hal Higdon collection of Leopold and Loeb case photographs (1984.0145); the News photographs relating to the murder trial of Leopold and Loeb (1987.0440); movie film of the Kirtland warbler (1923); numerous digitized images from the Chicago Daily News negatives collection that are available online; and copies of a periodical for children written by Richard Loeb in 1916, all cataloged separately.
    • Northwestern University Library, Special Collections Department; holds a transcript of the Leopold and Loeb trial with other papers of Elmer Gertz.
  • Names
    • Leopold, Nathan Freudenthal, 1904-1971 Archives.
    • Darrow, Clarence, 1857-1938 Trials, litigation, etc.
    • Franks, Bobby, 1909-1924 Death and burial.
    • Gertz, Elmer, 1906-2000 Archives.
    • Johnson, Henry S.
    • Leopold, Nathan Freudenthal, 1904-1971. Life plus 99 years.
    • Loeb, Richard A., 1905-1936.
    • Levin, Meyer, 1905-1981. Compulsion.
    • Newman, Ralph Geoffrey, 1911-1998 Correspondence.
    • Ragen, Joseph E.
    • Illinois State Penitentiary (Joliet, Ill.)
    • Stateville Correctional Center.
    • Darrow, Clarence, 1857-1938. Plea for Loeb and Leopold.
    • Gertz, Elmer, 1906-2000.
    • Johnson, Henry S.
    • Leopold, Nathan Freudenthal, 1904-1971. Life plus 99 years.
    • Levin, Meyer, 1905-1981.
    • Newman, Ralph Geoffrey, 1911-1998.
  • Subjects
    • Actions and defenses Illinois 20th century.
    • Drama.
    • Families Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Jews Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Murder Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Ornithology Puerto Rico 20th century.
    • Ornithology United States 20th century.
    • Ornithology Virgin Islands 20th century.
    • Prisoners Illinois Joliet 20th century.
    • Parole Illinois 20th century.
    • Prisoners Education Illinois 20th century.
    • Trials (Murder) Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Tropical medicine 20th century.
    • Leopold and Loeb trial, Chicago, Ill., 1924.
  • Geographic coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.) Social conditions 20th century.
    • Hyde Park (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Joliet (Ill.) Social conditions 20th century.
    • Puerto Rico Social conditions 20th century.
  • Genre
    • Audiocassettes. aat
    • Audiotapes. aat
    • Autobiographies. aat
    • Correspondence. aat
    • Manuscripts for publication. aat
    • Wills. aat
  • Geographic name
    • United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.
    • United States Puerto Rico.
  • Finding aid URL Finding aid available online http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/M-L/LeopoldN-inv.htm