Robert stroud last photo

What did the birdman of alcatraz do
How long was robert stroud in alcatraz
What did the birdman of alcatraz do

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The Birdman of Alcatraz in Alaska

By Stephen Haycox

Many Americans have viewed the 1962 Burt Lancaster film, Birdman of Alcatraz, a drama based loosely on the real life experience of Robert Stroud. Few, however, know of Alaska’s role in Stroud’s story. Stephen Haycox, Professor of History at the University of Alaska Anchorage, recounted this aspect of Stroud’s biography in the following article originally published in the Anchorage Times.
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Robert Stroud probably didn’t intend to be a reformer. He was just another drifter knocking about on the Seattle waterfront in the spring of 1908 when he took a chance on a railroad construction gang being assembled for work in Cordova. But the story of his life is known by tens of thousands, and his determination and perseverance are familiar to a generation of moviegoers. Robert Stroud was the Birdman of Alcatraz.

Stroud would serve a long career in some of America’s roughest federal prisons; he

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Robert Stroud

(1890-1963)

Who Was Robert Stroud?

Robert Stroud began his 54-year stay behind bars after killing a man in 1909. He developed an interest in ornithology at Leavenworth Federal Prison, where he breeded canaries and wrote two books on the subject. Following his transfer to Alcatraz Prison, Stroud became known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz" with the release of a biography and a feature film of the same name. Part of a manuscript he wrote about the federal prison system was published in 2014, more than 50 years after his death.

Early Years and Incarceration

Robert Franklin Stroud, who earned fame as the "Birdman of Alcatraz," was born on January 28, 1890, in Seattle, Washington. Raised by an abusive father, he stopped attending school after reaching the third grade. At age 13, he ran away from home.

At 18, Stroud made his way to Alaska territory to work on a railroad construction gang. He began a relationship with an older prostitute named Kitty O'Brien, and in early 1909, after O'Brien was beaten by a former lover, Stroud shot and kille

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Robert Stroud

American inmate and ornithologist (1890–1963)

"Birdman of Alcatraz" redirects here. For the 1962 film, see Birdman of Alcatraz (film).

For the scientist, see Robert M. Stroud.

Robert Stroud
Stroud in 1951
Born	Robert Franklin Stroud (1890-01-28)January 28, 1890 Seattle, Washington, US
Died	November 21, 1963(1963-11-21) (aged 73) Medical Center for Federal Prisoners, Springfield, Missouri, US
Resting place	Masonic Cemetery, Metropolis, Illinois, US
Other names	The Birdman of Alcatraz
Occupations
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Spouse	Della May Spore (m. 1931)
Criminal charge	1909 Manslaughter 1912 Assault 1916 Murder
Penalty	54 yrs overall Manslaughter 12 years imprisonment Assault 6 months imprisonment Murder Death, commuted to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole

Robert Franklin Stroud (January 28, 1890 – November 21, 1963), known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz", was a convicted murderer, Ame