Collections : [National Death Penalty Archive]

National Death Penalty Archive

National Death Penalty Archive

Researchers, writers, activists, and records on capital punishment in the United States.
The National Death Penalty Archive (NDPA) is a partnership between the University at Albany Libraries and the Capital Punishment Research Initiative (CPRI) at the University's School of Criminal Justice. In 1999, researchers at the School of Criminal Justice formally established the CPRI. Its overarching goals were research and education -- initiate capital punishment research activities, facilitate collaboration among researchers, and make findings and information available to legal and criminal justice policymakers, practitioners, and the public. One of the original goals of the CPRI was to establish and maintain a collection of archival materials documenting the important history of capital punishment, and to provide resources for historical scholarship. This growing collection of archival materials is housed in the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, which is located in the University's state of the art Science Library. Open since 1999, the new archival repository includes climate-controlled storage for more than 25,000 cubic feet. The following collections have been acquired for the NDPA through the collaborative efforts of the CPRI and the University Libraries; work is continuing to build this important link to the history of capital punishment in the United States.

Search Results

Death Penalty Information Center Records, 1985-2014

28.0 cubic ft.
This collection predominantly contains the Death Penalty Information Center's audio/video resources and clippings files on capital punishment.
1 result in this collection

Ernest Van Den Haag Papers, 1935-2000

11.45 cubic ft.
This collection is predominantly composed of Ernest van den Haag's publications from 1950-2000, including articles in published form, drafts, and related correspondence.
Top 3 results in this collection — view all 67
Folder

Numbered, 1950-2000 6.17 cubic ft.

Online

This subseries contains the published writings of Ernest van den Haag arranged numerically by the number assigned each. This subseries represents the bulk of the collection and is one of the best sources for studying the philosophy of Ernest van den Haag. He wrote articles that cover a wide spectrum of political and social issues of his day. This subseries is unique in that it contains not only van den Haag's drafts, but in most cases the articles in their final published form, providing the researcher a glimpse of the contemporary context. These publications include drafts for books, reviews, chapters, and articles by van den Haag. The publications were assigned individual numbers probably reflecting the order of creation not the date of publication. The arrangement within each folder is as follows: the final published form of the article usually containing the periodical cover page, the contents page, and the article itself; correspondence, usually between van den Haag and the publisher, as well as any other related correspondence; rough drafts of the article, usually in order from oldest to newest; research material used in creation of the article as well as articles from other authors that represent debate over van den Haag's views and facts. Publication number 194 contains a letter from President Nixon thanking van den Haag for his balanced views on war crimes in Vietnam. Publication number 338 is an excellent example of the type of controversy surrounding some articles written by van den Haag. Publication number 439 contains a letter from Congressman Charles Rangel opposing Haag's views on the legalization of illegal drugs.

Eugene G. Wanger and Marilyn M. Wanger Death Penalty Collection, 1754-2022

149.2 cubic ft.
For over six decades, Eugene G. Wanger created or collected the materials about capital punishment that comprise the Eugene G. Wanger and Marilyn M. Wanger Death Penalty Collection. The collection includes a wide range of materials on the death penalty documenting its history, efforts to abolish or reinstate the practice, its psychological impact, compatibility on religious, moral or ethical grounds, and its operation.
1 result in this collection
Collection
For over six decades, Eugene G. Wanger created or collected the materials about capital punishment that comprise the Eugene G. Wanger and Marilyn M. Wanger Death Penalty Collection. The collection includes a wide range of materials on the death penalty documenting its history, efforts to abolish or reinstate the practice, its psychological impact, compatibility on religious, moral or ethical grounds, and its operation.

Hugo A. Bedau Papers, 1954-2005

36 cubic ft.
Hugo A. Bedau (Ph.D., Harvard, 1961) was a commentator, scholar, and activist for the abolition of capital punishment. He was a prominent spokesperson in the abolitionist movement and well-known for his scholarship and writing concerning the death penalty and the challenge to separate logical arguments from moral arguments.
Top 3 results in this collection — view all 104
Collection
Online
Hugo A. Bedau (Ph.D., Harvard, 1961) was a commentator, scholar, and activist for the abolition of capital punishment. He was a prominent spokesperson in the abolitionist movement and well-known for his scholarship and writing concerning the death penalty and the challenge to separate logical arguments from moral arguments.

James Acker Papers, 1989-2013

19 cubic ft.
This collection contains a substaintial amount of material on the death penalty in New York State created or collected by Dr. James Acker. It also consists of Dr. Acker's research materials and other initatives involving capital punishment which he was involved in while teaching at the University at Albany School of Criminal Justice.
1 result in this collection
Collection
This collection contains a substaintial amount of material on the death penalty in New York State created or collected by Dr. James Acker. It also consists of Dr. Acker's research materials and other initatives involving capital punishment which he was involved in while teaching at the University at Albany School of Criminal Justice.

Jeffrey Walsh Collection, 1985-2002

8.33 cubic ft.
This collection documents investigator Jeffrey Walsh's work on the Frank Lee Smith case. Smith was convicted of rape and murder and served 14 years on Death Row in Florida before dying of cancer. Less than a year after his death he was exonerated.
1 result in this collection
Collection
This collection documents investigator Jeffrey Walsh's work on the Frank Lee Smith case. Smith was convicted of rape and murder and served 14 years on Death Row in Florida before dying of cancer. Less than a year after his death he was exonerated.

Jonathan Sorensen Papers, 1973-2004

0.38 cubic ft.
This collection consists of Professor Jonathan Sorensen's audio and paper materials documenting the 1973 re-establishment of the death penalty in Texas.
3 results in this collection

Michael Mello Papers, 1800-2008, bulk 1970-2004

42.2 cubic ft.
Michael A. Mello (1957-2008) was an internationally recognized authority on the death penalty and capital punishment issues. He was a lawyer, professor, and author. Michael Mello served as counsel or informal advisor to many significant cases, including Joseph Robert Crazy Joe Spaziano, Theodore Kaczynski, Theodore Bundy, Rolando Cruz, Alvin Ford, Stephen Todd Booker, and Robert Straight.
Top 3 results in this collection — view all 227
Folder

This series contains materials related to the various trials of Joseph Spaziano and represents material created or used by Michael Mello in Joseph Spazianos defense or during the writing of Michael Mellos book The Wrong Man: A True Story of Innocence and the Death Row; included in this series are legal materials, correspondence, notes, and research materials.

Collection
Michael A. Mello (1957-2008) was an internationally recognized authority on the death penalty and capital punishment issues. He was a lawyer, professor, and author. Michael Mello served as counsel or informal advisor to many significant cases, including Joseph Robert Crazy Joe Spaziano, Theodore Kaczynski, Theodore Bundy, Rolando Cruz, Alvin Ford, Stephen Todd Booker, and Robert Straight.

Karli Keator Papers, 1987-2006

.61 cubic ft.
Convicted of a 2000 murder in Texas and sentenced to death, Deon Tumblin committed suicide in his cell in 2004. This collection contains research materials about the Tumblin case, compiled by then graduate student Karli Keator.
Top 3 results in this collection — view all 22
Collection
Convicted of a 2000 murder in Texas and sentenced to death, Deon Tumblin committed suicide in his cell in 2004. This collection contains research materials about the Tumblin case, compiled by then graduate student Karli Keator.

Leigh B. Bienen Papers, 1872, 1935, 1951-2011, Undated, bulk 1971-2011

23.2 cubic ft.
The Leigh Bienen Papers include the records of the New Jersey Proportionality Review Project, the Illinois Capital Punishment Reform Study Commission, and the academic research papers of legal scholar Leigh Bienen. The New Jersey records contain material from New Jersey Public Defender Homicide Study directed by Bienen in the mid-1980s. The collection also includes the records from Bienen's involvement with the New Jersey Proportionality Review Project headed by Special Master David C. Baldus. Also present is material from Leigh Bienen's tenure on the Illinois Capital Punishment Reform Study Commission which resulted in the abolition of the death penalty in that state in 2011. Finally the collection contains Leigh Bienen's scholarly research material during her career teaching at both Princeton University and Northwestern University. Her research focused on proportionality review, the death penalty's monetary costs, and the role of prosecutor discretion.
Top 3 results in this collection — view all 549
Collection
The Leigh Bienen Papers include the records of the New Jersey Proportionality Review Project, the Illinois Capital Punishment Reform Study Commission, and the academic research papers of legal scholar Leigh Bienen. The New Jersey records contain material from New Jersey Public Defender Homicide Study directed by Bienen in the mid-1980s. The collection also includes the records from Bienen's involvement with the New Jersey Proportionality Review Project headed by Special Master David C. Baldus. Also present is material from Leigh Bienen's tenure on the Illinois Capital Punishment Reform Study Commission which resulted in the abolition of the death penalty in that state in 2011. Finally the collection contains Leigh Bienen's scholarly research material during her career teaching at both Princeton University and Northwestern University. Her research focused on proportionality review, the death penalty's monetary costs, and the role of prosecutor discretion.