Don Reid Capital Punishment Collection, 1959-1973 | SHSU Special Collections & University Archives

By Sunday Miller

Collection Overview

Title: Don Reid Capital Punishment Collection, 1959-1973

Extent: 3.0 Boxes

Arrangement: This collection is arranged by material type. The correspondence, articles, and newspapers are organized chronologically.

Subjects: Capital punishment, Huntsville (Tex.) - History, Texas. Department of Corrections, Texas. Department of Criminal Justice, Walker County (Tex.)

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Don Reid Capital Punishment Collection (1959-1973; three boxes) contains materials which belonged to Don Reid, Jr. concerning his work with capital punishment in Texas. It consists of notes, letters to Mr. Reid, article rough drafts with editor’s notes, capital punishment publications, photos, magazine articles, clippings, and newspapers.

Collection Historical Note

Don Reid was born in Katy, Texas on December 2, 1906. Over his lifetime, Don Reid helped to shape capital punishment and prisons in the State of Texas. Reid worked for The Huntsville Item newspaper from 1937 until 1972. While working for The Item, Don was also a member of the Dallas Associated Press. He received his first assignment from the Associated Press in 1938 – to cover an execution fulfilled by the Texas Department of Corrections. This execution was the first of 189 executions that Don would go on to witness and write about, earning him the nickname "The Death House Reporter". Mr. Reid became a well-known voice for the abolishment of capital punishment. Don was published and written about in various publications, such as Time magazine, Newsweek, The Houston Chronicle, and many more. He worked to make lasting changes to the Texas criminal justice system, including helping to develop Texas’ modern parole system and initiating a rehabilitation program for first time offenders. After retirement, Don published his book “Have a Seat, Please” (formerly known as “Eyewitness”), which continues to be widely read today.

Subject/Index Terms

Capital punishment
Huntsville (Tex.) - History
Texas. Department of Corrections
Texas. Department of Criminal Justice
Walker County (Tex.)

Administrative Information

Repository: SHSU Special Collections & University Archives

Use Restrictions:

The materials represented in this finding aid have been made available for research, teaching and private use. For these purposes, you may reproduce (print, make photocopies, or download) these items without prior permission on the condition that you provide proper attribution of the source in all copies.

Please contact the Newton Gresham Library's Special Collections and University Archives department to request permissions to reproduce materials for any other purpose, or to obtain information regarding the copyright status of a particular digital image, text, audio or video recording.

Preferred Citation: Don Reid Capital Punishment Collection. SHSU Special Collections, Newton Gresham Library, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1],
[All]

Series 1

Box 1

Folder 1: Fred Leath Execution Notes, 1961, November 9: Don Reid Notes Regarding Fred Leath Execution
Folder 2: Don Reid Notepad, 1973, January 25: Don Reid Notepad with Miscellaneous Notes
Folder 3: Miscellaneous Notes, Undated: Don Reid Miscellaneous Notes Containing Notes on Executions
Folder 4: File Folders and Envelope with Notes, Undated: File Folders and Envelope with Written Notes
Folder 5: Letter to Don Reid from James N. Davis, 1961, May 25: Letter to Don Reid from James N. Davis regarding Carolyn Lima Execution
Folder 6: Letter to Don Reid Concerning Donald Ray Wilson, 1962, March 21: Letter to Don Reid from Mrs. B. L. Miller regarding Donald Ray Wilson Execution and Memorial
Folder 7: Letter to Don Reid from Robert H. Wood, 1972, August 13: Letter to Don Reid from Robert H. Wood regarding Salem Witch Trial and Reid's Wife
Folder 8: Letter to Don Reid from Arthur E. Wells, 1972, August 13: Letter to Don Reid from Arthur E. Wells regarding Capital Punishment
Folder 9: Letter to Don Reid from William C. Burk, 1972, August 25: Letter to Don Reid from William C. Burk
Folder 10: Letter to Mr. Jules Loh from Mr. N. McPhaul, 1972, August 30: Letter to Mr. Jules Loh from Mr. N. McPhaul
Folder 11: Letter to Don Reid from Lee Duewall, Undated: Letter to Don Reid from Lee Duewall
Folder 12: Letter to Don Reid from Ellen Burbank, 1959, June 9: Letter to Don Reid from Ellen Burbank, Chairman of the Conneticut Committee to Abolish Capital Punishment
Folder 13: Pro Capital Punishment Letters to Don Reid, 1972, July 4: A Collection of Letters Sent to Don Reid, Anotated as Pro Capital Punishment
Folder 14: Letters to Don Reid Against Capital Punishment, 1972, August 13: A Collection of Letters Sent to Don Reid, Anotated as Against Capital Punishment
Folder 15: Texas Executions Report Beginning February 8, 1924, 1965 , January 1: Texas Department of Corrections Executions Cases Beginning February 8 , 1924
Folder 16: National Prisoner Statistics, 1969, August: Publication by NPS Bulletin Containing National Prisoner Statistics on Capital Punishment, No. 45 from 1930- 1968
Folder 17: Capital Punishment in Texas, 1924 - 1968: Article by Ruper C. Koeninger "Capital Punishment in Texas" - a report of a study on 483 people executed in Texas
Folder 18: Reader's Digest Advance Proof, 1960, May: Reader's Digest Advance Proof "Capital Punishment is Not the Answer" Story 48
Folder 19: Capital Punishment Pamphlets, 1957: Capital Punishment Bible Study Pamphlet and Donation Request Form
Folder 20: The Diary of Hugh Finnegan: The Controversial Texas Death House Priest, Undated: Short Biography of Hugh Finnegan
Folder 21: Uncommon Sense About Capital Punishment, Undated: Article Written by Dr. John R. Silber, President of the Texas Society to Abolish Capital Punishment
Folder 22: Capital Punishment Scrapbook, 1958, September 15: Scrapbook Created by Jack Donahue Containing Newspaper Clippings Related to Capital Punishment
Folder 23: Texas Department of Corrections Pre-Release Manual, Undated: Publication by The State of Texas Preparing Offenders for Release from Prison
Folder 24: Austin Avenue Methodist Church News, 1958, September 11: Flier Printed by Austin Avenue Methodist Church News, Vol. 11 No. 43
Folder 25: EYE: People and Pictures, 1954, February: Magazine Containing Article by Don Reid, "I Watched 100 Killers Die"
Folder 26: Don Reid Rough Drafts, 1972, July 29: Rough Drafts of Don Reid's Articles Containing Editor's Notes
Folder 27: Texas Society to Abolish Capital Punishment Roster, 1961, September: Roster of the members of the Texas Society to Abolish Capital Punishment Roster
Folder 28: Letters to Don Reid Regarding Time Magazine, 1965: Congratulatory Letters to Don Reid on the Publication of his Time Magazine Article, "Death House Beat"
Folder 29: Christmas Card to Don Reid, 1961, December: Christmas Card to Don Reid from Texas Offenders
Folder 30: Time Magazine Article "Death House Beat", 1959, June 8: Article Written for Time Magazine "Death House Beat" by Don Reid
Folder 31: Texas Parade Article "Texas Death Row Reporter", Undated: Article Written by Van Hetherly "Texas Death Row Reporter"
Folder 32: Reader's Digest Article "161 Trips to the 'Room' to Watch Men Die", 1960, May 7: Article Written for Reader's Digest by Richard Friedman "He Covers the Condemned: 161 Trips to the Room to Watch Men Die" on Don Reid
Folder 33: Together Article "He'd Rather Stay Home", 1961, February: Article Written for Together Magazine for Methodist Familes by Frances Hathaway "He'd Rather Stay Home" on Don Reid
Folder 34: Don Reid with Governor Connally Photo, 1963, January 26: Photo of Governor John Connally along with Mr. and Mrs. Reid, Dan Blocker, and other unidentified persons
Folder 35: Huntsville Unit Death Row Photo, 1965: Photo of Death Row at the Huntsville Unit, Huntsville, Texas
Folder 36: Managing Editors Notes, Undated: Associated Press Managing Editors Notes
Folder 37: "Is Capital Punishment Right?", Undated: Article Entitled "Is Capital Punishment Right?"

Box 2

Folder 38: The Times-Picayune, 1972, August 20: The Times-Picayune Article "Witness to 189 Electrocutions Against Capital Punishment
Folder 39: The Texas Observer, 1961, March 4: The Texas Observer Artilce "Death Penalty Debated"
Folder 40: The Houston Press, 1958, March 15: The Houston Press Article "Are Innocent Men Being Sent to the Chair?"
Folder 41: The Houston Press, 1961, March 1: The Houston Press Article "Vet Newsman Has Seen Dozens Die in Chair -- Opposes Penalty"
Folder 42: The Houston Press, 1961, April 24: The Houston Press Article "Reid Elected President of State's SDX"
Folder 43: The Huntsville Item, 1959, June 11: The Huntsville Item Article "Time Weekly Tells of Item Editor's Coverage of News"
Folder 44: The Huntsville Item, 1973, February 11: The Huntsville Item Article "Dignitaries Visit TDC"
Folder 45: The ADA Evening News, 1959, June 10: The ADA Evening News Article "No Thank You"
Folder 46: The Austin Statement, 1960, November 11: The Austin Statement Article "Executions Don't Work, Says Witness of Many"
Folder 47: The Sunday Pictorial, 1959, June 21: The Sunday Pictorial Article"He Has Watched 158 Men Executed"
Folder 48: The Houston Post, 1954, May 17: The Houston Post Article "If It Doesn't Kill Him, Chair Improves a Man"
Folder 49: The Houston Post, 1960, November 12: The Houston Post Article "Texas Fight is Mapped on Capital Punishment"
Folder 50: The Houston Post, 1963, August 11: The Houston Post Article "A Disturbing Question"
Folder 51: The Houston Post, 1964, March 16: The Houston Post Article "Calvert Lauds Spirit as 302 Felons Get Diplomas"
Folder 52: The Houston Post, 1967, September 13: The Houston Post Article "Last Was in July, '64, More Than 3 Years Ago"
Folder 53: The Houston Post, 1973, March 22: The Houston Post Article "Graham Backs Death Penalty"
Folder 54: The Houston Post, 1973, March 26: The Houston Post Article "Capital Punishment"
Folder 55: The Odessa American, 1955, May 19: The Odessa American Article "Butcher Reported in 'Good Spirits' As Time Of Execution Draws Near"
Folder 56: The New York Times, 1972, April 16: The New York Times Article "Student Voters Tip Texas Scales"
Folder 57: The Wesley Word, 1961, November 14: The Wesley Word Vol. 1 Article "Death for Criminals"
Folder 58: The Dallas Morning News, 1962, March 24: The Dallas Morning News Article "Editor Describes Beat on Death Row"
Folder 59: The Dallas Times Herald, 1960, November 24: The Dallas Times Herald Article "Execution Opposition Explained by Editor"
Folder 60: My 23 Years in the Death House, Undated: Article Written by Don Reid, "My 23 Years in the Death House"
Folder 61: Uncredited Article, Undated: Uncredited Article Regarding Lewis E. Lawes , Warden of Sing Sing Prison
Folder 62: The Houston Chronicle, 1950, June 10: The Houston Chronicle Article, "Father of Eight Electrocuted for Slaying Second Wife" re: Jack Farmer
Folder 63: The Houston Chronicle, 1954, March 25: The Houston Chronicle Article, "Hotelman Executed for Wife's Murder"
Folder 64: The Houston Chronicle, 1960, April 23: The Houston Chronicle Article, "Executions Wrong, Says Newsman Who Saw 160"
Folder 65: The Houston Chronicle, 1961, November 4: The Houston Chronicle Ad Placement for "Viewpoint Capital Punishment" Radio Show
Folder 66: The Houston Chronicle, 1962, April 19: The Houston Chronicle Article "Killer of Bodenheimer Boy Dies in Electric Chair"
Folder 67: The Houston Chronicle, 1973, January 1: The Houston Chronicle Article "The Chair: Has Its Idleness Fostered Increase in Heinous Crimes? Sate Legislators Gird for Battle Over Death Penalty"
Folder 68: The Houston Chronicle, 1973, February 4: The Houston Chronicle Article "New Mexico Votes to Keep 'Unwritten Law' on Books"
Folder 69: The Houston Chronicle, 1973, February 15: The Houston Chronicle Article "Death Penalty and Murder Abolition Not a Factor in Rate Increase, Study Says"
Folder 70: The Houston Chronicle, 1973, March 16: The Houston Chronicle Article "Executions in Public Suggested"
Folder 71: The Houston Chronicle, 1973, March 22: The Houston Chronicle Article "Another Way to Look at Capital Punishment"
Folder 72: History of Huntsville, Undated: Flier on the History of Huntsville "The Gateway to Lake Livingston"
Folder 73: "An Ordained Minister", 1972, July 7: "An Ordained Minister" Opinion Piece Written by Rita Jean Underwood
Folder 74: "H.E. Robinson Article", 1961, April 25: H.E. Robinson Article "Huntsville Editor to Head Texas Sigma Delta Chi Unit"
Folder 75: Books, Undated: "Books
Folder 76: The Rotojet, Undated: The Rotary Club of Marlin Rotojet Newsletter Club No. 1846 187th District
Folder 77: The Bergen Evening Record, 1958, June 2: The Bergen Evening Record Reprint Article "Capital Punishment on Trial: May Be Condemned to Death"
Folder 78: The Lufkin News, Undated: The Lufkin News Article "Reid Tells Kiwanians Execution is Not Answer"
Folder 79: The Huntsville Item, 1972, June 22: The Huntsville Item No. 43 Article "Death Row Inmates Say Decision is Coming" Written by Don Reid
Folder 80: The Los Angeles Times, 1972, June 30: The Los Angeles Times Article "Man Glad He Won't See 190th Execution"
Folder 81: The Corpus Christi Times, 1963, August 29: The Corpus Christi Times Article "Here on Visit Prison Town Editor Interviews Convicts"
Folder 82: Time Magazine Article, 1973, June 4: Time Magazine Article "Women, Gimps, Blacks, Hippies Need Not Apply"
Folder 83: The Texas Observer, 1961, March 4: The Texas Observer Article Printout "Death Penalty Debated" and A Dramatic Hearing -- 'Death is So Final'"
Folder 84: Austin Avenue Methodist Church News, 1958, September 11: Austin Avenue Methodist Church News Flier
Folder 85: The Houston Post, 1955, August 24: The Houston Post Article "Capital Punishment No Cirme Stopper, Reid Says"
Folder 86: The Houston Post, 1968, June 8: The Houston Post Article "Texas Court Denies Plea for Stickney"
Folder 87: The Houston Post, 1961, November 16: The Houston Post Article "Stickney's New Stay Set Aside - Lawyers Planning to File for Writs With Highest Court"
Folder 88: The Houston Post, 1964, July 30: The Houston Post Article "Johnson Executed for Grocer's Killing Here"
Folder 89: Unknown Newspaper Clipping 1, Undated: Uncredited Newspaper Clipping of Article "Stickney Will Try Again as Execution Hour Near"
Folder 90: Unknown Newspaper Clipping 2, Undated: Uncredited Newspaper Clipping of Article "By Death-House Reporter: Good Probation Setup Urged for State Prison"
Folder 91: Unknown Newspaper Clipping 3, Undated: Uncredited Newspaper Clipping of Article "Petition Asks Daniel to Spare Stickney"
Folder 92: Unknown Newspaper Clipping 4, Undated: Uncredited Newspaper Clipping of Article "Lessons for Life - Even Pharisees Lost Little Time in Rejecting Captial Punishment"
Folder 93: Unknown Newspaper Clipping 5, Undated: Uncredited Newspaper Clipping of Article "Flaws in Argument Against Death Penalty"

Box 3

Folder 94: Newsday, 1960, March 9: Newsday Center Section "Capital Punishment 3,000 B.C. to 1960
Folder 95: The Los Angeles Times, 1972, June 30: The Los Angeles Times Newspaper Vol. 91
Folder 96: The Pasadena Daily Citizen, 1961, December 7: The Pasadena Daily Citizen Newspaper
Folder 97: The Huntsville Item, 1972, July 3: The Huntsville Item Newspaper No. 46
Folder 98: The Sacramento Bee, 1972, August 13: The Sacramento Bee Newspaper
Folder 99: The Echo, 1961, June: The Echo Newspaper Vol. 32 No. 7, an Inmate Publication by the Texas Department of Corrections
Folder 100: The Echo, 1971, May: The Echo Newspaper Vol. 42 No. 5, An Inmate Publication by the Texas Department of Corrections
Folder 101: The Texas Observer, 1959, March 14: The Texas Observer Newspaper Vol. 50 No. 49
Folder 102: The Texas Observer, 1961, March 4: The Texas Observer Newspaper
Folder 103: The Texas Observer, 1961, May 13: The Texas Observer Newspaper Vol. 53 No. 6
Folder 104: The Houston Press, 1961, July 6: The Houston Press Newspaper Vol. 50 No. 244
Folder 105: The Houston Press, 1962, January 17: The Houston Press Newspaper Vol. 51 No. 98
Folder 106: The Dallas Morning News, 1965, November 18: The Dallas Morning News Newspaper
Folder 107: The Dallas Morning News, 1965, December 25: The Dallas Morning News Newspaper
Folder 108: The Dallas Morning News, 1972, August 14: The Dallas Morning News Newspaper
Folder 109: The Lufkin News, 1966, January 17: The Lufkin News Newspaper Vol. 60 No. 78
Folder 110: The Lufkin News, 1966, January 19: The Lufkin News Newspaper Vol. 60 No. 80
Folder 111: The State Journal, 1955, February 28: The State Journal Newspaper Vol. 1 No. 20
Folder 112: The San Antonio Light, 1953, January 8: The San Antonio Light Newspaper Vol. 72 No. 356
Folder 113: The Houston Press, 1961, June 9: The Houston Press Newspaper Vol. 50 No. 221
Folder 114: The Houston Post, 1953, May 3: The Houston Post Newspaper
Folder 115: The Houston Post, 1954, October 24: The Houston Post Newspaper
Folder 116: The Houston Post, 1960, April 17: The Houston Post Newspaper
Folder 117: The Houston Post, 1961, June 10: The Houston Post Newspaper 77th Yr. No. 27,826
Folder 118: The Houston Post, 1961, June 23: The Houston Post Newspaper 77th Yr. No. 27,839
Folder 119: The Houston Post, 1972, July 2: The Houston Post Newspaper
Folder 120: The Houston Post, 1973, January 14: The Houston Post Newspaper
Folder 121: The Houston Post, 1973, January 22: The Houston Post Newspaper Article "Does Death Penalty Curb Serious Crime?"
Folder 122: The Houston Post, 1973, April 3: The Houston Post Newspaper
Folder 123: The Texan, 1973, April 25: The Texan Newspaper Vol. 20 No. 4
Folder 124: Vieux Carre Courier, 1973, May 18: Vieux Carre Courier Newspaper Vol. 10 No. 2
Folder 125: The Houston Chronicle, 1954, December 17: The Houston Chronicle Newspaper
Folder 126: The Houston Chronicle, 1960, June 28: The Houston Chronicle Newspaper
Folder 127: The Houston Chronicle, 1967, August 6: The Houston Chronicle Newspaper
Folder 128: The Houston Chronicle Magazine, 1972, September 17: The Houston Chronicle Magazine "What Will Happen to Old Sparky?"
Folder 129: The Houston Chronicle, 1973, January 29: The Houston Chronicle Newspaper
Folder 130: The Houston Chronicle, 1973, March 14: The Houston Chronicle Newspaper Vol. 72 No. 154

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