February 2013 Auction Ends Wednesday, February 6th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/6/2013
Arthur Ashe's 1988 day planner. Journal was consistently used by Ashe all year to remember appointments and record the important events in his busy life, which would end in just 5 years. Ashe's priorities are revealed through his concise, utilitarian entries, which serve as reminders for his various public engagements and events of personal significance to him. Poignant notes appear regarding his hospitalization and prescriptions and one reads ''WILL Changes''. Ashe contracted HIV in a blood transfusion during heart surgery and learned of the condition late in 1988. He wouldn't disclose he had AIDS publicly until 1992, when he became an activist in the anti-AIDS effort. In tennis, Ashe here mentions the Wimbledon Ball at Grosvenor House, a ''Tennis Magazine'' dinner, Tennis Leadership Workshop and writes, ''mentor Pam Shriver as a pacesetter''. He reminds himself to ''Pay ATP [Association of Tennis Professionals] $1000 membership.'' On his busy social calendar, Ashe writes, ''Celebrity Golf'' on 11 July, also ''MICHAEL JACKSON CONCERT'', ''Call Cosby's office'', ''West Point Lunch Keynote speaker on MLK, Jr.'', ''March of Dimes Awardee'', ''Transafrica Dinner Committee For Democratic Opportunity'', ''Shiloh Baptist Church Banquet'', ''Black Arts Festival'' and reminds himself of his baby daughter Camera's play dates and to send flowers to his wife Jeanne on their anniversary. His media engagements include a CBS interview and dates with HBO, NBC and ABC, with a ''production meeting with Dan Rather''. Included are his engagements with Head brand sporting equipment, with whom he produced a line of tennis gear. He takes a weekend away for golf and for a retreat, and reminds himself that ''Andy & Jean Young arrive''; Andrew Young, then Mayor of Atlanta, was a good friend of Ashe. On one page Ashe lists tennis pros: ''...S. Graf / J. Capriati / M. Seles / M. Woodforde /A. Agassi / D. Perez Raldan'' and keeps track of sporting events across all disciplines, marking the day the Nabisco Masters starts, the Olympics and the Super Bowl. Medically, notes that start simply as ''high blood pressure'' and ''Niacin 1000 mg 3x/day'' progress to ''Stephens-Johnson Syndrome'', ''blood test'' and on 1 November he notes ''Out of Hospital''. Contains a reminder to ''pick up Pentamidine'', a drug used to prevent pneumonia in AIDS patients. Ashe died of AIDS-related pneumonia in 1993. Nearly every page in the spiral-bound Day-At-A-Glance book is inscribed in Ashe's hand. Features a black faux-leather soft cover. Measures 5.75'' x 8.25''. In very good condition, with mild toning. Light wear to leaf edges and cover. With an LOA from Arthur Ashe's widow. A very personal record of each significant day in Arthur Ashe's life. For many more photos detailing this lot please copy and paste the following link: www.photobucket.com/1988journal
Arthur Ashe's Day Planner From 1988 -- The Year the Tennis Great Was Diagnosed With HIV
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