February 2013 Auction Ends Wednesday, February 6th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/6/2013
Arthur Ashe's 1993 day planner. Ashe passed away on 6 February of that year, and the bittersweet planner contains his own handwritten record of his very last days. He had also penciled in events later in the year he had hoped to live to attend. His final two and a half weeks are chronicled as follows: On 18 January he notes, "Out of Hospital". He notes Clinton's Inauguration day, and on 23 January he records, "THURGOOD MARSHALL DIES!!" On 1 February, five days before his death, he wrote, "Read 'Consolations'" and "Finish 'For Camera' chapter". "For Camera" is the moving farewell message he wrote to his daughter, which appeared in print as the final chapter of his autobiography "Days of Grace" published in 1993. In the following excerpt from the chapter, Ashe instructs his 6 year-old little girl, "…see people as human and as individuals first who have been socialized into their cultural claims…Don't be angry with me if I am not there in person, alive and well, when you need me…where ever I am when you feel sick at heart and weary of life, or when you stumble and fall and don't know if you can get up again, think of me. I will be watching and smiling and cheering you on…" On 3 February he has a chest x-ray scheduled and on 5 February, the day before he died from AIDS-related pneumonia, he writes "Olympic Mtg. Cancellation". Ashe typically struck a line through his appointments once completed, but on 6 February, the day of his death, a note for "2 p.m. PBS Columbia U. tape" remains uncrossed-off. At least one entry appears in his hand every day up until his death, and bookings appear through June, including a 13 February daddy-daughter Valentine's dance and 29 April appointment for "Cornell Medical School HIV Clinical Trials". Spiral-bound datebook features brick red faux-leather soft covers and measures 5.75" x 8.25". Near fine. With an LOA from Arthur Ashe's widow. For many more photos detailing this lot please copy and paste the following link: www.photobucket.com/1993journal
Arthur Ashe's 1993 Journal, the Last Year of His Life -- His Final Days Include a Reminder to Complete Farewell Letter to His Daughter & "Olympic Mtg. Cancellation" the Day Before His Death
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