February 2013 Auction Ends Wednesday, February 6th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/6/2013
Arthur Ashe's day planner from 1989. 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 4 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, such as the death of his father and his little daughter's graduation from the bottle. Poignant notes appear regularly for his blood test appointments and their results, including white and red blood cell counts. Ashe contracted HIV in a blood transfusion 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. Ashe died of related pneumonia in 1993. In tennis, Ashe here mentions Andre Agassi and Boris Becker, makes a note of Wimbledon, when the French Open starts and the Davis Cup Semi's, noting one day an ''ATP [Association of Tennis Professionals] Heated MTG''. He also keeps track of sporting events across all disciplines, marking the days of ''Tyson fight'', ''Pete Rose Banned!!'' and ''Secretariat Dies''. For his social calendar, Ashe mentions the ''VA Commonwealth U Honorary Degree'', ''Patti La Belle's Agent'', ''Black tie event for Bill Bailey'', ''Jackie Robinson Dinner at Waldorf Astoria'', ''Cosby'' and several references to Sugar Ray Leonard. He notes in large letters, ''FATHER DIED at 5:30 pm'' and remembers the anniversary of his ''Mother's Death 1950''. He adds a reminder to buy his wife a ''Valentines present and card'' to his February schedule and makes a point of recording the milestone of his 3 year old daughter: ''CAMERA FINISHES THE BOTTLE''. His media engagements include a CBS interview and dates with HBO and BET. He mentions the ''South African Forum'', ''Dept. of Defense'', ''Friends of the New South'' and ''World AIDS Day'', noting ''35,000 deaths this year / $1.3 billion spent this year''. He takes a weekend away for golf, and schedules a retreat. Ashe reminds himself to ''Vote!!'' on 12 September and to receive ''Aerosol treatment'' periodically. He writes at one point, ''Johns Hopkins doctors say AIDS symptoms disappeared in a man with lymphoma''. On 21 January, he jots down notes regarding a country's repression of blacks, probably referring to S. Africa's apartheid policy, of which he was an active opponent. Spiral-bound Day-At-A-Glance book features a black faux-leather soft cover. Measures 5.75'' x 8.25''. In very good condition, with mild toning and staining to the top edge through February. With an LOA from Arthur Ashe's widow. A very personal record of each significant day in one of the tennis legend's last years alive. For many more photos detailing this lot please copy and paste the following link: www.photobucket.com/1989journal
Arthur Ashe's Day Planner From 1989 -- Personal Entries Regarding His Schedule, Family Life & Mention of Agassi -- Also With His Regular Blood Test Stats
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