February 2013 Auction Ends Wednesday, February 6th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/6/2013
Arthur Ashe's 1991 day planner, used consistently by the tennis legend to record the events in his busy life. Ashe had contracted HIV in a blood transfusion but kept his condition private until 1992, when he became an activist in the anti-AIDS effort before his 1993 passing. Ashe's concise, handwritten entries serve as reminders for his various public engagements and events of personal significance to him in the penultimate full year of his life. Entries include "US Open Hall of Fame", "Tennis Magazine 8 a.m.", "USTA Hall of Fame Award", "Ohio Wesleyan Commencement Speech", "Women's Sports Foundation Dinner black tie" and "Mandela Breakfast". Of particular interest is his large note, "MAGIC JOHNSON GOES PUBLIC WITH AIDS!!!" This preceded Ashe's own disclosure by almost a year. Personal reminders are listed also, revealing his successful attempt to live life to the fullest despite or perhaps in part because of his illness. They include his plans for golf, a vacation, Cirque du Soleil, weddings and a fishing trip. He jots down reminders to get Valentine's and anniversary gifts for his wife Jeanne and daughter Camera. He writes reminders about sporting events - the Tyson fight, Holyfield fight, Super Bowl and Mets game. He kept up with current events, recording the occasional snippet from the headlines: "Russian Coup!", "IRAQI WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE", "Bush addresses Congress / Good!!", and enjoys a little gossip, "Thomas-Hill Testimony!!!" regarding the televised sexual harassment lawsuit involving Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. He names Agassi briefly and adds a reminder, "telegram to Davis Cup Team". Regarding tennis, one of the lengthier notations reads: "USPTA Hilton Head / New Ideas for Reaching & Teaching Tennis / *An overview of conventional methods / *The new demographic…" Ashe documents his daughter's milestone first haircut and first day of school. He records his blood test panel and copies the results from the prior year beside it, revealing little discrepancy. Notations in Ashe's hand appear on almost every single page of the spiral-bound Day-At-A-Glance book, save for a few days off. Features a black faux-leather soft cover. Measures 5.75" x 8.25". In very good condition, with minor wear to leaf edges and corners. 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. For many more photos detailing this lot please copy and paste the following link: www.photobucket.com/1992journal
Arthur Ashe's 1991 Day Planner, Two Years Before His Death -- Before Going Public About Having AIDS, One Entry Reads, "MAGIC JOHNSON GOES PUBLIC WITH AIDS!!!"
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