A PUBLIC APPEAL TO WALT BROWN: Release Jay Harrison's Archive

[Peter Lemkin]

i don't want to hijack the thread, but Jack, that was a great list of strange and interesting persons in the DPD in 1963 and I suggest that that part, minus the comments on Jay and Walt be the start of a new thread on complicit and possibly complicit members of the DPD. Sorry for this being a tad off topic.

[Dawn Meredith]

Mary Ferrell was paid $1Million for her archives. Maybe Walt is waiting for someone to SHOW HIM THE MONEY.

Jack

Jack, did Crume pay this money to Mary? Did she receive this while she was alive? (These questions were asked by another researcher) Thanks Jack.

Dawn
Sorry for the hijack.

[Dawn Meredith]

A reply to those who have concerns about Jay Harrison's materials. Mr. Drago wrote, To deny free access to the collection and to fail to keep it secure from deterioration and sanitization is in essence to aid and abet the assassins -- to become an accessory-after-the-fact. To which I answer first, the materials are kept in a climate-controlled storage locker, large enough to work in during fair weather. They are safe from deterioration, and unless someone breaks in, they will not be sanitized. Beyond that, Mr. Drago, I have a telephone, and the number is in the phone book. If you have an accusation to make, as you did, perhaps you should say it by phone--it may prevent a lawsuit as it appears in print. I should add, for pecuniary reference, that the above-cited storage locker was a necessity, because I made it obvious in the JFK/Deep Politics Quarterly that these materials would never be in my home. The storage locker, because it had to be climate controlled and be big enough to work in from April until November, has cost me approximately $5,000 since Jay's passing in May, 2005. Have any of you read any appeals from me to cover that cost, or the $1,500 it cost to ship those millions of pages to New Jersey? The answer is "No." Last spring, I had to sell my most precious resource, the 26 volumes of the Warren Commission, to be able to continue to pay for the storage area to preserve Jay's materials. Perhaps some of you will loan me spare volumes--and I'll pay YOU.

As for Ms. Pease, it's a pleasant change NOT to see you slandering me as some form of insider-spy, as I terminated my government employment on July 11, 1970, sine die. Your contrary references have been duly and regularly noted.

For Mr. White, you need to know that Jay Harrison would personally have burned these papers before he would have let you see them. I personally have enjoyed the time we've spent together, but Jay Harrison hated you for your attitude about the DPD, which he was a part of. As far as seeking money for what's here, Mr. Jack White, why don't you show me the proof that I've asked for money? Talk, on the other hand, is cheap.

For Peter Lemkin, who has asked me to put materials at risk by shipping them outside of the US to Prague, I suggest you seek therapy. Your requests have been answered, yet you have adopted, by choice or otherwise (illegal to be in the US?), the position of an expatriate, and then you had the collosal gall to write to me about a recent visit to the United States, but, Walt, please ship me the materials in Prague, even though I was just in the US. I'm sure that will open the door for the rest of the research community to view those materials.

For Dawn Meredith, the release of these papers would be embarrassing. Your "file" as it were, contains a sizable stack of papers about your ongoing (perhaps, I assume, in the past) debts to the IRS, and the frequent "fellatio-related" name calling therein is not dignified in any way.

As a group, you speak from a total position of ignorance. Since the fall of 2005, I have used Jay's materials as a central part of the "Master Chronology to the JFK Assassination," which is now 6,000 pages-plus, and every entry is sourced. This is on CD-Rom and is readily available to subscribers of the JFK/Deep Politics Quarterly, which I consider a valuable research tool. However, those researchers who have posted this urgent demand from me--none of you are subscribers. Is "research" something you alone can define? Jay's work(s), which are genealogical in nature and rarely contain a complete sentence, but rather raw data, have been the source material for many articles in what is approaching the fourth anniversary of Jay's death, and his work fills the "Chronology." In that sense, much of the valuable material HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC.

Beyond that, what would you have me do? Sit here while a scanner slowly goes back and forth across each of several millions of pages, and give myself regular, daily manicures? It would take such time as I have remaining to do so, but if I sought payment for the eventual CD-Rom, you would hurl the Jack White-like accusations that appear in this thread, that I need to be shown the money. I'll spend my time doing MY research, working assiduously for the subscribers to the JFK/Deep Politics Quarterly, and continuing to find items of note in Mr. Harrison's work that can be added to the Chronology. None of you are aware, but the vast majority of the materials are highly arcane--obituaries of individuals who died in 1902 or 1921, and about whom I know a grand total of nothing. To know that "name of subject" died in 1921 is useless unless you know something about the subject, and frankly, I don't. I also refuse to spend even ten seconds digitizing the thousands of pages of work that Jay Harrison and I generated for Barr McClellan, only to see our contributions destroyed when he added fifty pages of "faction" (fiction based on fact, although it is neither) to Jay and my work. Ms. Pease and her consort accused me of being the ghost author of Barr's book; I assure you, I try to avoid drivel.

I had hoped to use "my estate" to establish a JFK research center at the college where I was employed. But cost cuts eviscerated the history department last spring, and two-thirds of the history positions were eliminated.

As a result, I did not have the desire to enrich that college any further, after a 19-year career. I don't know what will happen to the materials, but I do know that I'm not going to sit here and scan them, page by page, nor am I going to seek the Mary Ferrell jackpot, as I considered that effort crass (and perhaps of dubious ethics) at the time.

You all seem to think that I need only blink and suddenly, each of you will have a room chock-full of lovely papers. Some of Jay's many family histories, carefully taped together by him and equally carefully protected by me, cover areas the size of carpets. Does anyone have a large scanner? Does anyone have 4,000,000 sheets of paper, so I only have to press "copy"? (That's 8,000 reams of paper, @ $2.50 per ream, or $20,000 in paper. Maybe a discount for bulk....)

My e mail address is KIASJFK@aol.com. If anyone has any practical suggestions for what to do with four million sheets of paper--many of which are redundant in the extreme (Mac Wallace's family history and Andre Marie Dubois, the woman he married three times, history--identical--yet they consume hundreds of redundant pages), I'm listening. Jay was thorough.

But isn't it odd? All this vitriol because I've spent thousands of dollars to preserve something valuable, and all I get is accusations of being an accessory, or that material would be redacted. Did any one of you, at any time, think to say "Thank you" for preserving this stuff?

It's not being hidden, it's being protected. But to send you each a neat copy of 4 million pages might get expensive, and to do anything less would only bring more of your insulting accusations that something is being hidden. It's being worked on daily--except for right now, when I have to deal with this rubbish instead of doing valuable work.

Since no "thank you's" will be forthcoming, I'll just close with a "you are welcome." But know this: if there are any more Drago-like "accessories after the fact" accusations, or any more "Pease-like 'spy' accusations," as I add Jay's materials to the ongoing Chronology, I'll thereafter consume the files to the flames. I've no intention of working every day since Jay died AND being kicked around for my efforts. And make no mistakes: Jay would want me to do just that. We spoke every day for years, and I know what his thinking is in this regard. Spit on Jay and he spat back.

Try a little tenderness.

Walt: No animosity was intended. Those of us who knew Jay are simply frustrated. The last time I asked you what you indended to do with Jay's works you responded ,via email, that you were not going to do anything that no one excpet a handful of researchers would care.

I understand the cost involved and I also know that there is a ton of stuff that would only be useful to Jay, like obits from long ago.
As for "(my) file", so what that I once owed IRS a bit of money? It was paid over a decade ago. You are free with the name calling and shit slinging when all that was done here was to ask you to make Jay's research available. And for the record I do thank you for taking Jay's work and storing it. I was his friend too and we talked every day as well, with never a harsh word between us. I know he'd not want his work to die in storage. He left it to YOU for a reason. That's all, Walt.
Dawn

[Charles Drago]

A reply to those who have concerns about Jay Harrison's materials. Mr. Drago wrote, To deny free access to the collection and to fail to keep it secure from deterioration and sanitization is in essence to aid and abet the assassins -- to become an accessory-after-the-fact. To which I answer first, the materials are kept in a climate-controlled storage locker, large enough to work in during fair weather. They are safe from deterioration, and unless someone breaks in, they will not be sanitized. Beyond that, Mr. Drago, I have a telephone, and the number is in the phone book. If you have an accusation to make, as you did, perhaps you should say it by phone--it may prevent a lawsuit as it appears in print.

Mr. Brown,

If patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels, then the threat of legal action must be next-to-last. There is nothing in the least bit actionable in my words. I accused you of nothing; rather, I clearly indicated that, in my Constitutionally protected opinion, failures to share and protect this wealth of information would serve the purposes of the killers of JFK -- whether or not the collection's custodian of record intends to do so.

Apparently, we stand in disagreement on this matter.

I shall take you at your word regarding the manner in which you are preserving the collection (although your "unless someone breaks in" caveat is somewhat less than reassuring). But many of your comments remain most troubling.

For Mr. White, you need to know that Jay Harrison would personally have burned these papers before he would have let you see them.

More on your predilection for pyrotechnics in a moment.

For Dawn Meredith, the release of these papers would be embarrassing. Your "file" as it were, contains a sizable stack of papers about your ongoing (perhaps, I assume, in the past) debts to the IRS, and the frequent "fellatio-related" name calling therein is not dignified in any way.

So you would have us believe that you've chosen not to provide access to the collection in order to spare Dawn from embarrassment. How chivalrous of you. Except that, in the same paragraph in which you lay down your cloak, you offhandedly reference her alleged tax difficulties.

Where do we find such gentlemen?

As a group, you speak from a total position of ignorance ... Jay's work(s), which are genealogical in nature and rarely contain a complete sentence, but rather raw data, have been the source material for many articles in what is approaching the fourth anniversary of Jay's death, and his work fills the "Chronology." In that sense, much of the valuable material HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC.

Before you moved to what appears to be your default position of name-calling ("ignorance"), you might have offered citations for your previous public, detailed explanations of how you are using and protecting the collection.

As a self-styled expert in intelligence operations, surely you can appreciate the value of skepticism to our shared labors. If the tables were turned, and I had sole custody of the collection but denied reasonable, controlled access to qualified researchers (if I incorrectly describe your actions in these regards, please enlighten us), would you accept my assurances that "much of the valuable material HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC"?

(Invitation to name-calling: Try something along the lines of, "I wouldn't accept your word on anything, Mr. Drago." Then we'll talk about legal action.)

Beyond that, what would you have me do? Sit here while a scanner slowly goes back and forth across each of several millions of pages, and give myself regular, daily manicures?

If the above illustrates the extent of your imaginative resources, then our concerns for the collection's safety are heightened.

Is it not logical to conclude that, if you truly were interested in sharing the wealth, you would have found a reasonable way to do so?

I assure you, I try to avoid drivel.

How, then, do you explain your post herein referenced?

I don't know what will happen to the materials ...

Now that's encouraging!

You all seem to think that I need only blink and suddenly, each of you will have a room chock-full of lovely papers ... If anyone has any practical suggestions for what to do with four million sheets of paper ... I'm listening.

So you are out of ideas ...

[The collection is] being worked on daily--except for right now, when I have to deal with this rubbish instead of doing valuable work.

And the inference you would have us draw is what, exactly? That you alone can produce work of value from access to the collection?

But know this: if there are any more Drago-like "accessories after the fact" accusations, or any more "Pease-like 'spy' accusations," as I add Jay's materials to the ongoing Chronology, I'll thereafter consume the files to the flames. [emphasis added by Drago

Twice, Mr. Brown, you threaten to destroy the Harrison collection. Nothing that I or anyone else could write about you so powerfully, frighteningly, and thoroughly reveals your temperament as do your own words.

Should there be any doubt: Walt Brown would sooner reduce to ashes one of the most important historical archives held in private hands than share it or be questioned as to his intentions regarding its fate.

Try a little therapy.

[Jack White]

Mary Ferrell was paid $1Million for her archives. Maybe Walt is waiting for someone to SHOW HIM THE MONEY.

Jack

Jack, did Crume pay this money to Mary? Did she receive this while she was alive? (These questions were asked by another researcher) Thanks Jack.

Dawn
Sorry for the hijack.

That is what I was told. Of course I have no direct knowledge of it.

Jack

[Charles Drago]

All,

As I've stated elsewhere, George Michael Evica and I dined with Mary and Oliver Curme during the Lancer conference at which Mary told us of the deal.

I am not breaking a confidence when I report that the price mentioned at the time was $1 million plus considerations for Mary's family and the funding of her stays at the health care/assisted living facilities of her choice.

Curme's story was this: As a venture capitalist, he had a proprietary interest in certain computer applications which could be put through their paces by using them to digitize and otherwise preserve the Ferrell holdings.

He evinced not the slightest knowledge of or interest in the subject of the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

It is my understanding that Mary's original materials are stored in simple containers on a Curme property. Principals at the Ferrell Foundation have publicly assured interested parties that this archive is fully protected from the elements and from human predation. They also made it clear that access by anyone other than those currently allowed in would not be permitted.

While I do not question Ferrell Foundation honcho Rex Bradford's character or motives -- in my opinion he is an honorable and gifted historian -- I find the entire Curme affair to be ... how shall I phrase this to avoid a lawsuit ... stinky.

[Jack White]

I have all of Walt's books. I have admired him as a diligent researcher.

I am at a loss to understand his hostile attitude and desire to withhold
or destroy the materials in question.

I have no idea what may be in these files or what importance they may
have. I know nothing of Mr. Harrison's work.

But I think he erred in leaving his important work to ANY individual.
Harold Weisberg, for instance, left his cabinets full of papers to a
college. I am in the process of transferring ALL of my materials (except
books) to two universities (copies to the Penn Jones Collection at Baylor
University, and originals to my collections at University of Texas at Arlington.)

Unless Walt is planning to make personal use of the materials, I suggest
that he contact Ben Rogers of Baylor University. They would be a great
addition to the Penn Jones Collection, and be available to everyone.
Being a private university, they would not be subject to governmental
control.

What good can these materials do sitting in a storage building?

Jack

[David Guyatt]

Let's hope that Walt responds to both our suggestions Jack, that he donate the archive to a university where it can be accessed by interested researchers...

[Magda Hassan]

It certainly seems too big a job for just one person. It seems all concerned would be better off if it was all donated to a university where it can be accessed by all and preserved in appropriate conditions and save Walt much money, responsibility and stress.

[Myra Bronstein]

...
Unless Walt is planning to make personal use of the materials, I suggest
that he contact Ben Rogers of Baylor University. They would be a great
addition to the Penn Jones Collection, and be available to everyone.
Being a private university, they would not be subject to governmental
control.

What good can these materials do sitting in a storage building?

Jack

This seems to be the ideal solution for everyone concerned. Do you agree Walt?