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Charles Postell papers

Charles Postell papers

Descriptive Summary

Title: Charles Postell papers
Creator: Postell, Charles Stanley, 1939-2008
Inclusive Dates: 1977-2003
Language(s): English
Extent: 6 Linear Feet
Collection Number: ms3915
Repository: Hargrett Library

Collection Description

Historical Note

Charles Stanley Postell was born in Adel, Georgia in 1939 and attended the University of Georgia's Grady School of Journalism. After working for the Moultrie Observer, the Valdosta Times, and the Miami Herald, he joined the Albany Herald where his work earned him awards from the United Press International and the Associated Press, as well as a position on the board of directors of the Investigative Reporters and Editors organization.

After covering the 1973 murder of six members of the Alday family in Donalsonville, Georgia, Postell spent ten years corresponding with ringleader Carl Isaacs and published a book, Dead Man Coming, about the murders. In 1980, four of Isaacs' fellow death row inmates escaped from the Georgia State Prison in Reidsville. Charles Postell and his wife Judi were indicted on charges of aiding in their escape, but charges were dropped after Isaacs, the prosecution's key wittness, attempted to extort $15,000 from Postell in exchange for changing his testimony.

Scope and Content

This collection contains Charles Postell's papers related to his career as a journalist including his research, newspaper clippings, photographs, and correspondence, as well as other writings including speeches, manuscripts, and screenplays.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Charles Postell papers, ms3915, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Authors, American -- Georgia.
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence.
Crime -- Georgia.
Death row inmates -- Georgia -- Correspondence.
Death row inmates -- Georgia.
Isaacs, Carl, 1953-2003
Journalism.
Journalists -- Georgia.
Photographs.
Prisoners -- Georgia.
Research notes.

Related Collections in this Repository

Related material in this repository includes the Harry Crews papers, ms 3340.


Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 
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11-4Correspondence: Carl Isaacs to Robin Postell, 1988-1995
 
15Correspondence: Carl Isaacs to Robin Postell, 2002-2003
 
16Correspondence: Carl Isaacs to Robin Postell, undated
 
17Correspondence: Carl Isaacs to government officials, 1977-1980
 
18Correspondence: Linda Vinson, 1977
 
19Correspondence: Carl Isaacs to Judi Postell, 1977-1980; 2002-2003
 
110Correspondence: Carl Isaacs to Charles Postell, 1979-1980
 
111Correspondence: Billy Isaacs to Robin Postell, 1993
 
112Correspondence: Wayne Coleman to Charles Postell, 1981
 
113Correspondence: Charles Postell, 1975-1991
 
114Correspondence: Others, 1980; 1986
 
115Correspondence: Charles Postell and Howard Libov re: Midnight Edition, 1988-1992
 
116Correspondence: Charles Postell and Dorothy Deering
 
117Photograph: Alday family trailer
 
118Photographs: Carl Isaacs
 
119Photographs: Charles Postell
 
120Photographs for Dead Man Coming
 
121Photograph: George Dungee
 
122Photographs: Georgia electric chair
 
123Photographs: miscellaneous
 
124Photograph: Troy Leon Gregg and family
 
125Map of Death Row drawn by Carl Isaacs
 
126Dallas Moore v. Charles Postell et al. interrogatories
 
127Testimony: Billy Isaacs
 
128Profiles of people involved in the trials of Carl Isaacs
 
129Conviction and lawyer's papers
 
130Agreements: Carl Isaacs
 
131Dog Story by Carl Isaacs
 
132Carl Isaacs, misceallaneous
 
133Map of Donalsonville, Georgia
 
134Letter from Richard Nixon
 
135Fan art
 
136Postell family history
 
137Birth certificate: Charles Postell (copy)
 
138Resume: Charles Postell
 
139Obituary: Charles Postell
 
140Clippings: Alday murders, 1973-2003
 
141Clippings concerning Charles Postell, 1973-2003
 
142Clippings: Dead Man Coming
 
143Clippings: Murder One (documentary), 1977
 
144-46Clippings: Articles concerning the 1980 prison escape and the Postell indictment
 
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21Book of material concerning 1980 prison escape attempt
 
22Material related to the Charles and Judi Postell case
 
23-4Evidence book
 
25Research: 1980 prison escape
 
26Research: Alcoholism
 
27Research: Baker County , 1973-1977
 
28Research: Baldy
 
29Research: Bobby Hill
 
210Research: Buck Bentley
 
211Research: Charles Thomas White III
 
212Research: Doellefeld kidnapping , 1988-1989
 
213Research: George Dungee
 
214Research: George Isaacs
 
215Research: Georgia coroner system
 
216Research: Harry Crews
 
217Research: The Iron Horse
 
218Research: Jackie Gleason
 
219Research: James H. Gray Jr.
 
220Research: Ku Klux Klan
 
221Research: Koinonia Partners
 
222Research: Lee Alto
 
223Research: Leo Frank
 
224Research: Loretta Lynn
 
225Research: Mitchell County
 
226Research: Montana
 
227Research: Moon Madness
 
228Research: Peter Zack Geer
 
229Research: Robert Lee Jest
 
230Research: Roy Lee Franklin
 
231Research: University of Georgia
 
232Research: Wayne Coleman
 
233Research: Why Can't Georgia Execute?
 
234Research: William Waters
 
235Research: Witch
 
236Research: Zen
 
237Writing: Accent magazine articles by Charles Postell
 
238Writing: Albany Herald articles by Charles Postell
 
239Writing: Alday murders and trial articles by Charles Postell, 1973-1975
 
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31-3Writing: Alday murders manuscript by Charles Postell
 
34-5Writing: Alday murders manuscript by Charles Postell
 
36Writing: Articles by Charles Postell
 
37Writing: fragments on the Alday murders
 
38Writing: Georgia Monthly
 
39Writing: The Hunted Ones story by Isaacs, Gregg and Johnson
 
310-12Writing: The Lord Don't Love Ugly typescript by Charles Postell
 
313Writing: Manuscripts by Charles Postell
 
314Writing: Miami Herald articles by Charles Postell
 
315Writing: Midnight Edition screenplay first draft
 
316Writing: Midnight Edition screenplay second draft
 
317Writing: notes by Charles Postell
 
318Writing: notes on the Alday murders
 
319Writing: partial typescripts about the 1980 prison escape
 
320Writing: Realtor Magazine Editor's Notes by Charles Postell
 
321Writing: screenplay about the Alday murders
 
322Writing: short pieces by Charles Postell
 
323Writing: speeches by Charles Postell
 
324Writing: Valdosta Times articles by Charles Postell
 
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4Research notes on index cards
 
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51Midnight Edition (film based on Escape of My Dead Men) laserdisc
 
52-20Photographs and clippings used in Dead Man Coming
 
521Album: newspaper articles related to Georgia Bureau of Investigation
 
522Album: newspaper clippings concerning Charles Postell
 
523Album: newspaper clippings concerning 1980 prison escape
 
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6Carl Isaacs knitting
 
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7Carl Isaacs matchstick house