Alcatraz Island Memoirs of a Rock Doc

Milton Daniel Beacher, M.D. arrived on Alcatraz Island a naïve and compassionate young doctor. It was April 26, 1937. One year later, he left with a journal. It chronicled the suicides, discipline problems, force feedings, and details of a long strike and successful escape. He also penned conversations with famous prisoners like Al Capone, Alvin Karpis, and Machine Gun Kelly. Dr. Beacher later wove the journal into a vivid account of life on the Rock. Befriended by some prisoners, he included their first-person narratives and original prisoner poetry. Shortly before his death in 1993, Dr. Beacher turned the yellowing pages over to his daughter, hoping she would resurrect interest in the stories that still draw crowds. Dianne Beacher Perfit edited the manuscript, added personal correspondence that revealed changes in Dr. Beacher's attitude toward prisoners, included her father's original photographs, and self-published the softcover book. Perfit donated the original journal and manuscript to the archives of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area at Alcatraz Island. She is a member of the Alcatraz Alumni Association.