James “Whitey” Bulger was one of Boston’s most notorious gangsters of the 20th century. A ruthless figure in South Boston, Bulger spent 12 years on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List for a litany of counts, including murder, racketeering, extortion, and drug dealing. Bulger who spent time in jail during the 1950’s and 1960’s for charges unrelated to organized crime, was finally arrested for good in 2011. Bulger was imprisoned at Alcatraz for three years, from 1959 to 1962. While in Alcatraz Bulger befriended Clarence “The Choctaw Kid” Carnes, a key figure in the violent “Battle For Alcatraz” escape attempt.

     Offered here is a photograph of Alcatraz Prison from 1902 signed and inscribed by Bulger. The black and white 6x4 inch photograph shows an Army Sergeant standing guard at Alcatraz. Bulger wrote his inscription in black ballpoint pen and included his Alcatraz prisoner number, 1428, and “Erin Go Bragh,” a nod to his Irish heritage. This item comes with a University Archives LOA.

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