Teaching Kit Dead Man Walking

DePaul University Library Special Collections and Archives TEACHING KIT CONTENTS pg.3 pg.8

INTRODUCTION PRIMARY SOURCE CITATIONS pg.4 pg.11

SUGGESTIONS FOR TEACHERS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES pg.6 pg. 12 BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2 E G A P | T I K G N I H C A E T W M D INTRODUCTION By Jamie Nelson Head, Special Collections and Archives

Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States was instrumental in bringing widespread attention to the human dimension of the death penalty. First published in 1993, it has been reprinted, translated, and adapted for film, theater, and opera. Universities, high schools, libraries, churches, and theater groups have hosted community-wide reading experiences, panel discussions, performances, and visits from Sr. Helen herself for nearly 25 years.

This teaching kit, including primary sources and curricular materials for teachers, is meant to complement, enhance, deepen, and challenge the experience for those reading, performing, or viewing Dead Man Walking. The digitized primary sources, available at spca.depaul.press/prejean, are but a sampling of the Sr. Helen Prejean Papers, which provide a unique and intimate perspective on the death penalty and intersecting social justice issues, the development of Sr. Helen’s activism, and the creative and practical processes of writing and publishing books and bringing the story to screen and stage. 3 E G A P | T I K G N I H C A E T W M D DePaul University Library Special Collections and Archives is honored to care for Sr. Helen’s archival collection and to make materials available for teaching, learning, engagement, and reflection. We are grateful to our partners from the DePaul University College of Education, David Bates and John Geiger, who shared their expertise gained from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program. SUGGESTIONS FOR TEACHERS

The death penalty is a controversial issue in the United States. European colonists brought capital punishment to America, and the practice has received fluctuating support over the centuries. People often debate the death penalty over issues of morality, innocence, race, deterrence, retribution, representation, cost, religion, and public opinion.

Although numerous states have abolished capital punishment since the mid-nineteenth century, others have reinstated it. Since the 1960s, federal legislation and Supreme Court decisions have also affected the death penalty process and status. Throughout, activists such as Sr. Helen Prejean and others have sought an end to the death penalty, and since 1997 the United Nations Commission on Human Rights has supported a moratorium on executions. While the number of people sentenced to death in the U.S. has ultimately declined, the debate continues over this complex issue.

Teachers who develop discussion questions, classroom activities, and primary source analysis exercises using this primary source set will give students the opportunity to:

1. investigate a controversial issue from different perspectives; 2. use multiple primary sources to create a historical narrative; 3. discover how primary sources can add to or challenge one’s understanding of the death penalty; 4. evaluate primary sources while considering differing information and points of view. 4 E G A P | T I K G N I H C A E T W M D SUGGESTIONS FOR TEACHERS more to come from Dave and John 5 E G A P | T I K G N I H C A E T W M D BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION Primary sources are created by living people....

Sr. Helen Prejean released the book Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States in 1993. Prejean wrote this international bestseller based on her 1984 experiences as a spiritual advisor for death row inmates Patrick Sonnier and Robert Lee Willie. As a spiritual advisor she corresponded and visited with the inmates, advocated for reduced sentences, and ultimately witnessed their executions. Prejean also interacted with the victims’ families, the inmates’ families, prison officials, politicians, religious leaders, and the press. Influenced by these experiences, Prejean’s continuing activism included advocating against the death penalty with the non-profit organization Pilgrimage for Life. She also worked with the families of murder victims, starting the support group Survive. The book Dead Man Walking became the basis for a critically acclaimed film, opera, and school theater project of the same title. Sr. Helen Prejean currently campaigns through her organization Ministry Against the Death Penalty.

Jason Epstein served as the editorial director at Random House for forty years. During his time at Random House, Epstein worked with many notable authors, including Norman Mailer, Vladimir Nabokov, Sr. Helen Prejean, and Gore Vidal. Epstein’s editorial contributions significantly influenced Sr. Helen Prejean’s book Dead Man Walking, resulting in a reader-friendly narrative structure echoing Prejean’s voice and thoughts.

Elmo Patrick Sonnier and his brother Eddie Sonnier were convicted of the November 4, 1977, rape and murder of eighteen-year-old Loretta Ann Bourque and murder of sixteen- year-old David LeBlanc. Patrick received a death sentence, while Eddie received a life sentence. Sr. Helen Prejean wrote letters to Patrick Sonnier on death row at Angola State Prison, visited him in jail, and became his spiritual advisor. Pat Sonnier was executed by the 6 E G A P | T I K G N I H C A E T W M D state of Louisiana on April 5, 1984, at Angola State Prison.

Eddie Sonnier and his brother Patrick Sonnier were convicted of the November 4, 1977, rape and murder of eighteen-year-old Loretta Ann Bourque and murder of sixteen-year- old David LeBlanc. Eddie received a life sentence, while Patrick received a death sentence. Eddie eventually claimed that he was the one responsible for shooting the victims. He made this statement in court and in a letter to Louisiana Governor Edwin W. Edwards pleading for his brother’s life. Robert Lee Willie and Joseph J. Vaccaro were convicted of the May 28, 1980, rape and murder of 18 year old Faith Hathaway in Washington Parish, Louisiana. Willie received a death sentence, while Vaccaro received a life sentence. Sr. Helen Prejean began visiting Willie at Angola State Prison in late 1984 and served as his spiritual advisor. Robert Lee Willie was executed by the state of Louisiana on December 28, 1984, at Angola State Prison.

Vernon and Elizabeth Harvey are the stepfather and mother of Faith Hathaway, who was raped and murdered on May 28, 1980. Robert Lee Willie and Joseph J. Vaccaro were convicted of the crimes against their daughter. Sr. Helen Prejean developed a relationship with the Harveys which led her to begin a support group for the families of murder victims.

Edwin W. Edwards was a Louisiana State senator, member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and four-term governor of the state of Louisiana. Thirteen Louisiana death row inmates were executed while Edwards served as the state’s governor. In 1984, Sr. Helen Prejean and others asked Governor Edwards to commute the sentences of Patrick Sonnier and Robert Lee Willie to life in prison. Edwards did not intervene in either case. Years later, Edwin Edwards served eight years in prison for charges of extortion, racketeering, and money laundering during his fourth term as governor. 7 E G A P | T I K G N I H C A E T W M D Photograph of Elmo Patrick Sonnier. c. 1984. 1984. c. Sonnier. Patrick Elmo of Photograph http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/photograph-pat-sonnier- 1984/ Elmo Patrick Sonnier to Sr. Helen Prejean, includes drawing of visiting room room visiting of drawing includes Prejean, Helen Sr. to Sonnier Patrick Elmo 1982. 26, August Penitentiary. State Louisiana at http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/pat-sonnier-to-prejean- august-1982/ Phelps, C. Paul. State of Louisiana Department of Corrections Regulation Regulation Corrections of Department Louisiana of State Paul. C. Phelps, 1981. 6, April 10-25. No. http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/regulation-1981/ Elmo Patrick Sonnier to Governor Edwin Edwards, transcribed by Sr. Helen Helen Sr. by transcribed Edwards, Edwin Governor to Sonnier Patrick Elmo 1984. 1, April Prejean. http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/pat-sonnier-to-edwards- 1984/ Elmo Patrick Sonnier to Sr. Helen Prejean, includes drawing of death row cell cell row death of drawing includes Prejean, Helen Sr. to Sonnier Patrick Elmo 1982. 20, March Penitentiary. State Louisiana at block http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/pat-sonnier-to-prejean- march-1982/ 1983. 11, August Prejean. Helen Sr. to Sonnier Patrick Elmo http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/pat-sonnier-to-prejean- august-1983/

to view and download. download. and to view and Archives, DePaul University Library, Chicago, IL. Visit spca.depaul.edu/prejean spca.depaul.edu/prejean Visit IL. Chicago, Library, University DePaul Archives, and All primary sources are from the Sr. Helen Prejean papers at Special Collections Collections Special at papers Prejean Helen Sr. the from are sources primary All BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Prejean, Sr. Helen. Statement on behalf of Robert Lee Willie before the the before Willie Lee Robert of behalf on Statement Helen. Sr. Prejean, 1984. 19, November Pardons. of Board http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/prejean-statement-1984/ Anonymous. Annotated photocopy of letter to the editor newspaper newspaper editor the to letter of photocopy Annotated Anonymous. church's of some but church Catholic for isn't antipathy "Reader's clipping, 1984. April c. Prejean. Helen Sr. to sent leaders,” http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/letters-of-opposition-1984/ Green, Monroe, Andrew Joseph, Leotha Brown, and Raymond Normand. Normand. Raymond and Brown, Leotha Joseph, Andrew Monroe, Green, letter Prejean, Helen Sr. to Association Lifers' Penitentiary State Louisiana 1984. 12, April certificate. and http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/lifers-association-to-prejean- 1984/ Tier, A-B Row Death Prejean, Helen Sr. of Photographs Wilburt. Rideau, 1984. c. Penitentiary. State Louisiana http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/photographs-prejean- louisiana-state-penitentiary-1984/ Eddie J. Sonnier to Governor Edwin Edwards. March 31, 1984. 1984. 31, March Edwards. Edwin Governor to Sonnier J. Eddie http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/eddie-sonnier-to-edwards- 1984/ 1984. 7, April Prejean. Helen Sr. to Ann Glenda http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/glenda-to-prejean-1984/ BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Sr. Helen Prejean to Vernon and Elizabeth Harvey. January 20, 1988. 1988. 20, January Harvey. Elizabeth and Vernon to Prejean Helen Sr. http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/prejean-to-harveys-1988/ Zavla, Diego, Kathleen Pitman, C.S.J., Helen Prejean, C.S.J., Kim Garrett to to Garrett Kim C.S.J., Prejean, Helen C.S.J., Pitman, Kathleen Diego, Zavla, 1987. 24, May flyer. event Life For Up Stand with citizens Louisiana http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/letter-to-louisiana-citizens- 1987/ Robert Lee Willie to Sr. Helen Prejean, December 15, 1984 with attachment attachment with 1984 15, December Prejean, Helen Sr. to Willie Lee Robert 1984. 6, August Blackburn, C. Frank and Phelps Paul C. to Willie Lee Robert http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/willie-to-prejean-1984/ c. execution. Willie's Lee Robert describing Notes Helen. Sr. Prejean, 1984. December http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/prejeans-notes-1984/ Harvey Vernon including supporters penalty death of Photograph Art. Scott, Louisiana) across trek mile 283 (a March Life of Pilgrimage confronting 1986. March Prejean. Helen Sr. participant http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/photograph-march-1986/ Hunter, Gary. Photograph of Sr. Helen Prejean and Robert Lee Willie taken taken Willie Lee Robert and Prejean Helen Sr. of Photograph Gary. Hunter, 1984. 19, November newspaper. Times-Picayune the for http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/photograph-prejean-and- willie-1984/ BIBLIOGRAPHY

DMW TEACHING KIT | PAGE 8 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Prejean, Sr. Helen. Interview with former Governor Edwin W. Edwards. November 14, 1990. http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/prejean-interview-edwards- 1990/

Sr. Helen Prejean to Jason Epstein. March 23, 1992. http://spca.depaul.press/prejean/2017/03/20/prejean-to-epstein-1992/

Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 of Act Penalty Death Effective and Antiterrorism In Deeds and Words: Sr. Helen Prejean’s Ministry Against the Death Penalty Death the Against Ministry Prejean’s Helen Sr. Words: and Deeds In Penalty Death the Against Ministry Center Information Penalty Death ProCon.org con and pro researched professionally providing organization non-partisan Non-profit topics controversial other and penalty death the regarding information http://deathpenalty.procon.org/ Rights Human for Commissioner High the of Office Nations United internationally rights human promoting and protecting of charge in office Nations United http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/DeathPenalty/Pages/DPIndex.aspx Sr. Helen Prejean papers at DePaul University DePaul at papers Prejean Helen Sr. 2010 in University DePaul to donated archives, Prejean's Helen Sr. for guide Collection http://libguides.depaul.edu/ld.php?content_id=10135845 2013 April in created exhibit digital Archives and Collections Special Library University DePaul http://dpuspecialcollections.omeka.net/exhibits/show/prejean Sr. supporting Joseph St. of Sisters the of Congregation The by founded organization Non-profit penalty death the against ministry Prejean’s Helen http://www.sisterhelen.org/ the regarding analysis and resources, information, providing organization non-profit National penalty death http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/ Clinton Bill President by law into signed penalty death the of scope the expanding Legislation https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/735

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The original letters, photographs, and documents selected for the teaching kit are from from are kit teaching the for selected documents and photographs, letters, original The by completed was sources primary the of digitization The papers. Prejean Helen Sr. the Kevin by supervision with Department Services Digital Library's DePaul in members staff Sullivan, Wendall by created was spca.depaul.press/prejean site, WordPress The Endres. by created was organization and content kit’s teaching The Librarian. Initiatives Digital Potts, Derek Librarian, Instruction Collections Special Hodgetts, MacIntosh Morgen Sources Primary with Teaching of Director Bates, David Assistant, Processing Archives Education. of College University’s DePaul for Consultant Tech Geiger, John and Program, 2017. March ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I HAVE NOT DOUBT THAT WE WILL ONE DAY ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY IN AMERICA. IT WILL COME SOONER IF PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT EXECUTIONS DO OUR WORK WELL AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. IT WILL COME SLOWLY IF WE DO NOT. BECAUSE, FINALLY, I KNOW THAT IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF MALICE OR ILL WILL OR MEANNESS OF SPIRIT THAT PROMPTS OUR CITIZENS TO SUPPORT EXECUTIONS. IT IS, QUITE SIMPLY, THAT PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THE TRUTH OF WHAT IS GOING ON.

HELEN PREJEAN, C.SJ.

DePaul University Library Special Collections and Archives 2350 N. Kenmore Ave. Suite 314 Chicago, IL 60614 773-325-7896 [email protected] spca.depaul.press/prejean