Alcatraz Island Memoirs of a Rock Doc

by Milton Daniel Beacher M. D., Dianne Beacher Perfit (Editor)

"Alcatraz Memoirs of a Rock Doc" vividly chronicles the experiences of Milton Daniel Beacher, M.D., an Alcatraz medical officer from 1937-1938. Based on his original journal entries, Beacher’s memoir presents a compelling behind-the-bars depiction of life on the Rock for prisoners like Al Capone, "Machine Gun" Kelly, and Alvin Karpis. It also describes the conditions for the families that lived there, including the doctor and his wife, details of a long prison strike, the Cole/Roe escape, an attempted mass break, 18 original photographs, and a little history. Befriended by some prisoners, their first-person narratives and original poetry are memorialized. Visit www.alcatrazdoc.com for excerpts and reviews.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, True Crime, Historical, Medical

266 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2003

Reviews

[Neil Wright]

After a visit to Alcatraz back in 2012 I wanted a book to learn about some of the stories of the unique prison and stumbled across this book which sounded like a good option.

This book was placed in a safe place and 12 years later I decided to finally read the book.

This book had some interesting insights into prison life from the notes of a working doctor on the island.

He mentions Al Capone which is always piques peoples interest and a few of the other tales including prison break attempts were an insight that you would never experience.

The book on the whole was nothing too special and I think the fact that my memory isn't as strong due to the length of time since my visit that it also fell down to something it couldn't control.

Recommend? If you have been and want to hear some interesting tit bits then yes I would read but otherwise I'd pass

[Megan]

In May, my book group had to read a book from a genre that we wouldn’t usually choose. I don’t read true crime, anything medical and very few biographies / autobiographies so this wasn’t anything like I’d usually read.

The only information I knew about the prison was from watching the films, The Birdman of Alcatraz and Escape from Alcatraz so my knowledge was rather lacking.

Because this is from the memoirs of the prison doctor, it was an interesting (and depressing) insight in to the day to day running and activities of the prison. I had never realised (or given it any thought) that the prison staff lived with their families on the rock, the conditions of how visitors would be able to go there and that there would be such tight control over the films the prisoners watched.

Whilst I know terrible crimes were committed, what has stayed with me is the dullness of the prisoners lives, the violence, self harm, suicide and the other mental health issues. And the complete and utter lack of hope.

It was a bleak read.

[Stephanie Michelle]

Well worth the read

I visited Alcatraz recently and decided to continue educating myself on the experiences of people that worked on the island or were prisoners there. I found this book well worth the read.

[Elizabeth Sharp]

I found this book incredibly interesting and insightful after my trip to Alcatraz Island. I will say though that parts of the book (especially the beginning parts) could be very dark and intense.

[Sara]

The most interesting Alcatraz book I've read so far. The book does suffer from lack of editing - it jumps around, repeats itself in places and there are some spelling mistakes. The son explains he was passed the manuscript by his father and ended up self-publishing. However, it provides a lot more insight into the general population and living conditions than books written by previous inmates who naturally focus more on their own struggle and thoughts of escape. I like that it has a chapter on many of the most notable prisoners during the era of the doctor as it provides a lot more insight into specific people and how mental health conditions were treated at the time. It also shows how the Guards watched out for the inmates in order to reduce suicide attempts etc, something which has not really been covered in other books I've read.

[Rebecca Vaughn]

A great read about a doctor’s experiences working on Alcatraz and with the prisoners. I particularly appreciated Dr Beacher’s take on my great-grandfather and his mental state while there. A full chapter dedicated to him was more than I was expecting! I do wish there had been a lengthier forward or an intro chapter that set the stage, explained Dr Beacher’s background, and some other basics about Alcatraz itself, the prisoners, and the employees. Overall, it was a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the prisoners from a medical and personal lens.

[GT]

I loved it... but it is not what I expected. Let me explain.

My grandfather spent almost his entire career working for the same government agency as the author did in 1937-38, the US Public Health Service. As an MD working in San Francisco, my grandfather was assigned to temporarily stand-in for one of the Doctors working on Alcatraz while they went on vacation. This must have been approximately 1946 or 1947, and I think it was for a period of 2 weeks. I was always fascinated to know that my grandfather "did time on the Rock". Unfortunately, I've never learned much about his experience there other than he did not enjoy it at all. In fact, he requested not to be sent back for further duty on Alcatraz.

I was hoping to get a glimpse into the realities my grandfather faced, and I suppose I did, but the author, Dr Beacher, does not provide us with the impact the work environment had on him. What he does share is first-hand observations, and sometimes conversations, with the notable incarcerated inmates of his tenure. People we've all heard of like Scarface Capone, Creepy Karpis, and Machine-Gun Kelly. Equally as interesting were the personal stories of convicts like Phil Ryan, Wareagle, Thomas Robinson Jr, and the 'Weyerhaeuser Baby Snatcher', Harmon Waley.

The escape attempts cited, the fight described between Capone and Jimmy Lucas in the barbershop, the men who 'blew their top' (went crazy)... I only wish Dr Beacher recalled additional stories.

A must for anyone who may tour the facility when next in SF... 4 Stars

★ = Horrid waste of time
★★ = May be enjoyable to some, but not me
★★★ = I am glad I read it
★★★★ = Very enjoyable and something I'd recommend
★★★★★ = A rare find, simply incredible

[Kelly Deriemaeker]

Ik ben zo iemand die altijd te onvoorbereid op reis gaat, en dan pas na het bezoeken van een bezienswaardigheid alles over desbetreffende plek wil weten en lezen. Een jaar of vier geleden kocht ik dit boek na een bezoek aan de gevangenis van Alcatraz, omdat ik erg onder de indruk was van de plek en wat er zich daar heeft afgespeeld.

Dit boek is gebaseerd op de notities van een dokter op het eiland, en vertelt een boeiend verhaal over het leven van de gevangenen en de mensen die voor hen moesten instaan.

En nu hopen dat het volgende boek me uit mijn leesdip haalt. Dat zou fijn zijn.

[Rakel]

I read this book awhile ago, and still pick it up every now and then to read parts of it. Alcatraz stories have always interested me, and these are stories from the psychiatrist there! Very fascinating. A fun read.

[Sarah]

This is one of my favorite Alcatraz books and I look forward to reading Mr. Beacher's other novels.

[Melissa]

Loved it. A great, quick follow up to the tour!

[Mark Holencik]

It was a good insight from the eyes of a staff doctor. He also tells you of his changed outlook after working there.

[Cezary Wojcik]

cool

[Mandi]

definitely some insight into what it was like to work on Alcatraz, would recommend this book if you plan on visiting