Provenance
These are the personal papers of Liz Eden (nee Ernest Aron). On the death of Ms. Eden they were given to her friend Richard N. Barraclough. On Barraclough's death they were passed along with some papers of his own to Dean LaBate. He in turn donated them to the NALGH on June 14, 1990.
Scope and Content
The collection contains correspondence from John Wojtowicz to Liz Eden when Mr. Wojtowicz was in the Federal Penitentiary in Lewisberg, 1973-1975. the collection also contains photographs and slides of Liz Eden and her friends, manuscripts by Liz Eden and Richard Barraclough, photocopies of news clippings, legal papers and other correspondence some of which deals with the film "Dog Day Afternoon."
Photographs of the wedding between Liz Eden and John Wojtowicz are available in the Archive's Wandel photo collection.
History or Bio
On August 22, 1972 John Wojtowicz, Robert Westenberg, and Donald Matterson attempted to rob a Chase Manhattan bank branch in Brooklyn, New York. They held nine bank employees hostage and demanded money. The money was to be for Wojtowicz's lover Ernest Aron to have a sex change operation. Aron did not know of the planned robbery. Wojtowicz was sentenced to 20 years at the Federal Penitentiary in Lewisberg, PA. Matterson was killed by FBI agents. Westenberg served 19 months. Aron underwent a series of operations and changed her name to Liz Eden. The movie "Dog Day Afternoon," loosely based on the robbery was released in 1975.
Folder List
1. Correspondent between John Wojtowicz and Liz Eden from the Federal Penitentiary in Lewisberg Pa., including greeting cards and snap shots. 1/2"
2. Correspondent between Warner Brothers and Liz Eden, Harold M Weiner and Neptune Productions, Ace Books and Richard N. Barraclough, John S. Wojtowicz and Ronald Zweibet of Crime Victims Compensation Board, John Wojtowicz and Warner Brothers, Consent of Ernest Aron (Liz Eden) for film, Summons by Liz Eden against Warner Brothers. 1/2"
3. Power of Attorney to Richard N. Barraclough for Ernest Aron (Liz Eden), manuscripts by Liz Eden, Liz Eden and Richard N. Barraclough, and Richard N. Barraclough, photocopies of Playboy article. 1/2"
4. Photographs and slides of Liz Eden (Ernest Aron) and friends between 1983 and 1986. Photocopies of newspaper clippings. 1"
