The Archivist’s Desk

The Discovery of an Al Capone Handwritten Artifact: From Forgotten Prison Papers to PSA Authentication

What began as a routine purchase of a prison warden's archive turned into one of the most exciting discoveries we've ever made. While examining dozens of Bureau of Prisons records from the collection of Terminal Island Warden E. J. Lloyd, one unsigned handwritten page immediately stood out. Careful comparison, research, and expert analysis ultimately revealed it to be an authentic example of Al Capone's handwriting—a remarkable artifact hidden in plain sight for decades.