Derek Humphry papers, 1989-2018

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Humphry, Derek, 1930-
Title
Derek Humphry papers
Dates
1989-2018 (inclusive)
Quantity
6.31 cubic feet (7 boxes)
Collection Number
4448
Summary
Publications and journals containing articles as well as the papers of a journalist, author and advocate of the right-to-die movement
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Derek Humphry was born on April 29, 1930 in Bath, England. He began work as a journalist at a young age, and wrote for many different British newspapers, including the Bristol Evening World, Manchester Evening News, Daily Mail, and the London Sunday Times, where he specialized in writing about race relations, immigration, prison conditions, and more. He also authored many books during this time.

In 1978, Humphry moved to the United States and accepted the position of special feature writer for the Los Angeles Times. This same year, he published Jean’s Way, which told the story of the death of his first wife in 1975, when she took her own life after a long and painful battle with bone cancer. Jean’s Way attracted attention worldwide, and inspired Humphry to begin his efforts to legalize physician-assisted suicide for the terminally and hopelessly ill.

Humphry founded the Hemlock Society in 1980 in order to campaign for a change in laws regarding assisted suicide, and also to provide information about methods and means for terminally-ill patients and their families. After authoring pamphlets and the book Let Me Die Before I Wake as part of the Hemlock Society, Humphy’s 1991 book Final Exit: The Practicalities of Self-Deliverance and Assisted Suicide led to intense controversy and attention worldwide.

After serving as the executive director of the Hemlock Society, as well as its president from 1988 to 1990, Humphry founded ERGO (Euthanasia Research & Guidance Organization) in 1993. ERGO is a small nonprofit group that serves as the base for Humphry’s work, including his continued writing, research, and lecturing.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Historical/biographical features, newsletters, fundraising material for ERGO, videocassettes, publications, publications of others, journals and clippings. Bulk of papers are publications and journals containing articles on the right-to-die movement.

Derek Humphry papers including articles, ephemera, newsletters, journals, magazine, publications by Humphry and others, press releases, reports, and videocassettesregarding Measures 16 & 51, assisted suicide lawas and Supreme Court Descisions. Papers from Final Exit. Materials regarding American for Death wit Dignity, Yes on 161, Dr. Kevorikian.

Materials for book "Final Exit" including planning notes, articles, correspondence, original manuscript, and first edition signed by author. Also includes oversized scrapbook with clippings, mainly from Oregon, and correspondence from 1997-2007 as well as original lithograph of Humphry by David Levine for "New York Review of Books" magazine.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights retained. Contact repository for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 2 accessions:

  • Accession No. 4448-001, Derek Humphry papers, 1993-1998
  • Accession No. 4448-002, Derek Humphry papers, 1989-2018

Separated Materials

Published works by Derek Humphry including "Final Exit" paperback copy and unedited 1st draft (2008) of Humphry's memoir "Good Life, Good Death" have been added to the Pacific Northwest book collection in UW Special Collections.

Related Materials

The Derek Humphry website "Final Exit" has been regularly captured by the Internet Archive Wayback Machine since 2014. https://wayback.archive-it.org/4224/*/http://www.finalexit.org/

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 4448-001: Derek Humphry papers, 1993-1998Return to Top

1.00 cu. ft. (1 box)

Scope and Content: Historical/biographical features, newsletters, fundraising material for ERGO, videocassettes, publications, publications of others, journals and clippings. Bulk of papers are publications and journals containing articles on the right to die.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights retained. Contact repository for details.

Accession No. 4448-002: Derek Humphry papers, 1989-2018Return to Top

5.17 cubic feet (6 boxes)

Scope and Content: Derek Humphry papers including articles, ephemera, newsletters, journals, magazine, publications by Humphry and others, press releases, reports, and videocassettesregarding Measures 16 & 51, assisted suicide lawas and Supreme Court Descisions. Papers from Final Exit. Materials regarding American for Death wit Dignity, Yes on 161, Dr. Kevorikian.

Materials for book "Final Exit" including planning notes, articles, correspondence, original manuscript, and first edition signed by author. Also includes oversized scrapbook with clippings, mainly from Oregon, and correspondence from 1997-2007 as well as original lithograph of Humphry by David Levine for "New York Review of Books" magazine.

Separated Material: Published works by Derek Humphry including "Final Exit" paperback copy and unedited 1st draft (2008) of Humphry's memoir "Good Life, Good Death" have been added to the Pacific Northwest book collection in UW Special Collections.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries until donor's death.

Acquisition Info: Acquisition Info: Derek Humphry, 2014-05-28; 2016-12-16; 2017-02-28; 2018-01-23; 2019-01-22.

Processing Info: Intake 2019020605 has been merged with this accession.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Accession
1 4448-002
Measures 16 & 51
1994-1997
2 4448-002
Assisted suicide laws in all states (2000)
1997-2000
2 4448-002
Supreme Court Decisions and Other Cases
1997-2000
3 4448-002
Organizations and People (Americans for Death with Dignity, Russia, Yes on 161, Misc.)
1991-2000
3-4 4448-002
Dr. Kevorkian (articles, interviews, misc.)
1991-2004
4 4448-002
Final Exit (Impact, Articles, Videos, Publications, Correspondence, Methods, Misc.)
1991-2018
5 4448-002
First edition, signed by Humphry, of "Final Exit"
1991
5 4448-002
Planning notes, articles, and correspondence related to "Final Exit"
1989-1997
5 4448-002
Original manuscript of "Final Exit"
1991
6 4448-002
Derek Humphry caricature by David Levine
1992
6 4448-002
Clippings album
1997-2007

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Assisted suicide
  • Assisted suicide--Law and legislation
  • Euthanasia
  • Euthanasia--Law and legislation
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Right to die
  • Right to die--Law and legislation

Personal Names

  • Humphry, Derek, 1930- --Archives
  • Kevorkian, Jack

Corporate Names

  • Euthanasia Research & Guidance Organization--Records and correspondence
  • Hemlock (Society)
  • Hemlock (Society)--Records and correspondence