Joan Little collection, 1973-1975

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Summary

Abstract:
This collection documents the case of Joan Little, an African-American woman from Eastern North Carolina who was tried for the capital offense of first-degree murder when she killed a jailer who had sexually assaulted her. She was aquitted of this charge, and her story became a flash point for women's rights, prisoner's rights, and the issue of racism in the criminal justice system. The collection contains of materials used by Southern Poverty Law Center counsel and documentary filmmaker Morris Dees, including exhibits for the defense and official court documents. Also included is original poetry written by Little while incarcerated, print media clippings, and an original screenplay, "Free Joann Little."
Extent:
.6 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.11599

Background

Scope and content:

This collection documents the trial and controversy surrounding the case of Joan Little. It consists of poetry written by Joan Little while incarcerated, including "I Am Somebody", correspondence from Southern Poverty Law Center counsel Morris Dees to Little's Durham, NC defense attorney Jerry Paul, letters of support and publicity for the Joan Little Defense Fund, trial materials prepared by the defense, official court records from the Beaufort County Superior Court, print media clippings, a North Carolina State publication on prison standards, and an unpublished screenplay, "Free Joann Little" by the screenwriter Joel Olansky.

Biographical / historical:

Joan Little (b. 1953) is an African-American woman from the small town of Washington in Eastern North Carolina. In 1974, she was charged with breaking and entering and larceny. She was found guilty and sentenced to the Beaufort County jail. In August of 1974, she was raped by a jailer and subsequently killed him. She was tried and found not guilty of first-degree murder. She was returned to jail to serve the rest of her original sentence. She subsequently escaped, was captured, and returned to jail. She was finally realeased in 1979. Her case became a touchstone for the issues of women's rights to defend themselves against rape, prisoner's rights, as well as racism and classism in the criminal justice system.

Acquisition information:
The Joan Little collection was received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2005.
Processing information:

Processed by Megan Lewis, February, 2018.

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2005-0086

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
General note:

Please note that although the authorized form of her name is Joan Little (pronounced Jo Anne), it also frequently appears as either Joann Little or JoAnne Little. She signed her poems Joanne Little. The spellings of the name on items in the collection have been transcribed as they appear.

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Joan Little collection, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.