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NYC Collyer brothers death (Homer)......
NYC Collyer brothers death (Homer)......
Item # 719776
March 22, 1947
THE NEW YORK TIMES, March 22, 1947
* Collyer Brothers (Homer) death
* Bizarre & compulsive hoarding
The top of the front page has a one column heading: "HOMER COLLYER, HARLEM RECLUSE, FOUND DEAD AT 70" with subheads. Two related photos on page 3. (see) First report coverage on the death of Homer Lusk Collyer, famous New York City hoarder. Nice to have in this famous NYC publication
Complete with all 30 pages, rag edition in great condition.
history notes: The Collyer Brothers, Homer (1881–1947) and Langley (1885–1947), were reclusive siblings who became infamous in New York City for their extreme hoarding and isolation. Living in a Harlem brownstone, the brothers amassed tons of newspapers, books, household items, and mechanical devices over decades, filling their home to the point of structural instability. Homer, a lawyer, and Langley, a musician, were highly intelligent but socially withdrawn, with Langley rarely leaving the house after a childhood accident and Homer enforcing strict routines to manage their eccentric lifestyle. Paranoid about intruders, they rigged their home with elaborate booby traps, which reflected their obsessive behavior. In March 1947, their hoarded possessions ultimately led to their deaths: Homer was found crushed under debris while apparently attempting to help Langley, and Langley was later discovered trapped in a booby-trapped room surrounded by over 100 tons of collected items. Their story became a lasting symbol of compulsive hoarding, reclusion, and the dangers of extreme isolation, inspiring books, films, and cultural fascination.
Category: The 20th Century
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