Born in 1916 in Wisconsin, Donald Doud lived his early life in Southern California. After spending a year in a sanitarium recovering from tuberculosis, he studied to become a professional photographer, a skill he would later use in the preparation of document examination exhibits for trial. While working as an apprentice in the office of the famous Los Angeles questioned document examiner Clark Sellers (a star witness at the Lindbergh/Hauptmann trial in 1935), Doud attended classes in questioned document examination taught by John L. Harris at the University of Southern California. A few years later he moved to New York City where he studied under Albert D. Osborn, the son of Albert S. Osborn, the man considered the father of modern forensic document examination. Both Osborns had testified at the Lindbergh/Hauptmann trial.
In Chicago, Donald Doud continued his apprenticeship with another prominent practitioner, Herbert J. Walter. In 1951, he moved to Milwaukee where he practiced with John F. Tyrell, another Lindbergh case handwriting witness. When Mr. Tyrell passed away in 1955, he took over his practices in Chicago and Milwaukee.
During his long career, Donald Doud served as chairman of the questioned documents section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and on the board of the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners. He lectured for twenty years in law professor Fred Inbau's classes at Northwestern University. During his career, Mr. Doud wrote dozens of articles and professional papers.
Donald Doud worked on hundreds of little known handwriting/forgery cases and a handful of high profile forgery disputes. He became involved in the historic Alger Hiss spy case, the Clifford Irving-Howard Hughes autobiography fraud, and the Howard Hughes Mormon will case.
Mr. Doud's family, five years after his death, published his memoir, "Witness to Forgery." Available on Amazon.com, it is a terrific read featuring an extraordinary career in the little known but fascinating field of forensic fraud and forgery detection.
In Chicago, Donald Doud continued his apprenticeship with another prominent practitioner, Herbert J. Walter. In 1951, he moved to Milwaukee where he practiced with John F. Tyrell, another Lindbergh case handwriting witness. When Mr. Tyrell passed away in 1955, he took over his practices in Chicago and Milwaukee.
During his long career, Donald Doud served as chairman of the questioned documents section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and on the board of the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners. He lectured for twenty years in law professor Fred Inbau's classes at Northwestern University. During his career, Mr. Doud wrote dozens of articles and professional papers.
Donald Doud worked on hundreds of little known handwriting/forgery cases and a handful of high profile forgery disputes. He became involved in the historic Alger Hiss spy case, the Clifford Irving-Howard Hughes autobiography fraud, and the Howard Hughes Mormon will case.
Mr. Doud's family, five years after his death, published his memoir, "Witness to Forgery." Available on Amazon.com, it is a terrific read featuring an extraordinary career in the little known but fascinating field of forensic fraud and forgery detection.
What a lovely tribute to a colleague! I am so sorry that you lost such a friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
ReplyDelete