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U of M may be a bidder in 'Unabomber' auction

The University of Michigan may be among the bidders as the federal government auctions off the possessions of the man known as ‘The Unabomber’.  Ted Kaczynski earned his PhD in Mathematics from the University of Michigan. But it’s not his diploma that interests one university researcher. 

She’s more interested in Kaczynski’s writings and other belongings tied to his decades long campaign against technology, which included a deadly series of bombings. Julie Herrada is the curator of the Labadie Collection, which examines the history of radicalism.  

She isn’t sure if there’s anything in the online auction that would be worth buying for academic research, because many of the documents in the auction have been redacted by the federal government. 

“I will take a look online to see what is there of course out of interest as a curator to know what’s being offered. But I don’t know yet if I’m going to bid on anything.”

Herrada says the university already has an extensive collection of Kaczynski’s personal correspondence,  which he has been sending to the university for years.   

The online auction of Ted Kaczynski's personal effects begins today. 

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.