Numismatic researchers rely on the availability of research material at libraries, archives and other
institutions. Barry Landau violated that trust. He was caught, but not before looting multiple institutions.
-Editor
One of the historical documents stolen from the Maryland Historical Society by historian Barry Landau
A memorabilia collector and self-styled expert on presidential history pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to
steal thousands of documents signed by leaders throughout U.S. history.
Barry Landau, whose knowledge of the White House earned him network morning show appearances, acknowledged in the
plea to taking documents from the Maryland Historical Society and conspiring with his assistant to steal historical
documents from several institutions with the intent of selling them.
Thousands of documents were seized from Landau's artifact-filled Manhattan apartment. Prosecutors say he schemed
for years, if not decades, to steal valuable documents signed by historical figures from both sides of the
Atlantic including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Marie Antoinette, and Charles Dickens. The oldest document
listed in the plea was dated 1479.
The assistant pleaded guilty in October to the same charges: theft of major artwork and conspiracy to commit theft
of major artwork. The pleas capped a case that was a wake-up call for archives and historical institutions
nationwide to strengthen their security, prompting checks for visits by the pair and whether anything from
historical collections was missing.
Landau, 63, and Jason Savedoff, 24, were arrested last July in Baltimore after alert Maryland Historical
Society staffers realized something was off about the pair who plied staffers with cookies and portrayed
themselves as uncle and nephew.
"They were too schmooze-y to be regular people," David Angerhofer, a library archivist working that
day. The collections the pair requested — coupled with Landau's attempts to block their view of Savedoff during
repeated chats with staffers - made them suspicious and Angerhofer hid in the balcony for a better view.
After spotting Savedoff slip a document into a portfolio with personal papers, Angerhofer confronted Savedoff,
saying he'd need to check the portfolio and that police were on their way. "I think they saw we were a small
operation and they thought they had a golden opportunity to rob us blind," Angerhofer said.
The pair had 79 documents hidden in a computer bag when they were arrested, according to Landau's plea. About 60
of those belonged to the Maryland society, including a land grant signed by President Abraham Lincoln worth
$300,000 and presidential inaugural ball invitations and programs worth $500,000
To read the complete article, see:
History expert Barry Landau pleads guilty to stealing documents; faces up to 10 years in prison
(www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=53475)
Wayne Homren, Editor
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