The collection of materials on the life of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, aka Dr. Death, has been turned over to the University of Michigan Library.

The collection, donated by the doctor’s niece Ava Janus, comprises medical histories, video and audio recordings of consultations with patients, as well as historical documents and photographs from the Kevorkian family, the University’s website reports.

According to Terrence McDonald, director of the Bentley Historical Library, the collection shows another side of Kevorkian’s life:  “Long before Jack Kevorkian was known as ‘Dr. Death,’ he was a child of Armenian immigrants, a successful student, a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School, a musician, composer and scientist.”

Olga Virakhovskaya, Bentley’s lead archivist, said Kevorkian was a brilliant student and spoke several languages. According to her, many of the patients and their families supported their family member’s choice to die, so anonymity was not an issue.

The video materials contain conversations between Kevorkian and his patients and their relatives, which explain why they decided to choose euthanasia. 

Jack Kevorkian died in 2011 at the age of 83. He had a leading voice in the movement for the right to die, and according to his own estimates, helped 130 terminally ill people.

Kevokian was convicted of second-degree murder and served eight years in prison. Later he was released from prison in exchange for agreeing to end his “medicide” practice.