Register of foreign born inmates

Chronological by date received.

In the first decade of the twentieth century, the problem of overcrowding in New York State prisons became so acute that the State legislature appropriated $350,000 for the construction of an additional prison at Comstock, New York. In the annual report of the Superintendent of State Prisons for 1909, the superintendent concluded that overcrowding was "largely due to the influx of immigrants into this state during the last few years." Foreign-born prisoners accounted for nearly fifty-five percent of the prison population increase during the period from 1906 to 1910. As a result, the superintendent pleaded with the federal government to assume responsibility for maintaining foreign-born inmates. Individual institutions assisted the superintendent by gathering detailed information concerning foreign-born inmates incarcerated within each facility.

This volume contains detailed information concerning foreign-born inmates received in Auburn Prison. Each entry contains the following information: register number; name; age; color; place of nativity; date of arrival in United States; vessel name; port; citizenship status; naturalization data (often incomplete or unavailable); literacy information; former trade or occupation; employment status when arrested; date received in Auburn Prison; crime; sentence; date of sentence; county where sentenced; marital status; number of children; residence of wife and children; previous convictions; and information to prove naturalization.

Alphabetical name index in front of volume.

Although no documentation exists regarding the transfer of this volume, it was most likely transferred to the State Archives by the State Library. The volume was accessioned in conjunction with a project undertaken by Archives staff in 2003 to describe or integrate estrayed or unidentified records.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.