Finding Aid Search

Title

New York House of Refuge chaplain's reports to the indenturing committee

Series Number

A2071

Summary

The Reformatory's Protestant chaplains functioned as "home visitation agents" or parole agents. They evaluated an inmate's former home, the master's home of an indentured inmate, or the home of a paroled inmate. The brief narrative reports may include master's name, residence, occupation and treatment of inmate; inmate's school habits and church attendance; residence, occupation, and economic status of inmate's family; conditions of inmate's house; whether inmate's family will take back inmate; and recommendations on returning inmate to family on parole.

Creator

• House of Refuge (New York, N.Y.)

Access Restrictions

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

Title

School admission and discharge registers

Series Number

A2065

Summary

The registers of admissions and discharges, track the arrival, departure, and academic level of students in the intuition's schools.. Each entry in the admission register includes date, class (1st - 6th grade), boys name, house number, age, ability in reading, writing, and arithmetic, where he attended school, and 'remarks' (usually how long attended or out of school). Discharge registers entries includes date, name, house number, level of competency in arithmetic and class (1st - 6th grade).

Creator

• New York House of Refuge

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Admission registers for federally incarcerated individuals

Series Number

B0148

Summary

This series consists of admission registers (also known as a "receiving blotter") of federally incarcerated individuals admitted to Sing Sing Prison. Entries include the person's name; aliases; date and place of conviction; offense; term of sentence; date of sentence; beginning and expiration date; expiration date with good conduct; birthplace; marital status; literacy level; age; physical description; previous occupation; religion; if foreign, date they left their home country; where and when arrested; time in jail before trial; consecutive number; and general remarks.

Creator

• Sing Sing Prison

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Western Reformatory for Women employee personnel files

Series Number

B1256

Creator

• Western Reformatory for Women

Access Restrictions

Access to certain documents in this series is restricted. State Archives staff will review requests for specific documents and disclose information pursuant to New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL).

Title

Log of actions relating to incarcerated individuals awaiting execution

Series Number

B1242

Summary

This volume tracks activity relating to incarcerated individuals who were awaiting execution at Sing Sing Prison. For each person, the log lists dates for the following categories when applicable: awaiting execution; commuted to life sentence; new trial granted; died while awaiting execution; escaped; and disposition of case on reversal of judgement.

Creator

• Sing Sing Prison

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Western Reformatory for Women psychiatric and psychological statistical reports

Series Number

B0089

Summary

This series consists largely of monthly psychiatric and psychological statistical reports. Psychiatric reports include number of inmates interviewed; receiving individual and group therapy sessions; placed under psychiatric observation; examined for classification and preparatory to discharge; and transferred for psychiatric reasons. Psychological statistics include number of subjects tested or interviewed; hours; tests given; reports written; and referral sources. The therapy and counseling statistics files give the name of the counselor; month; name of patient; and dates of sessions.

Creator

• Western Reformatory for Women

Access Restrictions

Summary information on adult inmates is disclosable under law. State Archives staff will review records containing probation, parole, medical, and juvenile criminal history data and disclose information pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law and Personal Privacy Protection Law. The identity of victims of sex crimes is not disclosable. Unless a specific law forbids disclosure indefinitely, all records must be disclosed after 75 years.

Title

Matteawan State Hospital correction officers' observation log

Series Number

A1526

Summary

This series contains observations recorded by Matteawan State Hospital correctional officers (sometimes other hospital staff members) regarding inmate behavior. Entries record the date and time a particular action was observed; a brief description of the patient's actions; measures taken, if any, by the correctional officer; the patient's name and number; and the correction officer's signature. Records are restricted.

Creator

• Matteawan State Hospital

Access Restrictions

Restricted in accordance with Section 33.13, Mental Hygiene Law, relating to confidentiality of clinical records. Access permitted under certain conditions upon application to and approval by the Office of Mental Health.

Title

Minutes of meetings of the Board of Parole

Series Number

B0076

Summary

This series consists of meeting minutes of the Parole Board of Auburn Prison and the State Prison for Women. Early minutes include transcriptions of interviews with incarcerated individuals; family relations, prospective employment after parole, and similar matters of interest to the Board. After 1930, minute only list of cases heard. Information includes incarcerated individual's name, consecutive number, date paroled or held, address paroled to or reason held. Some minutes are for hearings on applications for executive clemency. Records are partially restricted.

Creator

• Auburn Prison

Access Restrictions

Restricted. Some records contain information exempt from disclosure under Public Officers Law Art. 6.Access is pursuant to regulations of the commissioner of correctional services or (for applications for executive clemency) by permission of the governor's office.

Title

Auburn Prison daily reports of male population

Series Number

B0062

Summary

This series consists of statistical records of Auburn prisons' population of incarcerated individuals. Information may include total number: in prison; in prison at morning and in evening; received; discharged; lodgers; applications for treatment; treated; not treated; excused from labor; pardoned; died; sent to other locations; new commitments; transfers from other correctional institutions; returned from parole, courts or escape; released by parole, expiration of sentence or commutation; escaped, condemned; and housed in cells, dormitories, hospital; and at other locations.

Creator

• Auburn Prison

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Incarcerated individual employment scrapbook

Series Number

B2019

Summary

This series consists of a scrapbook containing information on companies that offered employment to incarcerated individuals upon their release. Included are letterheads, clippings showing type of work and wages, and occasional correspondence from companies enclosing applications for employment and/or describing positions available. Information on specific individuals is not included. Records are restricted due to condition of the materials.

Creator

• New York State Reformatory (Elmira, N.Y.)

Access Restrictions

Restricted due to physical condition of the materials; use under supervision of archivist.

Title

Classification Board record cards

Series Number

B1276

Summary

Auburn's Classification Board evaluated each individual incarcerated in the prison and decided the appropriate level of administrative custody and rehabilitation program. This series consists of cards with information on those individuals and Classification Board decisions. Many individuals were transferred from Sing Sing Prison. The cards list name and consecutive number, birthdate, color; crime; sentence; probable release date; dates and locations of previous confinements; results of psychological tests and psychiatric examinations; psychiatric and administrative classification. Records are restricted to protect personal privacy.

Creator

• Auburn Prison

Access Restrictions

Summary information on adults incarcerated in New York's prisons is disclosable under law. State Archives staff will review records containing probation, parole, medical, and juvenile criminal history data and disclose information pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law and Personal Privacy Protection Law. The identity of victims of sex crimes is not disclosable. Unless a specific law forbids disclosure indefinitely, all records must be disclosed after 75 years.

Title

New York House of Refuge minutes of the Board of Managers

Series Number

A2051

Summary

This series consists of minutes of monthly, annual, and special meetings of the Managers of the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents. Contents typically include resolutions of the board; lists of bills audited by the Executive Committee; lists of committee appointments; amendments to bylaws; summaries of financial reports; appointments of officers and employees; and reports and resolutions of committees.

Creator

• House of Refuge (New York, N.Y.)

Access Restrictions

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

Title

New York House of Refuge receipt book for employees' wages

Series Number

A2079

Summary

This volume, documents the payment of wages to institution employees. Information for each payment includes date, name of superintendent (payor), amount paid, length of service paid for (usually one month), occupation, and employee signature.

Creator

• New York House of Refuge

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Receipt book for construction of new House of Refuge on Randall's Island

Series Number

A2082

Summary

These receipts document expenses for the construction of buildings and related facilities on Randall's Island. Information on receipts include date; amount paid; service for which paid; and signature of payee. Expenditures were for: plans and related architectural work for buildings; surveys and maps; printing of specifications; grading and excavating; building of docks; building sea wall; brick and stone; water pipes; iron work; carpentry; and inspection work.

Creator

• New York House of Refuge

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Annual reports of Auburn Prison and Prison for Women

Series Number

B0030

Summary

This series consists of annual reports submitted by the prison warden to the Commissioner of Correction. The reports include statistical and descriptive information on prison matters such as financial receipts and expenditures; prison labor; incarcerated population; industries; educational and other programs; discipline; maintenance; and administration and operation of the prison.

Creator

• Auburn Prison

Access Restrictions

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

Title

New York House of Refuge daily journal of the city office

Series Number

A2055

Summary

Maintained by the clerk in the Manhattan office of the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents, the daily entries include description of the weather; names of persons requesting passes with name of person visited; names of persons requesting information about inmates; and delivery of correspondence and reports listing names of the sender and receiver but not contents.

Creator

• House of Refuge (New York, N.Y.)

Access Restrictions

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

Title

New York House of Refuge parole registers

Series Number

A2069

Summary

These volumes contain summary information about discharge and parole/indenture ship history of inmates including: name and case number; discharge date; school division, class; religion; race; reason for or manner of discharge, occupation during previous indentures; and length of time served at the House of Refuge. Some years include date of original commitment; and dates of previous paroles.

Creator

• House of Refuge (New York, N.Y.)

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Principal Keeper's discipline summary card file

Series Number

B0150

Summary

This series consists of summary information on inmate discipline at Adirondack Correctional Treatment and Evaluation Center. Information includes inmate's name and number; original institution; alias; jail time; date eligible for parole; maximum expiration date; crimes; criminal act; value of money or goods; if goods were recovered; place act committed; arrest date; arresting agency; names and locations of accomplices; birth date; physical characteristics such as hair and eye color; religion; color or nationality; education; employment; and transfer information.

Creator

• Adirondack Correctional Treatment and Evaluation Center

Access Restrictions

Summary information on adult inmates is disclosable under law. State Archives staff will review records containing probation, parole, medical, and juvenile criminal history data and disclose information pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law and Personal Privacy Protection Law. The identity of victims of sex crimes is not disclosable. Unless a specific law forbids disclosure indefinitely, all records must be disclosed after 75 years.

Title

Visitor passes

Series Number

B2021

Summary

This series consists of appointment cards or visitor passes issued by the superintendent of an unnamed (presumably) correctional facility authorizing interviews or visits between inmates and visitors. Slips provide name of inmate and brief relationship to visitor and are signed by the clerk of the "cage and guard room office" and by the supervising officer.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Correction

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Ledgers relating to the education, labor, and conduct of incarcerated individuals

Series Number

B0140

Summary

Under the Elmira system, each incarcerated individual's release was determined by good behavior and the accumulation of marks for school achievement, labor productivity, and adherence to institutional rules. This series consists of volumes recording the "credits" and "debits" used in this marking system. Each page contains the record of a single incarcerated male and each person's record was maintained until they were paroled or had served their maximum sentence.

Creator

• New York State Reformatory (Elmira, N.Y.)

Access Restrictions

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