Finding Aid Search

Title

Log of actions relating to incarcerated individuals scheduled for execution

Series Number

B1244

Summary

This series consists of volumes used to track events relating to incarcerated individuals scheduled for execution at Sing Sing. Logs contain the person's name and consecutive number; county of sentencing and date received; name and address of family; spiritual advisor and attorney; dates of receipt, appeal, respite, or commutation; and execution date and time. Also included are documents entitled "Statistics Relative to Sentences for Murder in the First Degree," listing individuals executed, transferred, discharged by reversal of judgment or whose sentences were commuted.

Creator

• Sing Sing Prison

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Blueprint plans, drawings, and specifications for improvements to state and municipal jails, penitentiaries, and public buildings

Series Number

A3317

Summary

This series consists of blueprints of city and county penal facilities prepared by municipal architects and departments of correction and submitted to the State Commission of Prisons for approval. Records include building plans, details, sections, and specifications for police stations, city jails, jail portions of office buildings, and county penitentiaries.

Creator

• New York (State). State Commission of Correction

Access Restrictions

Documents relating to existing correctional facilities and other facilities may be withheld under FOIL sect. 87.2(f) ("if disclosed could endanger the life or safety of any person").

Restricted: Certain items are extremely fragile. Use under supervision or with assistance of archivist due to fragile condition.

Title

Sing Sing Prison list of foreign born incarcerated individuals

Series Number

B0146

Summary

The Statistical Department of Sing Sing Prison compiled a country-by-country list of foreign-born incarcerated individuals containing the following information: consecutive number; age; date of admittance; country; crime; sentence; and disposition. This appears to have been created by the prison administration for their own reference use.

Creator

• Sing Sing Prison

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Sing Sing Correctional Facility incarcerated individual case files

Series Number

W0048

Summary

Sing Sing Correctional Facility, located in Westchester County, N.Y., is a maximum-security correctional facility for incarcerated males. Case files include information of the individual's family and social background, arrest, confinement, and release/parole.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Correctional Services

Access Restrictions

Summary information on adult incarcerated individuals 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

Ossining records

Series Number

A4441

Creator

• Ossining (N.Y. : Village)

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Execution files

Series Number

21832

Summary

This series consists of 250 files for incarcerated individuals executed for capital crimes. These are not complete case files but administrative files pertinent to their actual executions. Each file typically contains identifying documents; correspondence; blotter records; notices of stays and respites of execution; and copies of court orders and other legal documents.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Correction

Access Restrictions

Summary information on adult incarcerated individuals 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

Sing Sing Prison admission registers

Series Number

B0143

Summary

This series consists of information on each incarcerated individual received at the prison. The early volumes provide information such as: admission date; alias; county from which received; age; birthplace; marital and family status; residence; height; weight; complexion; eye and hair color; other physical characteristics; if they could read or write; language spoken; religion; habits (drinking, smoking); occupation; date convicted; crime; term of sentence; and judge. Later volumes were modified several times to include additional information.

Creator

• Sing Sing Prison

Access Restrictions

B0143-98: Access to original volume is restricted; digitized version and photocopy are first-use copies.

Title

Tax assessment rolls for Union Free School District No. 1, Town of Ossining, Westchester County

Series Number

B0960

Summary

This series consists of transcriptions of the original tax roll for Union Free School District No. 1, Town of Ossining, Westchester County. The state land involved was Sing Sing Prison. The rolls provide names of taxable residents (by street) and non-residents, type of property (house, store, etc.), acreage and full-assessed valuation. The territory of Union School District No. 1 included the village of Ossining and Briarcliff Manor, and portions of the town of Ossining.

Creator

• New York (State). Comptroller's Office

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Case files of incarcerated individuals sentenced to electrocution

Series Number

B0145

Summary

This series consists of case files of incarcerated individuals sentenced to electrocution at Sing Sing Prison. Files contain warrants of execution; investigation reports (personal and criminal history); receipts for, and replies to, notice of appeal (if filed); correspondence regarding writing and visiting privileges; FBI records of past offenses; Sing Sing admission forms, including medical examination and psychologists' examination reports; certifications of execution of death sentence, including post-mortem reports; and outgoing reports with detailed information on the remains of the executed individual.

Creator

• Sing Sing Prison

Access Restrictions

Series is partially restricted; records exempted from disclosure by specific statutes have been identified and filed separately.

Title

Sing Sing Prison Superintendent's diaries

Series Number

B1245

Summary

This series consists of daily diaries kept by warden W. L. Denno of Sing Sing Prison documenting his official activities. Entries include inspections of site personnel and security protocol; details of visitors to the prison, including police investigators; attempted escapes; misconduct of incarcerated individuals; and the warden's attendance at executions. Any official travel necessitating the absence of the warden from the prison is also reported.

Creator

• Sing Sing Prison

Access Restrictions

State Archives staff will review requests for specific documents and disclose information pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law and Personal Privacy Protection Law. Unless a specific law forbids disclosure indefinitely, all records must be disclosed after 75 years.

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

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

Sing Sing Prison newspaper, "Star of Hope"

Series Number

B0144

Summary

This series consists of issues of "Star of Hope," a bi-weekly periodical edited and printed by and for the incarcerated individuals at Sing Sing Prison. Issues contain articles on world news, health, and sports. Also included were editorials, fiction, and poetry.

Creator

• Sing Sing Prison

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Sing Sing Prison photographs

Series Number

B1514

Summary

This series consists of approximately 50 black-and-white photographs related to Sing Sing Prison. Included are images of incarcerated individuals, officials, buildings, cell interiors and exteriors, automobiles, the chapel, prison money, cemetery and the electric chair. Several photos are copies of early prints. Photographs are not captioned and neither people nor groups are identified.

Creator

• Sing Sing Prison

Access Restrictions

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