Records of the Virginia Penitentiary, 1796-1991 (bulk 1906-1970)

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Creator:
Virginia Penitentiary
Abstract:
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Virginia Penitentiary collection contains a wide variety of bound volumes and paper records spanning nearly 200 years (1796-1991; bulk 1906-1970). Included are administrative records such as annual reports, correspondence, office and subject files, minute books, photographs, blueprints, as well as specific records related to the State Convict Road Force and State Convict Lime Grinding Board. Also included are financial records such as account books, cash books, ledgers, payrolls, and receipt books. The prisoner related records include: prisoner registers, photographs and negatives, medical records, commitment orders, punishment records, escape reports, index cards and execution files. The records of the Virginia Penitentiary document the institutions' operational history, prisoners and the evolution of corrections in Virginia.

Biographical / historical:

In December 1796 the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation authorizing the construction of a penitentiary and providing details on its design and operation. Governor James Wood (1796-1799) selected Benjamin Henry Latrobe as architect and Thomas Callis as superintendent of the project. A twelve acre plot of land on the James River just outside of Richmond was purchased and construction began in 1797.

The Virginia Penitentiary opened in 1800. Latrobe's design, while architecturally impressive, was functionally flawed. The cells were large enough to hold several prisoners. However, the cell doors had no windows making it impossible to supervise the prisoners. In addition, the cells had no heat, poor ventilation and no plumbing. Prisoners also had to eat in these conditions since the penitentiary did not have a dining room. The penitentiary's day-to-day operation was overseen by a Keeper (or Superintendent), appointed by the Governor for a one year term, and deputies appointed by the Keeper. A board of twelve inspectors, appointed by the Hustings Court of the City of Richmond, oversaw penitentiary operations. In 1819 the General Assembly abolished the Board of Inspectors and created a five person Board of Directors (later reduced to three members) who were appointed by the governor; the Keeper was still appointed by the governor. An 1852 act gave the General Assembly the power to elect a superintendent for a two year term. The 1902 Constitution expanded the Board of Directors to five members and empowered the Board, not the General Assembly, to select the Superintendent for a four year term.. In 1942 the Virginia General Assembly created the Virginia Department of Corrections, consolidating the administration and regulation of all penal and correctional intuitions under one agency lead by the Commissioner of Corrections. This new department was overseen by a five member Board of Corrections. Corrections departments were merged into the Department of Welfare and Institutions by a government reorganization act passed by the General Assembly in 1948. In 1974 the Department of Welfare and Institutions was abolished and a new Department of Corrections was created.

Two of the most influential superintendents were Evan F. Morgan (1906-1909) and Rice M. Youell (1922-1942). In 1906 Morgan established the State Convict Road Force to assist the new State Highway Commission build roads in Virginia. Beginning in 1908, all executions were centralized at the Virginia Penitentiary. Morgan oversaw the installation of the electric chair and established procedures for executions. Youell was the longest serving of any superintendent at the Virginia Penitentiary. He served as superintendent from 1922 to 1942. During this tenure he greatly expanded educational and vocational opportunities for inmates. He successfully transitioned the Penitentiary's industries to meet the requirements of the federal Hawes-Cooper Convict Labor Act of 1929. This legislation prohibited the interstate sale of prison goods and went into effect in 1934. The General Assembly passed legislation in 1934 which established the state-use principle regarding prison products created by convict labor. The law specified that prison industries should only produce items needed by state agencies or political subdivisions. Youell was selected as the first Commissioner of Corrections in 1942. In 1948 he was named director of the reorganized corrections division, a position he held until his retirement in 1960. Major Youell was elected president of the American Prison Association in 1937 and president of the Southern States Prison Association in 1955.

Latrobe's original structure was torn down in 1928. The Virginia Penitentiary closed in December 1990 and was torn down in 1992.

Acquisition information:

The Records of the Virginia Penitentiary came to the Library of Virginia in over 40 separate accessions. In July 2004, the Penitentiary records were combined into one accession (41558).

Accession 22801, Account Books, Criminal Charges, 1886-1903. Transfer information unavailable, accessioned 1948.

Accession 26162, Virginia Penitentiary, Board of Directors, Minutes, 1881-1942. Transferred from the Virginia Dept. of Welfare, 25 August 1964; accessioned 25 August 1964.

Accession 27951, Records, State Lime Grinding Plant No. 1, Staunton, 1914-1937. Transferred by Henry H. Budd, Dept. of Agriculture and Commerce, Division of Administration, Richmond, Va., 9 March 1973; accessioned 14 March 1973

Accession 27979, Rules and Regulations, 1802. Gift of Carroll Hart, Dept. of Archives and History, Atlanta, Georgia , 8 May 1973; accessioned 8 May 1973.

Accession 29347, Registers, Register Indexes, and Medical Registers, 16 volumes. Transferred from the Dept. of Corrections, 26 January 1977; accessioned 26 January 1977.

Accession 29399, Medical Registers, 1902-1965, 26 volumes. Transferred from the Virginia State Penitentiary, 26 April 1977; accessioned 25 February 1979.

Accession 30468, Death Register, 1926-1951, 1 volume. Transferred from the Virginia State Penitentiary, 30 June 1979; accessioned 30 June 1979.

Accession 30767, Fiscal Records, 1921-1970, 21 volumes. Transferred from the Dept. of Corrections, 14 February 1980; accessioned 21 May 1980.

Accession 30769, Inmate Index Cards, 1914, 1919, 1921-1949, 2 cubic feet. Transferred from the Dept. of Corrections, 21 February 1980; accessioned 21 May 1980.

Accession 30770, Register of Convicts, 1876-1884, 1 volume. Received from Greer Fullerton, Sr., Museum Coordinator. Academy for Staff Development, PO Box 2215, Waynesboro, Va, 10 September 1979.

Accession 31429, General Correspondence, 1890-1921. Gift of Paul W. Keve, School of Community Service, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 8 June 1982; accessioned 21 June 1982.

Accession 31430, Penitentiary Registers and Ledgers, 1895-1972, 23 volumes. Gift of Paul W. Keve, School of Community Service, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 8 June 1982; accessioned 21 June 1982.

Accession 31435, Letter, 1910. Gift of Paul W. Keve, School of Community Service, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 8 June 1982; accessioned 24 June 1982.

Accession 31520, State Farm Records, 1956-1974, 13 items. Gift of Paul W. Keve, School of Community Service, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 5 October 1982; accessioned 5 October 1982.

Accession 31816, Inmate Photographs and Negatives, 1914, 1934-1961. Transferred by Fleur L. Dorschel, File Maintenance and Storage, Dept. of Corrections, 24 June 1983; accessioned 30 June 1983.

Accession 31910, General Ledger and Journal Entries, 1974-1979. Transferred by Glenda J. Adams, Accounting Department, Virginia State Penitentiary, 14 October 1983; accessioned 26 October 1983.

Accession 33674, General Records, 1912-1963, 12 items. No acquistion information available; accessioned 1989.

Accession 35176, Ledgers and Registers, 43 volumes. Transferred by Julian V. Pugh, Central Criminal Records, Dept. of Corrections, 8 June 1981; accessioned 17 November 1997.

Accession 35177, Registers, 1902-1971, 4 volumes. No acquisition information available; accessioned 18 November 1997.

Accession 35178, Registers, 1865-1908, 1951-1956, 9 volumes. No acquisition information available; accessioned November 1997.

Accession 35179, Virginia Penitentiary, Board of Directors, Minutes, 1874-1877, 1 volume. No acquistion information available; accesioned 20 November 1997.

Accession 35180, Daybook, 1817-1818. Acquired prior to 1905. No acquisition information available; accessioned 21 November 1997.

Accession 35182, Virginia Penitentiary. Board of Inspectors, Proceedings, 1800-1803. Acquired prior to 1905. No acquisition information available; accessioned 24 November 1997.

Accession 35183, Transporation Checklist, 1879-1881, 1 volume. Acquired prior to 1905. No acquisition information available; accessioned 25 November 1997.

Accession 35184, Virginia Penitentiary. Board of Visitors, 1807-1816. Acquired prior to 1905. No acquisition information available; accessioned 25 November 1997.

Accession 37333, Papers, 1823-1841. No acquisition information available; accessioned 23 May 2000.

Accession 37432, Superintendent's Records, 1893-1966, 40.2 cu. ft. and 1 volume. Transferred by J.P. Mitchell, Warden, State Penitentiary, Richmond, Virginia, 28 August 1979; accessioned 30 June 2000.

Accession 37440, Records, 1972-1980, 12 volumes. Transferred by Paul Keve, Virginia Commonwealth University, 30 June 1982; accessioned 11 July 2000.

Accession 37475, Accounts with A. and S. H. Smith, Agents at Staunton, 1811-1814. No acquisition information available; accessioned 21 July 2000.

Accession 37489, Papers concerning Board of Visitors, prisoners, prison conditions and investigations, and penitentiary finances, 1798-1824. Acquired prior to 1905. No acquisition information available; accessioned 25 July 2000.

Accession 37539, Penitentiary construction papers, 1797-1799. No acquisition information available; accessioned 9 August 2000.

Accession 37567, Miscellaneous records, 1812-1863. No acquisition information available; accessioned 16 August 2000.

Accession 37603, Inmate Negatives, 1934-1938, 2.88 cu. ft.. No acquisition information available; accessioned 21 August 2000.

Accession 37685, Daybook, 1933-1940, 1 volume. No acquisition information available; accessioned 21 September 2000.

Accession 37686, Letter book, 1895-1903, 1 volume. No acquisition information available; accessioned 22 September 2000.

Accession 37688, Monthly Reports, 1892-1912, 1 volume. No acquisition information available; accessioned 27 September 2000.

Accession 37718, Accounts and invoices of goods manufactured at the penitentiary, 1864-1865. No acquisition information available; accessioned 25 October 2000.

Accession 37722, Indexes, 2 volumes. No acquisition information available; accessioned 26 October 2000.

Accession 37723, Index, 1 volume. No acquisition information available; accessioned 26 October 2000.

Accession 37725, Indexes to Prisoner Registers, 3 volumes. No acquisition information available; accessioned 26 October 2000.

Accession 38067, General Records, 1865-1950, 41 cu. ft. No acquisition information available; accessioned 8 June 1982.

Accession 38101, Appointments of Keeper, 1796-1819. No acquisition information available; accessioned 17 May 2001.

Accession 38103, Execution Files, 1908-1970, 5.63 cu. ft. No acquisition information available; accessioned 17 May 2001.

Accession 38104, Reports, 1903-1984, 1.45 cu. ft. No acquisition information available; accessioned 17 May 2001.

Accession 38106, Financial Records, 1880-1980, 14 cu. ft. and 29 volumes. No acquisition information available; accessioned 17 May 2001.

Accession 38107, Records, 1906-1937, 16.5 cu. ft. No acquisition information available; accessioned 17 May 2001.

Accession 38108, Glass Plate Negatives of Convicts, 1906-1914, 19 cu. ft. No acquisition information available; accessioned 17 May 2001.

Accession 38109, Superintendent's Correspondence, undated, 0.375 cu. ft. No acquistion information available; accessioned 17 May 2001.

Accession 38110, Inmate Photographs, 1965-1966, 1 volume. No acquisition information available; accessioned 17 May 2001.

Accession 38214, Treatment Register, 1910-1920, 1 volume. No acquisition information available; accessioned 12 July 2001.

Accession 38651, Records, 1873-1990, 10 cu. ft. and 7 volumes. Transferred by Paul Henick, Dept. of Corrections, Richmond, Va., 30 November 2001; accessioned 30 November 2001.

Accession 40350, Index Cards, 1917-1965, 2.04 cu. ft. No acquisition information available; accessioned 18 February 2003.

Accession 41991, Prisoner photographs, negatives and interpositives, 1938-1961. Records duplicated from originals held by Library of Virginia by Northeast Document Conservation Center, 2005-2007.

Accession 53859, Execution Register, 1909-1951. Transfered by the Virginia Dept. of Corrections, Richmond, Va.; accessioned 13 April 2023.

Accession 42742, Raymond Muncy records, 1987-1991. Gift of R.M. Oliver, Richmond, Va., 14 July 2006; accessioned 14 July 2006. These records are no longer at the Library of Virginia. These were returned to the Virginia Department of Corrections on 26 January 2023. On 16 June 2023, the Department of Corrections returned four boxes (481-484) of this accession to the Library of Virginia. The execution files (boxes 479 and 480) remain in the custody of the Dept. of Corrections.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • Series I. Penitentiary Papers, 1796-1865
  • Subseries A. Penitentiary Construction Papers, 1797-1799
  • Subseries B. Letters of Application and Recommendation for Positions of Penitentiary Keeper, Agent and Physician, 1796-1797, 1812-1916 and 1819
  • Subseries C. Board of Inspectors and Visitors, 1800-1820
  • Subseries D. Prisoners, 1798-1820
  • Subseries E. Prison Conditions and Investigations, 1800-1824
  • Subseries F. Penitentiary Financial Records, 1800-1865
  • Series II. Prisoner Records, 1865-1990
  • Subseries A. Registers, 1865-1990
  • Subseries B. Photographs and Negatives, 1906-1961, 1965-1966
  • Subseries C. Penitentiary Commitment Orders, 1865-1896
  • Subseries D. Inmate Index Cards for Felons, 1914, 1919, 1921-1949
  • Subseries E. Execution Files, 1908-1970
  • Series III. Board of Directors (State Prison Board), 1874-1877, 1881-1942
  • Subseries A. Minutes, 1874-1877, 1881-1942
  • Subseries B. Correspondence and Reports, 1902-1939
  • Subseries C. Annual Reports, 1877-1942
  • Series IV. Office of the Superintendent, 1869-1991 (bulk 1908-1970)
  • Subseries A. Letter Books, ca. 1871-1906
  • Subseries B. General Correspondence, 1892-1991 (bulk 1908-1970)
  • Subseries C. State Convict Road Force, 1906-1940
  • Subseries D. Correspondence, Office of the Governor, 1915-1916, 1921-1940
  • Subseries E. Reports and Publications, 1921-1982 (bulk 1941-1982)
  • Subseries F. Guard Logs, Virginia Penitentiary, 1972-1980
  • Subseries G. Reference Books, 1869-1931
  • Subseries H. Photographs, 1976-1989 (bulk 1976-1979)
  • Series V. State Convict Road Force, 1904-1965 (bulk 1906-1949)
  • Subseries A. Prisoner Records, 1904-1965 (bulk 1910-1949)
  • Subseries B. Diaries, 1936-1938
  • Subseries C. Correspondence, 1910, 1912, 1919-1930, 1933-1941
  • Subseries D. Financial Records, 1906-1937
  • Series VI. State Convict Lime Grinding Board, 1914-1934, 1937 (bulk 1914-1922)
  • Subseries A. Minutes, 1914-1921, 1923
  • Subseries B. Correspondence, 1914-1925
  • Subseries C. Financial Records, 1914-1924
  • Subseries D. Records from the Dept. of Agriculture and Commerece, 1914-1934, 1937
  • Series VII. Financial Records, 1879-1881, 1884-1980 (bulk 1895-1933)
  • Series VIII. Blueprints and Drawings, 1940-1984
Physical location:
Physical description:
210.56 cubic feet (696 boxes and 1 map case drawer) and 290 volumes