Series I. Penitentiary Papers, 1796-1865.

Containers:

Box 1-8., Box 1.

Extent:

Extent: 3.95 cubic feet of records.

Scope and content:

The Penitentiary Papers series is housed in nine (9) boxes with oversized material separated out and is arranged into seven (7) subseries. Subseries have been designated for: A. Penitentiary Construction Papers; B. Letters of Application and Recommendation for Position of Penitentiary Keeper, Agent and Physician; C. Board of Inspectors and Visitors; D. Prisoners; E. Prison Conditions and Investigations; and F. Penitentiary Financial Records. This series consists of accounts, affidavits, contracts, deeds, letters (correspondence), minutes, muster rolls, petitions, plats, proceedings, reports and vouchers. This is an artificial series consisting of extant pre-1865 Penitentiary related records. During the evacuation of Richmond in April 1865, Penitentiary Superintendent Colin Bass carried off most of the penitentiary records and very few pre-1865 penitentiary records survive. Many of the records in this series were removed at some point from other collections such as the Office of the Governor and Auditor of Public Accounts. Additional records from the antebellum era related to the penitentiary may be found in the records of the Auditor of Public Accounts, General Assembly (especially Legislative Petitions and Executive Communications) and Office of the Governor. Published annual reports of the Directors of the Penitentiary as well as legislative reports on the Penitentiary from the antebellum period can be found in the Journal of the House of Delegates [J87 v6].

Access and use

Contents