Series V. State Convict Road Force, 1904-1965 (bulk 1906-1949).

Containers:

Box 573-659., Volume 162-203, 222, 255, 268-269, 272-274 and 287.

Extent:

Extent: 31.78 cubic feet of records and 50 volumes.

Scope and content:

The State Convict Road Force series contains 50 volumes and is housed in 87 boxes. It is arranged into four (4) subseries. Subseries have been designated for: A. Prisoner Records; B. Diaries; C. Correspondence; and D. Financial Records. These records include diaries, correspondence, subject files, registers, rosters, index cards, reports, lists and financial records, This series documents the activities of the State Convict Road Force.

The State Convict Road Force was created by the General Assembly in 1906 as part of the Withers-Lassiter "good roads" law that created the State Highway Commission. The Penitentiary was responsible for creating, administrating and supplying mobile convict road camps for use by the Highway Commission The camps were manned by felons from the Penitentiary and by misdeamants from local jails. The number and location of camps changed based upon the needs of the State Highway Commission. The Penitentiary Superintendent and/or Assistant Penitentiary Superintendent was head of the State Convict Road Force. He was assisted by a chief clerk.

Researchers should be aware that there are significant gaps within this series. For example there are very few correspondence prior to 1926 or prisoner registers after 1925. Topics include convict labor, State Convict Road Force operations (camp supplies, payrolls, camp inventories, rations for prisoners and camp bills), prisoner escapes, and punishment reports. Prisoners in this series are sometimes referred to as "jailmen" or "stripemen". Jailmen are prisoners convicted of a misdemeanor and sentenced to a short term (a year or less) on the State Convict Road Force. Stripemen are convicted felons sentenced to the road force. Unlike stripemen, jailmen are not included in the Prisoner Registers or Photographs found in Series II. Prisoner Records. Researchers should also note that additional State Convict Road Force records can be found in Series IV. Office of the Superintendent, Subseries C. State Convict Road Force.

Access and use

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