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Philadelphia Prisons System
[Record Group 38]
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- 38.1 Inspectors of the Jail & Penintentiary House. Minutes
- 1794-1835
6 volumes, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.2 Sales of City Lots
- 1804-1808
1 volume, partial index
Citation of Act of Assembly directing sale of land owned by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania within Philadelphia by Inspectors to finance construction of Arch Street Prison; entries for sales list dates, purchasors, lot numbers (more fully described in rear), prices and totals; also included are costs of advertising, auction room rent, auctioneer's commission and his account with Inspectors; descriptions of lots No. 154-217 missing.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.3 Board of Inspectors, Minutes
- 1835-1941; missing: January 1916-December 1920
11 volumes, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.4 Inspectors of the County Prison. Annual Reports
- 1847-1858, 1860-1864, 1866-1868, 1870, 1871, 1929, 1939-1952
35 volumes, index
For other Annual Reports between 1857-1885, see Mayor's Annual Reports.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.4a Superintendent. Annual Report
- 1948
1 volume, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.5 Board of Inspectors, Reports Received
- 1847-1856
2 volumes, no index
Reports and recommendations made by committees appointed to investigate specific matters (unusual deaths, accidents, administrative matters, etc.) include statements of testimony taken.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.6 Rules Adopted by Board
- 1846
1 volume, no index
In addition to rules of Board and committees procedures, duties of prison officers, and regulations regarding prisoners, entries include copy of Act of April 14, 1835, establishing Board of Inspectors, list of Board members of date, description of Moyamensing Prison, and a report of a special committee of 1845 on prison rations, system of prison labor, officers' salaries, and general economy with a comparison of rations system and cost figures with a great number of other prisons.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.7 Building Committee, Minutes
- 1886-1929; missing: 1888-1913.
2 volumes, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.8 Committee on Manufacturing, Minutes
- 1840-1887missing: 1853-1875
2 volumes, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.9 Parade Ground and Culvert Committee, Minutes
- 1839-1842
1 volume, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.10 Committee on Repairs, Minutes
- November 1849
1 volume, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.11 Committee on Supplies, Minutes
- May - December 1841
1 volume, no index
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.12 Board of Inspectors, Expenditures Ledger
- 1848-1853
1 volume, no index
Entries list Inspectors' Room expenditures for refreshments, transportation, etc.; recapitulation for 1847 only; also listed are bills presented to Board by Committee on Supplies, 1850-1853.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.13 Appropriations and Detailed Expenditures
- 1867-1915
6 volumes, index vols 1891-1915 only
Entries for disbursements grouped under appropriation item numbers and titles; each lists date, warrant number, payee, amount; totals.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.14 Accounts of Prison, City & County Treasurers
- 1836-1890; missing: 1848-1853
3 volumes, no index
Accounts of Inspectors with all three treasurers; also include monthly statements of orders paid which list amounts and payee, and similar statements for cash received.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.15 Accounts Ledger
- 1835-1914; missing: 1847
10 volumes, index
Contain accounts with individual suppliers, Prison Superintendent, and for appropriation items, and rentals; entries under each list dates, few itemizations of disbursements, amounts due, amounts paid; accounts balanced annually.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.16 Rough Accounts Ledger
- 1840-1853; missing: 1843-1844
2 volumes, no index
Include accounts with suppliers, prison keepers, other counties (those with prisoners confined here), etc.; entries under each list date, itemizations, amounts due Prison; no receipts noted, no balances cast.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.17 General Accounts fo Expenses
- 1824-1854; missing: 1837-1847
2 volumes, no index
Annual detailed accounts of expenditures, broken down by commodities and merchants from whom purchased; similar accounts for Cotton, Cordwaining, and Carpentry departments, and for various other prison manufactures.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.18 Ledger, "Sundry" Expenses and Receipts
- 1829-1830
9 volumes, no index
Monthly lists of "sundry" expenses and monies received from City and County Treasurers; entries for expenditures include order numbers, some itemizations, amounts, payees.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.19 Cash Book
- 1814-1921; missing: 1817-1820, 1860-1865
19 volumes, no index
Daily entries of cash receipts and disbursals for varied items sold and purchased; entries list dates, itemizations, amounts; balanced monthly.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.20 Superintendent's Cash Journal
- 1853-1930; missing: 1866-1896
5 volumes, no index
Daily itemized entries of cash receipts for goods and services sold and payments for those purchased; similar entries for payments to and receipts from City and Prison Treasurers; receipts and disbursals balanced monthly.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.21 Receipt Slips
- 1827-1836
1 volume, no index
Receipt notes for Prisons Treasurer disbursals; each bears number, date, amount, payee's name and signature.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.22 Departmental Sales Journal
- 1833-1853
3 volumes, no index
Vol. 1833-1846: record of prisoners' weaving 1833-1835 includes number of days at work, sick, or in (punishment?) cells, quantities and types of cloth woven, remarks concerning confinement, sickness, transfers to other institutions; January 1837 inventory of stock and equipment in cotton dyeing and weaving department; 1837-1839 journal of (primarily) sales of cloth and receipts of goods purchased for cotton department; 1845-1846 account of yarn received raw and from dyers.
Vol. 1845-1853 contains itemized journal of sales of cordwaining, cotton, and carpentry departments 1845-1853, for "Miscellaneous Department" 1845-1851, for hair and wool department 1845-1846; entries include date of sale, work done, customers name, price.
Vol. 1846 includes January inventories of cotton and cordwaining departments; journal of purchases for and sales from cotton, cordwaining, and carpentry departments.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.23 Sales Journal, General
- 1833-1838
2 volumes, index
Under purchasers' account headings, itemized journal lists of items and prices of prison manufacture purchased; occasional notices of payments received.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.24 Incidental Sales Journal
- 1844-1853
1 volume, no index
Daily entries for "sundry" items sold include date, itemization, price; receipts paid to Prison Treasurer; periodic examination notices.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.25 Accounts, Cut Stone Sales
- 1822-1836
1 volume, index
Under headings for individual purchasers' accounts, lists of all prisoners on project and amount and type of stone cut; monthly account totals.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.26 Goods Purchased Against Prisoners' Earnings
- March - December 1834
1 volume, no index
Summaries of amounts earned by individual prisoners balanced against personal purchases made for them out of those funds.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.27 Stock Book
- 1800-1805
1 volume, no index
Partial inventory of Prison January 1, 1800; abstracts of accounts with other counties for their prisoners' maintenance list convict's name, charges for board and clothing, type of work performed by him and amount earned to offset account; accounts current with other counties list amount due for prisoner's immediate maintenance and that due for proportional expense of prison's upkeep; list of balances due by counties as of January 1, 1805.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.28 Appropriation Ledger, Holmesburg Prison
- 1881-1896
2 volumes, no index
Entries list date, appropriation item title, itemization of goods or services for which disbursement made, amount; entries balanced to Appropriation Accounts
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.29 Appropriation Accounts, Holmesburg Prison
- 1881-1896
1 volume, index
Individual unitemized accounts of payments made to suppliers, balanced against specific appropriations for relevant purposes; monthly totals.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.30 Appropriation Book, Holmesburg Prison
- 1897-1915
3 volumes, no index
Under headings of appropriation item number, title and amount, monthly entries list warrant numbers, amounts, to whom each paid and reason for payment.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.31 Detailed Expenditures, Holmesburg Prison
- 1881-1896
1 volume, no index
Journal entries list date, title of account under which expenditure made, itemization of goods or services purchased, cost; monthly totals.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.32 Ledger, Sundry Expenses and Receipts, Holmesburg Prison
- 1909-1930
1 volume, no index
Monthly lists of "sundry" expenses and monies received from City Treasurer; entries for expenditures include order numbers, some itemizations, payees, amounts.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.33 Voucher Register, Holmesburg Prison
- 1920-1943; missing: 1927-1937
2 volumes, no index
Statements of irregular dates list voucher numbers, claimants, amounts due, totals.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.34 Payroll Book, Holmesburg Prison
- 1938-1939
1 volume, no index
Half-monthly.statements list employee's name, warrant and appropriation numbers, his address, position, annual salary, amount earned for period, recipient's signature.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.35 Convicts' Docket
- 1792-1812
2 volumes, index
Individual entries list convict's name, crime, sentence, court in which tried, date sentenced, when and how discharged.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.36 Sentence Docket
- 1794-1923
25 volumes, index in volumes and Index of Prisoners
Entries list prisoner's name, age, crime, physical description, sentence, court in which tried, date sentenced, prosecutor's name, when and by whom discharged.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.37 Index of Prisoners
- 1831-1931; missing: 1909-1910
10 volumes, no index
Entries list prisoner's name, number, reference to entry in Sentence Docket listed immediately above, race, crime, court in which tried, sentence, date of sentence, cost levied.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.38 Prisoners for Trial Docket
- 1790-1948
164 volumes, index
entries list prisoner's name, charge, date and by whom committed, date and by whom discharged; age, race, and address added to entry beginning 1942; for entries June-July 1836, see rear of Death Register vol. 1819-1830.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.39 Daily Occurrence Docket
- 1811-1948
136 volumes, index vols. 1932-1948 only
Entries list prisoner's name, number, date and cause of commitment, by whom committed, how and by whom discharged, notice of conviction or acquital.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.40 Receiving Description Docket
- 1825-1864; missing: 1829-1840
5 volumes, index vols. 1841-1853 only
A first entry record, data later being transferred to Sentence Docket and Convict Description Docket; entries include number reference to Sentence Docket, prisoner's name, race, place of birth, age, physical description, occupation, date of commitment; added variously are prisoner's home county or local court from which he was received, area of prison to which assigned, his crime, sentence, and costs, number of convictions, marital status, signature, note as to his literacy.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.41 Convict Description Docket
- 1826-1931; missing: 1831-1867
18 volumes, no index
Entries list prisoner's name, birthplace, age, occupation, physical description, crime, sentence and date, county from which committed, number of convictions, date and method of discharge or other disposition; in 1873 note of county from which received dropped and others added listing prisoner's register number, race, date received, where imprisoned before, whether parents living or dead, religion degree of education, industrial status (apprentice, etc.), marital status, number of children, military service, drinking habits. The years 1895 to 1897 include entries for transfer to the "New County Prison" (Holmesburg). The volume for the years 1894 to 1897 includes a list of "Sentenced" prisoners which seems to indicate a distinction between "Convicts" or felons and those convicted of misdemeanors ("Sentenced"). After 1896 Convicts seem to have been sentenced to Holmesburg, while those convicted of misdemeanors continued to be sent to Moyamensing. Beginning with June of 1896 "Sentenced" Prisoners are identified by cell number or block while "Convicts" continue to be identified by register number.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.42 Entry Docket, Male
- 1866-1896
1 volume, no index
Entries list date, prisoner's name, number, race, charge, and sentence.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.43 U.S. Government Prisoners, Holmesburg Prison
- 1902-1915
1 volume, no index
Entries list prisoner's name, crime, sentence and date, date of discharge.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.44 Vagrancy Docket
- 1790-1932; missing: January 1798-May 1804, January 17, 1871-September 1893, Jan. 13, 1907-March 1, 1915
36 volumes, index vols. 1864-1932 only
Entries list prisoner's name, date, cause and by whom committed, date and by whom discharged; beginning in 1925 entries shortened to name and date committed only.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.45 Intoxication Docket
- 1846-1915
30 volumes, index
Entries list prisoner's name, sentence, date and by whom committed, cause (in addition to intoxication), date and by whom discharged.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.46 Quarter Sessions Court Record
- 1874-1888; missing: September 1876-June 1885
2 volumes, no index
Entries list prisoner's name, date, note as to whether discharged or convicted and sentence.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.47 Register, Prisoners Punished
- 1839-1896; missing: 1849-1873
2 volumes, no index
Entries list prisoner's name, number, date of offense and/or punishment, by whom reported, date discharged from punishment; beginning 1874 entries shortened to name, date and offense only; lists of "Keepers Off Duty" July 4, 1844-1846 in front of volume, December 25, 1842-1846 in rear.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.48 Discharge Description Docket
- 1830-1933; missing: 1836-1872
11 volumes, no index
Entries list reference number to Receiving Description Docket, prisoner's name, age, physical description, occupation, date and manner of discharge, intended residence, birthplace, number of convictions; vols. 1873-1933 entries omit last two items and add prisoner's crime, date and term of sentence, time added for misconduct, total time served, number of days commuted, number of times punished, education received in prison, amount earned in "overwork ".
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.49 Discharge Docket
- 1835-1896; missing: January 1868-April 1883, June 1889-December 1891
11 volumes, no index
entries list reference number to Sentence Docket, prisoner's name, race, crime, date of commitment, sentence and costs, date and manner of discharge, description of prisoner's clothing; vols. 1859-1860, 1865-1867 omit last item.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.50 Untried Department, Discharge Index
- 1863-1929; missing: October 1875-April 1876, October 1878-June 1879
99 volumes,
daily compilations of discharges of prisoners listed in Prisoners for Trial Docket; entries list name, charge, date and method of discharge.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.51 Discharge Index, Chronological
- 1847-1866
1 volume,
Entries list number reference to Sentence Docket, prisoner's name, race, sex, length of time served, method of discharge; entries arranged by date of discharge.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.52 Discharge Index, Alphabetical
- 1865-1875
1 volume,
Entries list number reference to Sentence Docket, prisoner's name, race, sex, length of time served, method of discharge; entries grouped by first initial of last name.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.53 Commutation Calendar
- 1871-1951
10 volumes, no index
Monthly listings of commutations includes prisoner's name and number, sentence and date, "time gained," date of expiration of sentence (commutation included), date discharged.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.54 Convicts Docket, Female
- 1838-1891
3 volumes, no index
Entries list prisoner's name, race, date of conviction, cell number, sentence, crime, date and method of discharge; vol. 1877-1890 omits discharge date.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.55 Convicts and Sentenced Prisoners Entry Docket, Female
- May 1890-July 1907
4 volumes, index vol. Jan 1895-June 1902 only
Entries list prisoner's name, race; number, if a convict; sentence, date of committment, date of discharge; notes of reduction or suspension of sentence and of tranfer to other institutions. Vols. January 1895-June 1902 and July 1906-December 1913 add each prisoner's crime.
Vol. November 1893-March 1905 adds fine and cost, and bail cases which include prisoner's name, the charge, amount of fine and cost or amount of bail, and date of discharge.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.56 Commitment Docket, Female
- 1840-1956; missing: 1942-1952
28 volumes, no index
Entries list prisoner's name, race, date and cause of commitment, date and by whom discharged.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.57 Entry Docket, Female
- 1872-1929
3 volumes, no index
Entries list prisoner's name, race, number, date of commitment; vol. 1889-1908 adds prisoner's crime.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.58 Sentence Docket, Female
- 1889-1900
1 volume, index
Entries list prisoner's name, number, race, crime, sentence, date and court of sentence, date and method of discharge.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.59 Petty Criminal Calendar, Female
- 1867-1900
2 volumes, no index
Entries list prisoner's name, race, number, date of commitment, sentence, discharge (or death) date; vol. 1889-1900 adds prisoner's crime.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.60 Convicted and Sentenced Female Description Docket
- 1889-1917
4 volumes, index
Entries list prisoner's name, age, detailed physical description, place of birth, parental information, degree of education, occupation, personal habits (usually "temperate or intemperate"), marital status, register or cell number, crime, sentence and date, number of convictions, date received into prison, and date and method of discharge.
The volume for the dates 6/6/1889 to 7/13/1910 includes both "Convicted" prisoners or felons and "Sentenced" prisoners or misdemeanants. Beginning with the month of April 1906 felons and misdemeanants are included in different volumes.
The volume for the years 4/3/1894 to 5/18/1906 labelled "Description Sentenced Prisoners, Female Department . . . " and omits detailed physical descriptions.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.61 Description Docket, Female
- 1901-1941; missing: 1906-1907
8 volumes, no index
Entries list prisoner's name, race, number, crime, sentence, date of discharge.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.62 Index, Female Prisoners
- 1889-1894
1 volume, no index
Entries list prisoner's name, race, number, crime, sentence and date.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.63 Register, Prisoners Punished, Female
- 1873-1928
1 volume, no index
Entries list prisoner's number (name omitted), date, time punishment begun, type of punishment (e.g., being placed in handcuffs, irons, dark cells; number of meals stopped; number of meals of bread and water).
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.64 Discharge Calendar, Female
- 1890-1950
11 volumes, no index
Monthly compilations list prisoner's name, number, sentence and date, date of discharge.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.65 Commutation Docket, Female
- December 29, 1885 - December 27, 1951
8 volumes, no index
Monthly listings include prisoner's name; number, if a convict; sentence and date,"time gained," date of expiration of sentence by commutation, date discharged.
Vol. December 1885-April 1905 omits "time gained," and date of expiration of sentence by commutation, but adds prisoner's race and amount of fines.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.66 Foreign-Born Female Convicts
- 1897-1905
1 volume, no index
Entries list prisoner's name, number, birthplace, whether adult or minor, number of years resident in Pennsylvania, number of years resident in other states.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.67 Prison Diary
- 1846-1849
1 volume, no index
Daily record of keepers on duty or absent; daily listing of prisoners received for each of which is listed his name, race, number, crime, and sentence; monthly reports to Visiting Inspectors of number of convicts broken down by race and sex, number of cells occupied, empty, "dark" (punishment?), and holding more than one prisoner, number of prisoners ill.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.68 Prison Diary, Female Department
- 1850-1935; missing: 1902-1932
6 volumes, no index
Daily entries listing keepers on duty, cell numbers only of prisoners reporting to prison physician, punishments, prisoners received and discharged, visits by Visiting Inspectors.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.69 Matron's Daily Reports
- 1929-1932
1 volume, no index
Daily listings of prisoners' illnesses, physician's treatments, visitors, repairs, widely varying miscellaneous occurrences.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.70 Medical Register
- 1835-1853
2 volumes, no index
Monthly listings of ill prisoners contain inmate's number, age, race, disease and event; compilations of number of patients carried forward from previous month, number entered on sick list that month, total numbers treated, cured, discharged, remaining under treatment, and diseases present; annual totals of numbers of cases of given diseases and numbers of patients cured, relieved, or dead; vol. 1835-1853 lists convicts only; vol. 1836-1853 records untried prisoners.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.71 Medical Journal
- 1836-1855
1 volume, no index
Daily notes of prison physician's visits to and prescriptions for prisoners; list of prisoners, continued at various places throughout volume, includes for each his name, number, race, age, state of health, whether he has had smallpox or vaccination, general health habits, former state of health.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.72 Health Histories, Female Prisoners
- 1891
1 volume, no index
Entries list prisoner's name, address, race, age, marital status, place of birth, religion, occupation, weight, height, notes concerning parents' and prisoner's previous health, results of examinations; also crime, sentence, dates committed to prison and discharged.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.73 Prison Births
- 1858-1879
1 volume, no index
Eight entries only. Lists dates of birth, child's race, sex, mother's name.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.74 Death Register
- 1819-1914; missing: 1831-1842, 1889-1894
5 volumes, no index
Entries vary in form but all list prisoner's name and date of death; added variously are his age, race, number, cause of death, place of origin; vol. 1895-1914 lists occasional removals to hospitals for insane in place of death date; vol. 1819-1830 contains, in rear, Prisoners for Trial entries, June-July, 1836.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.75 Prison Homicides
- 1906-1937
1 volume, no index
Entries list date, murderer's and victim's names, sentence or discharge.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.76 Rations Book
- 1836-1894; missing: September 1870-December 1880
3 volumes, no index
Entries vary in form but essentially list daily and monthly totals of rations issued and per capita and total costs; listed variously are occasional annual total and average costs, some miscellaneous and salary expenditures, some daily listings of prisoners received and discharged.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.77 Provisions Ledger, Female
- 1829-1831
1 volume, index
Accounts of individual prisoners for provisions and miscellaneous supplies furnished her.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.78 Goods Received Journal
- 1844-1887; missing: 1858-1883
4 volumes, index vol. 1884-1887 only
Daily entries for all items purchased list date, itemization, cost; no totals
Vol. 1884-1887 entries are grouped by commodity.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.79 Stock Ledger
- 1898-1937; missing: 1905-1909
13 volumes, index
Individual accounts of commodities on hand at prison list dates and quantities received and dispensed; monthly totals.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.80 Cordwaining Work Book
- 1875-1896
2 volumes, no index
Entries list prisoner's name and cell letter, amount and type of shoes produced by him totalled monthly; remarks, chiefly amount of board charged prisoner.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.81 Prisoners' Cordwaining Accounts
- 1875-1885
1 volume, no index
Individual prisoner's accounts list monthly totals of work and "overwork" done and money earned balanced against board charged him and goods purchased for him; final balance denotes amount due prisoner on discharge.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.82 Cordwaining Works Received and Delivered
- 1854-1867
1 volume, index
Individual customers accounts list daily entries of materials received from him, work performed upon it and delivered to him; dates and costs entered for each; totals.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.83 Cordwaining Account Ledger
- 1854-1896; missing: 1864-1869
3 volumes, index vol. 1874-1896 only
Individual purchasers accounts, each entry under which lists date, itemization, and price of shoes purchased, and amounts paid for them; totals; vol. 1874-1896 entries not itemized.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.84 Cloth Production Ledger
- 1859-1861
1 volume, no index
Entries list prisoner's number only, detailed breakdown of types and quantities of cloth woven summarized at varying dates; remarks, chiefly concerning assignments of prisoners to tasks and transfers, dates of discharge.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.85 Weavers Accounts
- 1859-1866
1 volume, no index
Individual prisoners' accounts headed with name and number list dates work begun and account totalled, number of days worked, amounts and types of cloth woven.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.86 Executions List
- 1839-1916
1 volume, index
Entries list names of persons undergoing capital punishment at County Prison; also listed is prisoner's race and date of execution; apparently compiled 1916 by George V. Meyer, Prison Agent.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.87 Convict Description Docket, Holmesburg Prison
- May 21, 1894-December 30, 1913
12 volumes, no index
Entries include date prisoner received, prisoner's register number, name, age, color, nativity, physical description, religion, degree of education (including whether public or private school attended, age at leaving school, no school, whether habitual sabbath breaker, degree of literacy), indus trial status (apprentice, etc.), habits (abstinate, intemperate, etc.), marital status, number of children, military service, parental relations (whether parents, one or both, died before prisoner was age 16, evaluation of home influence), crime, date & term of sentence, and whether sentence at hard la bor, number of convictions, places of previous imprison ment, date and method of discharge, and number of prisoner's photograph. Notations made of work assignments, transfers, return to cells and death etc.
After July 1901, dockets no longer list number of prisoners' photos.
After June 1901, names of Judge ordering prisoner discharges, commutations are entered.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.88 Discharge Calendar
- 1917-1935
2 volumes, no index
Includes prisoner's name, cell number, date of sentence, term of sentence, time out, and dates of discharge, pardon, death, appeal, or transfer to other institution.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.89 Female Discharge Description Docket
- 1889-1917
2 volumes, no index
Entries include name of prisoner, her color, sex, age when discharged, crime, sentence and date, date and manner of discharge, length of time served, number of times punished while in prison, prison occupation, education received while in prison, weight upon discharge, intended residence, remarks, and register number if convicted of felony.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 38.90 Discharge Books, Female
- January 1895-April 1918
2 volumes, no index
Entries list prisoner's name, race, numberssentence date of committment, amount of fines date of discharge, and notes of reduction or suspension of sentence or of transfer to other institution.
Vol. January 1895-December 1911 adds a recapitulation of prisoners committed from January 1871-December 1918,which lists for each year the total number of prisoners, the total number of white prisoners and the total number of black prisoners; and a recapitulation of total numbers of prisoners discharged and 'intoxicated each year from 1888 to 1918.
Location: City Archives, 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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Last updated on November 8, 2000
