STILLWATER STATE PRISON:

The indexes and registers were created for different purposes at different times, but there is substantial overlap among them. Four of the indexes are for specific volumes of the convict record--volumes C, F, H, and K (the index for volume H appears to list the inmates from volume H but the numbers listed with the inmates' names are not the register numbers). The remainder of the indexes--the general indexes and the Kardex files--cover sets of years without regard to specific volumes of prison records.

Because the general indexes seem to list everyone in prison in a given year, inmates with long imprisonment terms appear in several indexes. Therefore, in the volume list each index is dated both according to the dates that all of the inmates listed in the index entered prison, including those few who were already serving long sentences, and according to the dates that the bulk of those listed in the index entered prison. The Kardex files which begin with inmates entering prison about 1930 and continue to 1978, are more reliable than earlier indexes. Also included is a card file index to the inmates by type of crime.

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Alphabetical within each volume. In most volumes, names are grouped alphabetically by the first letter of the inmate's surname, and within each group are listed in the order in which the inmates entered the prison.

These documents are organized into the following sections:

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Access Restrictions:

Original materials (1862-1924) are closed to general use. They are available for public use on microfilm.

General Indexes [Set 2] Nos. 5-8 and the Kardex files include private information about individuals. Records with private information are closed for 75 years from date of last entry in the record. Researchers must apply for permission to use these records. Please consult library staff for more information.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Minnesota State Prison (Stillwater, Minn.). Indexes to Inmates. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Microfilm Production:

Saint Paul, MN : Minnesota Historical Society, 1996.

Accession Information:

Accession numbers: 980-23; 988-45; 2002-35

Processing Information:

Catalog ID number: 001704340

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The inclusive span dates of the volumes represent the years the inmates listed in them entered the prison. Many of the indexes and registers appear to list all inmates that were in prison or on parole at the time a new volume was begun (the names of the current inmates and parolees were carried over from the previous volume and entered in the new volume) Therefore, two sets of dates are given for some indexes and registers: the years that all of the inmates listed in the volume entered prison (the first set of dates), and the years during which the "bulk" of the prisoners or "new arrivals" entered (the second set of dates, in parentheses).

The indexes to specific volumes of convict records cite volume and page numbers. Entries in indexes and registers that cover a groups of years without regard to specific volumes or records give the inmate's register number instead of a page number. The register number, which was chronologically assigned to every convict upon entering the prison, can be used to identify a variety of records for a particular inmate, including his or her case file (female convicts served sentences at Stillwater State Prison until the State Reformatory for Women was established at Shakopee in 1920). Researchers should be aware that two numbering systems were employed during the time period covered by the indexes and registers. The initial system (numbers 1-5688) was used from 1859 to August 2, 1901. It appears that the second system was initiated during July-August, 1901, when inmates already in prison or on parole were assigned numbers 1-579, and early September, 1901, when an entering inmate was given number 580.

Some microfilm images may be difficult to read due to the poor contrast between the text and the paper on the original volume pages. In an effort to increase the legibility of the text on the microfilm, volume pages may be filmed more than once at different camera settings, with a target identifying the intentional duplicate exposure.

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CLOSED.

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RESTRICTED.

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Additional indexes are cataloged under Public Welfare Department: Public Institutions Division, Patient Registers and Indexes, 1864-1924.

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Parole -- Minnesota.

Prison sentences -- Minnesota.

Prisoners -- Minnesota -- Indexes.

Prisoners -- Minnesota -- Registers.

Women prisoners -- Minnesota.

Document Types:

Indexes.

Microforms.

Registers.

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