STILLWATER STATE PRISON:

An Inventory of Its Warden's Correspondence and Miscellany at the Minnesota Historical Society

Government Records

OVERVIEW


	Creator:	Minnesota State Prison (Stillwater, Minn.).
	Title:	Warden's Correspondence and Miscellany.
	Dates:	1889-1963.
	Language:	Materials in English.
	Abstract:	Correspondence (primarily letters sent) between the warden and prison suppliers, people buying products produced in prison industries, friends and former employers of inmates, law enforcement and other government officials, the prison physician, and others. The correspondence relates to prison supplies, prison industry products, inmates' previous records, prisoners' medical condition and treatment, parole requests and hearings, prison personnel and salaries, the 1895 installation of a sprinkler system, and other matters relating to prison administration.
	Quantity:	9.75 cubic feet (9 boxes and 3 partial boxes).
	Location:	See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

The wardens during this period were Henry Wolfer (1891-1913), C. S. Reed (1914-1920), and John J. Sullivan (1921-1938). Also included are a volume of warden's (administrative) orders (1891-1905); summaries of interviews with inmates concerning their plans for life after they are released; Hennepin County District Court papers concerning Thebaud Brothers vs. Warden of the State Prison (1900); warden's diaries (1921-1927); correspondence with Governor Floyd B. Olson and newspaper clippings concerning the Wickersham Commission report on cruel and inhumane treatment of inmates in U.S. prisons (1931); photographs of wardens who served at the prison from 1858 to 1901 (undated); staff meeting minutes (1956-1963); and land papers (1906-1918). The latter include abstracts of title, warranty deeds, and right-of-way correspondence concerning prison property.

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Minnesota State Prison (Stillwater, Minn.). Warden's Correspondence and Miscellany. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession numbers: 318; 981-83; 983-179; 988-45; 992-179

Processing Information:

Catalog ID number: 990017138390104294

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION


Location
109.F.18.5B	General correspondence, 1889-1903. 38 volumes:
		1889-1894. 6 volumes.
Location
109.F.18.6F		1894-1895. 5 volumes.
Location
109.F.18.7B		1895-1897. 6 volumes.
Location
109.F.18.8F		1897-1898. 7 volumes.
Location
109.F.18.9B		1898-1900. 7 volumes.
Location
109.F.18.10F		1900-1903. 7 volumes.


Location
109.F.18.11B		Inquiries regarding applications for parole, 1894; interviews with prisoners, 1894-1900. 1 volume.


		Inquiries regarding applications for parole, 1895-1901. 4 volumes.


Location
109.F.18.12F		Warden's orders, 1891-1905. 1 volume.


Location
118.E.7.2F-2		Prison physician's letters sent to warden, 1902-1906. 1 volume.


Location
109.F.18.12F		Telegrams, 1905-1906. 1 volume.


Location
109.F.18.13B		Order books [supplies and equipment], 1893-1905. 4 volumes.


		Convict requisitions, 1893-1904. 3 volumes.
			Items ordered for inmates; and sometimes other correspondence relating to inmate accounts.


Location
117.G.14.2F	Correspondence, 1895, 1911-1935. 3 folders.
		Concerning budget, personnel and salaries, and installation of a sprinkler system (1895).


		Hennepin County District Court papers, 1900.
			Thebaud Bros. v Warden of the State Prison.


		Land papers, 1906-1918 (bulk 1906-1909). 5 folders.
			Include abstracts of title, warranty deeds, and right-of-way correspondence regarding prison property.


Location
115.I.17.6F	Warden's diaries, 1921-1927. 3 volumes.
		Diary of daily life at the prison, including information on inmate and staff activities, weather, visitors, and trips taken.


		Correspondence with Governor Floyd B. Olson, 1931, 1933.
			Regarding the Wickersham Committee report on cruel and inhuman treatment of inmates in United States prisons (1931), and one letter regarding Olson's health (1933).


		American Prison Association records, 1924.
			Pertaining to the association's convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. Sullivan was involved in program planning.


		Papers, speeches, addresses, undated, 1902-1912, approximately 1923, approximately 1930. 4 folders.


		News clippings scrapbook regarding the Wickersham Committee Report, July-August 1931. l volume.
			Local press reaction to the report as it related to Stillwater State Prison.


		Photographs of Sullivan, undated.
			Three photographs.


		Photographs of former wardens, undated. 11 envelopes in 1 folder.
			Photographs of portraits of wardens who served at the prison from 1858 to 1901, including Francis R. Delano, Francis D. J. Smith, Henry N. Setzer, John S. Proctor, Joshua L. Taylor, A. C. Webber, Henry A. Jackman, John A. Reed, H. J. Stordock, Albert Garvin, and Charles McC. Reeve. Date of photography is unknown.


		Warden's Staff Meeting Minutes, 1956-1963. 2 folders.

CATALOG HEADINGS

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 administration -- Minnesota.; Prison industries -- Minnesota.; Prison physicians -- Minnesota.; Prison wardens -- Minnesota -- Diaries.; Prison wardens -- Minnesota -- Photographs.; Prisoners -- Health and hygiene -- Minnesota.; Prisoners -- Medical care -- Minnesota.; Prisons -- Minnesota -- Equipment and supplies.; Prisons -- Minnesota -- Visits and correspondence with inmates.

Persons:: Olson, Floyd Björnstjerne, 1891-1936.; Reed, C. S.; Sullivan, John J.; Wolfer, Henry, 1853-

Organizations:: United States. Wickersham Commission.

Document Types:: Diaries.; Photographs.

Functions:: Paroling.

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STILLWATER STATE PRISON:

OVERVIEW

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

CATALOG HEADINGS