STILLWATER STATE PRISON:
An Inventory of Its Parole Records at the Minnesota Historical Society
Government Records
Part or all of this collection is restricted.
For
details, please see restrictions.
OVERVIEW
| Creator: | Minnesota State Prison (Stillwater, Minn.). | |
| Title: | Parole Records. | |
| Dates: | 1892-1973. | |
| Language: | Materials in English. | |
| Abstract: | Record books, reports, and statistics on inmates paroled. The majority of parolees are male, but a number of women appear, as well. | |
| Quantity: | 4.25 cubic feet (15 volumes, 2 folders, and 1 bundle in 2 boxes and 4 partial boxes; 2 volumes shelved loose). | |
| Location: | See Detailed Description for shelf locations. |
SCOPE AND CONTENTS
The parole record books (1892-1920) give name, prison register number, information on the crime and sentence, date of parole, employer and type of work, and a synopsis of reports to the parole officer. After 1920, there are only summary lists of parolees and monthly statistics. For the years 1892-1907 and 1911-1913, there are detailed reports on the past history, crime, and character references for individual applicants for parole.
ARRANGEMENT
Entries in each volume are roughly chronological by date of parole or other initial transaction, unless otherwise noted.
OTHER FINDING AIDS
Some volumes include indexes.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Access Restrictions:
Includes 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.). Parole Records. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.
Provenance:
Three parole record books were transferred from the records of the State Board of Control.
Accession Information:
Accession numbers: none; 318; 980-23; 981-83; 983-76; 988-45
Processing Information:
Catalog ID number: 990017134700104294
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
| 114.E.14.2F-1 | Parole Record, 1892-1902. 2 volumes: | ||||||||||
| A 2-page record for each parolee, comprising filled-in forms that give name, register (institution case file) number, county received from and date, crime, term and expiration date of sentence, date of parole, name and address of employer, kind of work engaged in, wages, a summary of monthly reports to the parole officer, and date of final release from parole. Dates for each volume are the dates of the transactions and reports recorded. | |||||||||||
| Volume A, July 1892-1897. | |||||||||||
| Indexed. For inmates paroled through approximately November 1896. | |||||||||||
| Volume B, December 1896-1902. | |||||||||||
| Indexed. For inmates paroled through March 1901. | |||||||||||
| 108.I.17.4F-1 | Parole Records from Board of Control, 1894-1902. 2 volumes: | ||||||||||
| 1894-1898. | |||||||||||
| Indexed. One page per parolee. Entries (free-form on blank pages) give name, register number, crime, length and expiration date of sentence, date of parole, employer and address, information from periodic reports or parole officer visits, date discharged, and sometimes information on activities after parole. Relationship with other parole records has not been explored. May include St. Cloud State Reformatory inmates. | |||||||||||
| 114.E.14.2F-2 | 1898-1902. | ||||||||||
| Indexed. Filled-in forms, one page per parolee. For inmates paroled through July 1902. Information same as above. The first 6 entries continue reports from Volume A, above. Many of the subsequent entries are for the same parolees as are recorded in Volume B, above, generally giving more information as well as a record of correspondence. Entries cite page numbers in "old record," from which they are being continued, but these are not references to pages in volumes A or B. Mold-damaged. | |||||||||||
| 105.J.2.5 | Parole Record (Summary), 1892-1914. 2 volumes, shelved loose: | ||||||||||
| Entries (several per page) giving name, register number, parole number, crime, length of sentence, date admitted, date paroled, a check-off record of receipt of monthly reports, type of employment, employer and address, date of expiration of parole, a monthly record of receipts, disbursements, and number of days worked, and date and nature of final discharge. Filled in with varying degrees of consistency. | |||||||||||
| 1892-1909. | |||||||||||
| Entries for 1892-1902 are duplicated (with additional details) in Parole Record A, except for the receipts and disbursements data, which tend to be more detailed in this volume. | |||||||||||
| 105.J.2.6 | 1909-1914. | ||||||||||
| 114.E.14.2F-2 | Parole Record 4, 1916-1919. 1 volume. | ||||||||||
| From Board of Control. One page per parolee; with index. Entries give name, register number, physical description, information on crime and sentence, date of parole, employer, type of work, and wages. Sections for synopsis of monthly reports and for memorandum of visits and correspondence are seldom filled in. Date of discharge from parole is occasionally noted. | |||||||||||
| 117.G.16.6F | Individual Parole Record, 1919-1920. 1 volume. | ||||||||||
| One page per parolee, organized alphabetically by first letter of surname. Entries (filled-in forms) give name, register number, information on crime and sentence, date paroled, employer, character of employment, and a monthly record of days worked, wages, and expenditures for board, clothing, and incidentals. | |||||||||||
| 117.G.16.3B | Parole Record, 1907-1973. 4 volumes and 1 bundle: | ||||||||||
| Monthly record of prisoners released on parole and dismissed from parole. Gives name, register number, parole number, and date and length of parole for each inmate paroled; name, date, and register number of each parolee dismissed from parole, how dismissed (or whether returned to prison), and remarks (usually not filled in); and total number on parole. | |||||||||||
| October 1907-September 1916. | |||||||||||
| October 1916-June 1923. | |||||||||||
| July 1923-June 1938. | |||||||||||
| July 1938-1959. 1 bundle. | |||||||||||
| RESTRICTED. | |||||||||||
| 1959-1973. | |||||||||||
| RESTRICTED. | |||||||||||
| 117.G.16.6F | Monthly Statement and Parole Report, 1908-1956. 2 volumes. | ||||||||||
| Monthly statistics on total prison population at beginning and end of month; numbers of inmates received, discharged, paroled, pardoned, died, or transferred; total numbers of parolees at beginning and end of month; numbers paroled, discharged from parole, pardoned, died, returned to prison, or escaped from parole. Statements through 1914 include some notes on individual parolees, usually those who violated parole or returned to prison. | |||||||||||
| 112.D.4.5B-1 | Reformatory Plan Inmate Record, 1892-1906. 1 volume and 1 folder. | ||||||||||
| Record of inmates who were part of the parole program referred to as the "reformatory plan" (although none appear to be minors). There is a list of those involved in the program, 1892-1906 (folder), and background information on individual inmates, 1892-1899 (volume). The latter includes their pre-prison life, family, criminal and incarceration history, a character assessment [by the prison Board of Managers?], and a note as to final disposition (paroled, pardoned, discharged, transferred to another institution). The information becomes increasingly cursory after 1895. The Parole Record volumes (above) note whether an individual was part of the Reformatory Plan. | |||||||||||
| 117.G.16.6F | Warden's Monthly Reports to the Board of Control, October 1904-December 1907. 1 volume. | ||||||||||
| Typescripts. These are, in essence, a predecessor to the Calendar of Disposed Cases, Board of Parole (below). Each report begins with a reference to reports submitted from the heads of the various prison departments; these were evidently prepared separately and are not present here. The remainder of each month's report is a synopsis of information about the crime, sentence, and character references of each applicant for parole and for discharge, with a recommendation for the Board's action and an annotation as to whether the application was granted or denied. | |||||||||||
| Each report also includes a list of applicants for an audience with the Board, reason for the request, and annotation regarding Board action. Some reports conclude with remarks about other aspects of prison management, especially prison industries. | |||||||||||
| Calendar of Disposed Cases, Board of Parole, 1911-1913. 1 volume. | |||||||||||
| Typescript copy of proceedings of the Board of Parole with regard to individual cases brought before it. Includes information on the parole applicant and crime; summaries and quotations from people whose testimony the Board had solicited regarding the applicant's character and prospects; and the Board's decision. An index covers only the first 15 applicants. | |||||||||||
| Parole Violations, 1893-1908. 3 sheets in folder. | |||||||||||
| A list; gives name, register number, and dates of parole, violation, and return. | |||||||||||
RELATED MATERIAL
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.
- Prisoners -- Minnesota -- Registers.
- Women prisoners -- Minnesota.
- Functions:
- Paroling.
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