Government Records
Included are lists of prisoners and prison statistics, with data on insane, escaped, pardoned, and life prisoners; daily clothing and incidentals issued to prisoners (1885-1887), and school reports (1911-1937). Also accounts of funds and time earned by inmates for good conduct (1874-1900) and for keeping U.S. military and district court prisoners (1868-1884); complaints by convicts and employees (1901-1911); and inspection reports (1911-1940).
A volume of statistics (1890-1916) gives monthly statistical breakdowns, such as ethnicity, occupation, religion, and residence of inmates. A record of inmates' arrivals and departures is included as part of a miscellaneous account book. Also included are a record book kept by Deputy Warden Samuel A. Langum (circa 1890-1891), monthly school attendance reports (1911-1937), a handbook for visitors (1929), plot plans for prison buildings and grounds (undated, 1953-1959), various publications of or about the prison (1890s-2005), a movie record book (1945-1982), and a miscellaneous volume (circa 1861-1894) which records population figures and prisoners escaped, a manual (circa 1974), and records of an Alcoholics Anonymous group that met weekly at the prison (1950-1953). The latter include minutes, correspondence, quarterly reports, and attendance and participation information.
There are also two daily prison/cell block record books (1880-1884; handwritten) that record summary statistics and notes on the movements of individual prisoners, including the Younger Brothers. Both volumes are in the Society's Reserve Collection; the second volume (September 29, 1882-1884) was also microfilmed as part of the Northfield (Minnesota) Bank Robbery of 1876 collection.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the
Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics
should
Some files contain private information on individual prisoners. Researchers may apply to use those files in accordance with the State Archives access statement. Files containing restricted material are noted on the folder list.
Accession numbers: 318; 980-23; 981-83; 988-45; 992-113; 992-132; 2002-47; 2003-10; 2007-19; 2009-12; 2010-50
Processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with a Basic Project
grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission
Catalog ID number: 001713840
Handwritten daily record listing prisoners who were sick in their cell, isolated in the dungeon, sent out of the prison on work details, or staying in the prison for the day. Each day’s entry states the total number of convicts in the prison and the number each of male convicts and female convicts. Also, admissions and discharges of prisoners (by name) are listed in the daily entries.
It is unclear if the books are for the entire prison or just one cell block. The second volume lists Cell Room Guards, W. W. Wall (night shift), G. G. Dodd (morning-12 noon shift), and J. Cogswell (afternoon/evening shift). The Younger brothers (Cole, Cell No. 64; Bob, Cell No. 65; Jim, Cell No. 66) are frequently mentioned in both books. They were often sick in cell, especially Cole, but the illness is not specified.
During this time there were 210 to 280 inmates.
Dismantled; includes information on fires on January 8 and 26, 1884.
This volume was also microfilmed as part of the Northfield (Minnesota) Bank Robbery of 1876 collection.
Information includes prisoner’s name and cell number, occupation, date, from which county sentenced, crime, sentence term, and work assigned in the prison. Also notations, such as, date pardoned, Military Prisoner [M.P.], U.S. Prisoner [U.S.P.], pardoned, 2nd or 3rd term, and race. There are entries for Cole and Jim Younger, who participated in the attempted Northfield Bank Robbery in 1876.
Includes records of arrivals and departures.
Reports of the Health Board, Public Institutions Division, and Washington County.
Monthly summaries of incoming and outgoing mail, visitors, and inmates received and discharged.
Prison buildings and grounds (undated), general area showing perimeter of prison property and surrounding land (May 22, 1953), prison industries buildings (February 13, 1958), and main building (October 29, 1959).
The files include meeting minutes, correspondence, quarterly reports,
attendance and participation information, and
The group was founded on July 18, 1947 with 8 members and, by 1952, had grown
to 230 members inside the walls and 52 members at the Farm Colony. Meetings
inside the prison and at the Farm Colony were held weekly and conducted by
the inmates. They arranged their own meetings through the AA secretary and
set their own policy. Outside visitors and other AA chapter members were
invited to attend the meetings, which “greatly added to the interest of the
group.” These outside visitors often assisted inmates in their personal
problems.
Arranged chronologically.
Tobacco Ticket Register Number 93; signed by B. Youngquist.
Excerpts from staff meetings about policy book topics. Organized by the same topics found in the prison's policy book or policy manual.
Detailed responsibilities of staff by position, listing immediate supervisors, and fixed responsibilities.
Document (photocopy) showing the transfer of Thomas Cole, James, and Robert Younger from the Sheriff of Rice County to the Stillwater State Prison on November 22, 1876; file also includes an index card with ID number 699 recording the size of Thomas Cole’s head length, head width, l. middle finger, left foot, left cubit, and height.
Includes printouts of photocopies of historical records including: an advertisement for visiting the ‘new’ Minnesota State Prison (December 1913); a history of the State prison written in 1966 including information on the physical plant, administrative structure, classification process, and the statistical data on inmates as of June 1966; inventory of historical items (1981); and a list of past wardens (1853-200[8]).
Correspondence requesting payment for work done on the new prison (1907-1914); a requisition for the new prison (1913); an estimate of supplies needed in the Cell House (1913); and prison building fund record (1914).
Lists items purchased by inmates in August 1911. Cost and sizes of some items listed; inmate name and number recorded.
Records the weather conditions at 6 AM, 12 PM, and 6 PM in January and February 1917; also the time snow fall started and ended, how much precipitation, and other notes.
Records information about the movies being played at the state prison including: date played, movie title, featured actors, time movie started, the number of reels, the release number, and the print of the film. The names of the operators from 1945-1958 are recorded on the first page of the book.
Hand written record book of the first, second, and third watches; includes timed entries on making rounds, issues with inmates, issues with facility, and general duty information of the officers.