Series II. Prisoner Records, 1865-1990.

Containers:

Box 9-384, 694-696., Volume 1-127, 270, 290., Microfilm Misc. Reels 5989-6004.

Extent:

Extent: 79.22 cubic feet of records, 129 volumes and 16 reels of microfilm.

Scope and content:

The Prisoner Records series is housed in 379 boxes and contains 129 volumes and 16 reels of microfilm. The series has been divided into five (5) subseries. Subseries have been designated for: A. Registers; B. Inmate Photographs; C. Penitentiary Commitment Orders; D. Inmate Index Cards; and E. Execution Files. Contains a variety of records pertaining to prisoners at the Virginia Penitentiary, such as prisoner registers, medical records, punishment records, prisoner photographs and negatives, commitment orders, prisoner index cards and execution files. These records provide personal information about prisoners and documentation of their incarceration. Researchers should first check this series, specifically the Prisoner Registers and Indexes, for basic information on prisoners (name, prisoner, number, age, race, crime, sentence, date of admission, date of discharge, escape, clemency, assignment outside Penitentiary). This information is crucial to access other parts of the collection. For example, the prisoner number is needed to locate records in Subseries B. Photographs and Negatives; the State Convict Road Force camp number (noted on the register) is needed to access many of the records in Series V. State Convict Road Force, especially the registers, rosters and discharge lists.

Access and use

Contents