Research

Scope and Content Note

Three volumes of minutes document the actions and decisions of the Board. By-laws of the institution required that the school stenographer act as secretary of the board and keep a record of its proceedings in a book for that purpose.

Minutes of the March 27, 1893 - October 26, 1898 are in narrative form and provide date of meeting; names of board members present; names of inmates and actions taken regarding their parole or division assignments; and inmate's offense or other cause of the Board's action or decision (sometimes). These minutes are typescript sheets glued onto the pages of volumes, except for March 21, 1897-December 15, 1897, when minutes were handwritten directly into the volume.

Minutes of November 1, 1898-April 7, 1909 contain very little narrative and consist mostly of lists, providing inmate's name; action taken regarding the inmate; parole date (if inmate was paroled); and reasons for actions taken (October 17, 1904-April 7, 1909 only).