Research

Scope and Content Note

The Protestant and Catholic chaplains each compiled two lists: one recorded inmates paroled from 1888 through 1894, and the second listed inmates paroled as of January 1, 1895.

The lists provide: name; year paroled (Protestants and Catholics, 1888-1894); home conditions: if parents are alive and at home (Protestants, 1888-1894 and 1895), and if home is good, fair, or poor; occupation (Protestants, 1888-1894 and 1895); occupation previous to entering institution (Catholics, 1888-1894 and 1895); offense for which committed; if at home (Protestants, 1888-1894 and 1895); terms (Protestants, 1895): (it is not clear whether this refers to the number of times committed or the number of years for which committed); grade in school (Catholics, 1888-1894 and 1895); to whom paroled (Catholics, 1888-1894 and 1895); and if doing well on parole (e.g. good; poor; not heard from; killed; and tramping).

These records were compiled in late 1895 or 1896, possibly to provide a general overview of the background and status of parolees for Superintendent Franklin H. Briggs, who assumed leadership of the institution in 1894.