New York State Reformatory Register of New Inmates of Italian Citizenry B0126

New York State Reformatory Register of New Inmates of Italian Citizenry

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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:

This single volume was used by the keepers of the State Reformatory at Elmira to specifically enumerate and track inmates of Italian birth. Institutional authorities considered Italian immigrants to be among the new "dangerous classes" threatening American society. State authorities also feared that immigrant criminals were overburdening the prison system and that the federal government should bear a greater share of the expense of incarceration.

Creator:

New York State Reformatory (Elmira, N.Y.)

Title:

New York State Reformatory register of new inmates of Italian citizenry

Quantity:

0.2 cubic feet

1 volume

Inclusive Dates:

1915-1930

Series Number:

B0126

Arrangement

Entries in this volume are arranged chronologically by year and month, then numerically by inmate consective number.

Administrative History

Keepers of the State Reformatory at Elmira considered Italian immigrants to be among the new "dangerous classes" threatening the safety and security of American society. Along with Jews and African-Americans, Italians were considered biologically and psychologically inferior to Americans of northern and western European descent. Progressive era reformers doubted the capacity of youthful offenders from among these groups to respond to the reformatory system. In addition, state prison authorities lamented that immigrant groups were swelling the ranks of the state's incarcerated and believed that the federal government should bear a greater share in the cost of custodial supervision.

Scope and Content Note

For each inmate, this register contains the year and month inmate was received at Elmira; consecutive number; name; crime; length of sentence; court of sentencing; judge; location of court; county committed from; commune (city or region in Italy where the inmate came from); names of parents; date of birth; and number of years in the United States.