Elmira Reformatory Daily Log of Population Counts B0137

Elmira Reformatory Daily Log of Population Counts

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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 series consists of a daily count of the population of incarcerated individuals at the Elmira Reformatory taken Monday through Friday at various intervals. Locations at which population counts were conducted include work areas (construction, laundry, kitchen, etc.); educational classes; guard house; hospital; library; cellblocks; dining rooms; cage floor; center gate and dormitories. Also counted were the number of incarcerated individuals received or paroled. The total population of incarcerated individuals for each count is included along with the name of staff member taking the count.

Creator:

Elmira Reformatory

Title:

Elmira Reformatory daily log of population counts

Quantity:

17 cubic feet

(26 volumes)

Inclusive Dates:

1928-1954

Series Number:

B0137

Arrangement

Chronological by date.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of a daily count of the population of incarcerated individuals at the Elmira Reformatory. This count was taken Monday through Friday at various intervals to indicate the location of the entire population at that time. Prior to July 1938, staff at Elmira Reformatory used one log to record population counts taken during the day and a separate log to record counts taken at night. Day volumes include five population counts taken between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.; night volumes include two or three counts taken between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. and another two counts taken between 10:00 p.m. and midnight of the same day. Beginning in July 1938, staff used one single log to record nine population counts taken during a twenty-four-hour day. Commencing at some point after February 1942, separate logs were once again used.

Volumes include population counts conducted at locations including work areas (construction, electrical department, laundry, kitchen etc.), educational classes (bricklaying, music, welding, etc.), or other areas (guard house, hospital, library, cellblocks, dining rooms, cage floor, center gate, dormitories) and indicates the number of incarcerated individuals counted at the time. Counts of newly received or paroled incarcerated individuals are included where applicable. The total population of incarcerated individuals for each count is included along with the name of staff member taking the count.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

Container list.

Custodial History

B0137-03: These volumes were transferred to the State Archives from Elmira Correctional Facility at an unknown date. They were accessioned in conjunction with a project undertaken by Archives staff in 2003 to describe or integrate estrayed or unidentified records.