Gallery: Guide to Photographic Collections
Custody and Care in State Institutions
These series contain images taken at State prisons, asylums, orphanages, reformatories, prisons, and other facilities. Included are images of buildings, staff, inmates, and activities at these facilities.
State Board of Charities.
A1993. Photographs and Floor Plans of Charitable Institutions, ca. 1867-1903. 5 cubic feet
Consists of five disbound volumes containing approximately 150 photoprints and lithographs of numerous New York State charitable institutions such as asylums, hospitals, dispensaries, and orphanages. The majority of prints measure 11" x 14". Most of the images are exterior views, with occasional floor plans and interior views. Most are captioned with the name and location of the institution. These may have been gathered by the State Board of Charities for use in reports sent to the legislature. Four of the volumes are indexed alphabetically by name of the institution. Available on microfilm.
A1994. Photographs of Custodial Facilities in New York and Other States, 1890-1915. 1 cubic foot
Contains approximately 350 photoprints of public custodial facilities in New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. New York institutions represented in the records include Rome State Custodial Asylum; New York House of Refuge; Letchworth Village at Thiells; and Syracuse State Institution for Feeble-Minded Children. The photoprints include views of buildings and grounds, interiors, residents, and staff. Most of the prints are approximately 5" x 7" and some are mounted. They appear to have been gathered for use in a report prepared by the State Commissioner in Lunacy. Arranged by institution. Available on microfilm.
A1995. Photographs of Proposed Site for the State Training School for Boys, ca. 1908-1909. 1.3 cubic feet
Approximately 75 mounted photoprints show the site in Yorktown Heights chosen for the New York State Training School for Boys. Most measure 7" x 9". The photoprints may have been used for site selection and for preparation of a report on needed buildings and improvements by the site selection commission. They show farm land and buildings, many of which are identified on the back of the photographs. The school was intended to replace the New York House of Refuge but the plan was abandoned in 1918. The site, along with the property of the Mohansic State Hospital, became the Mohansic State Lake Reservation. The prints are grouped by location, with one group of general views. Available on microfilm.
Commission to Investigate Provision for the Mentally Deficient.
A4228. Photographs of Custodial Institutions for the Mentally Deficient, ca. 1910-1914. 1.3 cubic feet
Approximately 200 photoprints show conditions at custodial institutions for individuals judged to be of low intelligence (i.e., "mentally deficient") in New York and other states. Most measure approximately 5" x 7". The photoprints were collected by the commission to illustrate its final report. Many were apparently collected from the State Board of Charities. The prints show a wide range of views including building exteriors, interior facilities and rooms, and patients working, eating, in classroom activities, and at play or rest. The majority are from six New York State institutions: Rome State Custodial Asylum; New York House of Refuge; State Custodial Asylum for Feeble-Minded Women at Newark; Syracuse State Institution for Feeble-Minded Children; Craig Colony for Epileptics at Sonyea; and Letchworth Village at Thiells. Prints from other states were gathered principally from the Massachusetts Training School at Waverly and the Menantico Colony and Training School at Vineland, New Jersey. Arrangement is first by state, then by institution. Available on microfilm.
Albion State Training School.
B1008. Photographic Prints and Negatives, ca. 1940- 1970. .5 cubic foot
About 255 color slides, 200 color and b/w prints, and 200 negatives, including exterior and interior shots, document inmate activities and facilities at Albion such as religious services, classes (sewing, cooking, etc.), recreational activities, and medical care. Most prints range from 3.25" x 3.25" to 3.5" x 5". There are also about 15 b/w 8" x 10" prints, including one showing women inmates with their babies (1957); one showing Governor W. Averell Harriman signing legislation (1957); and two showing Lieutenant Governor Malcolm Wilson (1960).
Clinton Prison.
B0095. Photographs of Clinton Prison, ca. 1900-1969. 4 cubic feet
Contains approximately 1,500 photoprints and glass plate and film negatives, mostly dating from 1932 to 1945. Most measure either 5" x 7" or 8" x 10". The photographs include views of prison buildings and facilities and locations of accidents, assaults, suicides, and other special occurrences. Included are photographs of inmate art, inmate fingerprints, and tattoos used for identification purposes. There is also an album of photoprints showing new construction at Clinton during the 1930s. Arranged roughly by subject. Restricted.
New York State Agricultural and Industrial School (Western House of Refuge).
A1975. Photographs of Inmates, Staff, and Facilities, ca. 1904-1930. 2.5 cubic feet
Approximately 200 mounted photoprints show inmates, school officials, visitors, exhibits at fairs, farm land, grounds, and interior and exterior views of buildings. Arranged alphabetically by subject. Available on microfilm.
A3120. Glass Plate Negatives of the New Facility, ca. 1905-1920. 7 cubic feet
Consists of 71 glass plate negatives showing the institution's new facility at Industry, New York. Most of the negatives show views of grounds, building interiors, physical facilities, inmates, school officers, and visitors. The majority of the negatives measure 11" x 14" although several measure 8" x 10". They are arranged alphabetically by subject. (Several of these negatives appear as prints in Series A1975, page 13 above.) Available on microfilm.
