Title:
Texas State Archives Records relating to the Penitentiary
Description:
The prison system began as a single institution known as the Huntsville Penitentiary and received its first prisoners October 1, 1849. Later a second facility, Rusk Penitentiary, opened in 1883. These records document the state penitentiary system in Texas from the early years through the beginning of the twentieth century, 1846-1921, undated. They reflect governors' involvement with the prison system and activities of various penitentiary officials, especially the superintendent and financial agent. A wide range of subjects are covered, including cloth production and distribution during the Civil War, investigations of financial agents, treatment of convicts, conveyance of convicts to the prison, leasing of the prisons, contracting for convict labor, repairs and additions to the Huntsville facilities, construction of Rusk Penitentiary, the iron industry at Rusk, purchase of state farms, the Texas State Railroad, and routine financial affairs. The Payrolls have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive.
Collection:
Texas State Archives Records relating to the Penitentiary
Creator:
Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Archives and Information Services Division
Date range of creation:
1846 to 1921
Date range of creation:
undated
Geographic coverage:
Rusk (Tex.)
Geographic coverage:
Texas
Subject:
Convict labor
Subject:
Design and construction
Subject:
Finance
Subject:
Freed persons
Subject:
Huntsville
Subject:
Officials and employees
Subject:
Prison industries
Subject:
Prisoners
Subject:
Prisons
Subject:
Texas. State Penitentiary at Rusk
Subject:
Texas Prison System
Subject:
Texas. State Penitentiary at Huntsville
Subject:
Transportation
Type:
Correspondence
Type:
Financial records
Type:
Legal documents
Type:
Reports
Citation information:
(Identify the item and cite the series), Texas State Archives Records relating to the Penitentiary. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Arrangement:
These records are organized into eight series and eighteen subseries:The records are organized into the following series: Correspondence concerning the Penitentiary, 1846-1921; Reports, 1848-1908; Investigations, 1866-1879; Financial records, 1848-1911; Legal documents, 1848-1913; Blueprints and maps, 1848-1912; Texas State Railroad records, 1909-1921; Miscellaneous records, 1862-1916.
Copyright information:
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).
Size or duration:
88.89 cubic ft.
TARO URL:
https://txarchives.org/tslac/finding_aids/20053.html
