Series 3912

Territorial Penitentiary Wardens' administrative records, 1855-1894.

2 microfilm reels

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Historical Note

See history of the records' creator.

Summary of Records

These records cover the administrations of Wardens Daniel Carn, Alexander McRae, J.A. Little, Albert P. Rockwood, and Frederick Kesler, and document the general administration of the penitentiary during Utah's territorial period. Included are prison record books which contain descriptions of prisoners, the findings and sentences of courts, a record of their confinement and a summary of their crimes.

Scope and Content

These records cover the administrations of Wardens Daniel Carn, Alexander McRae, J.A. Little, Albert P. Rockwood, and Frederick Kesler, and document the general administration of the penitentiary during Utah's territorial period. Included are prison record books which contain descriptions of prisoners, the findings and sentences of courts, a record of their confinement and a summary of their crimes. Journals and other financial records show the purchase of supplies and the proceeds realized from the labor of prisoners. Several reports and other documents contain good historical data about the penitentiary or record information about conditions there. These include a draft history written by Warden Rockwood in 1877, a questionnaire aboutprison conditions, and several reports written by Warden Kessler to the legislative assembly in the 1880s and 1890s. Other documents include warrants of confinement and the orders of release for individual prisoners, general correspondence, and some documents from a Justice of the Peace court about some specific cases.

Research Note

A diazo copy of the microfilm is available for loan. The best quality can be obtained through the film available only in the Research Center however.

Arrangement

Chronological by date.

Additional Forms

This series is available on microfilm.
Copies of these records are located at LDS Church History Library View Online.

Access Restrictions

This series is classified as Public.

Use Restrictions

These records are available for reproduction and use.

Preferred Citation

Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.

Custody History

The original papers and master reels of film are held by the LDS Church Archives; they provided the State Archives with microfilm reference copies during 1989.

Acquisition Information

These records were acquired from the creating agency through established retention schedules.

Other Finding Aids

Indexes: Most of the financial journals have a subject and name index.

Related Material

Warden's monthly statements from the Territorial Penitentiary, Series 10315, contains records created by the territorial warden related to administrative duties at the prison.
Prison commitment registers from the Department of Corrections. Inmate Services, Series 80388, contain prisoners' admission data beginning in 1875, continuing the record books of this series.

Container List

ReelBoxFolderDescription
111Record of United States prisoners, 1855-1866
112Record of Territorial prisoners, 1855-1867
113Record of Territorial prisoners, 1867-1874
114Journal, Jan. 1862-Jan. 1864
115Journal, Dec. 1863-Dec. 1867
121Journal, Dec. 1867-Nov. 1871
122Index to penitentiary ledgers, 1863
123Warrants of confinement, 1854-1859
124Warrants of confinement, 1860-1861
125Warrants of confinement, 1862-1863
126Warrants of confinement, 1864
127Warrants of confinement, 1865-1866
228Warrants of confinement, 1867-1868
229Warrants of confinement, 1869-1870
2210Orders of release, 1856-1864
2211Orders of release, 1865-1866
231Orders of release, 1867-1868
232Orders of release, 1869
233Correspondence, 1862-1869
234Reports, orders, Justice's Court proceedings, depositions, 1860-1869
235Financial papers, 1861-1864
236Financial papers, 1865-1877
237Record of the Utah Penitentiary, 1880-1885
238Frederick Kesler papers, 1880-1894