Pennsylvania State Archives
RG-15
Records of the DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
The Department of Justice represented the government in litigation involving
the Commonwealth and was responsible for providing legal advice to the Governor
and all departments, boards and commissions. The head of the Department and
chief law enforcement officer of the state was the Attorney General, whose appointment
was first mentioned in the Constitution of 1776. Prior to 1923, the Department
of Justice was known as the Attorney-General's Department. Included in the Department
of Justice were the Board of Pardons, first established in 1874, and the Bureau
of Correction, which was created in 1953 to administer the state correctional
institutions formerly maintained by the Department of Welfare. The Commonwealth
was one of the first political entities to abolish the use of corporal punishment
for crime and to replace it with a system of rehabilitation through incarceration.
As a result of a constitutional amendment, the Attorney General became an elected
official in 1980, and that office became an independent department. The designation
"Department of Justice" was discontinued at that time. Within the
executive branch, an Office of General Counsel was formed to continue the old
function of an attorney appointed and subordinate to the Governor, and the Bureau
of Corrections was also transferred to the Governor's Office. A further result
of the amendment was the eventual creation, in 1984, of a separate Department
of Corrections.
For related records dating after 1981, please see the Records
of the Office of the Attorney General (RG-70) and Records
of the Department of Corrections (RG-58).
A More Detailed History of this Department is
available.
- Ephrata Cloister File, Including Minutes of the Cloister Board of Trustees,
1814-1956. (3 boxes) {#15.1} [Description]
[Holdings]
- General Correspondence, 1958, 1963, 1965, 1967-1980. (166 cartons, 1 box)
{#15.2} [Description] [Holdings]
- [RESTRICTED] General Litigation Case
Files, 1966-1972. (38 cartons, 1 box) {#15.148}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Legal Case File Relating to Bible Reading in Public Schools, 1959-1965.
(1 carton) {#15.3} [Description] [Holdings]
- Letter Press Books, 1875-1907. (26 volumes) {#15.4} [Description]
[Holdings]
- News Clipping File, 1973-1979. [*series
continues in RG-70] (13 cartons) {#15.5} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Speech and Press Release File, 1972-1980. [*series
continues in RG-70] (2 cartons, 2 boxes) {#15.6} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Subject File, 1971-1978. (3 cartons) {#15.7} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Suit Dockets, 1885-1953. (9 volumes) {#15.162} [Description]
[Holdings]
For related records dating after 1981, please see the Records
of the Office of the Attorney General (RG-70).
- Annual Reports, 1975-1982. (7 volumes) {#15.8} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Annual Statistical Reports, 1953, 1975-1982. (1 box) {#15.9} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Copper Printing Plates of Prison Inmate Images, undated. (16 items) {#15.10}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Miscellaneous Escape Records and Photographs, 1918-1959 and undated. (1
box) {#15.154} [Description] [Holdings]
- Miscellaneous Printed and Manuscript Reports, 1835,
1916-1954, [circa 1960], 1962, 1969. (4 boxes) { #15.11}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Miscellaneous Records about Various State Correctional Institutes, undated,
1829-1976. (1 carton) {#15.146} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Official Calendar Books, 1977-1983. (7 items) {#15.12} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Press Office History File, 1829-1981. (22 boxes) {#15.13} [Description]
[Holdings]
- [RESTRICTED] Special Investigation Records,
1950-1953. (4 boxes) {#15.14} [Description]
[Holdings]
- State Prisoner Statistical Reports of Weekly Admissions and Discharges,
1953-1962. (13 cartons) {#15.15} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Publications, 1898-1910,
1955, 1963, 1965, [circa 1980], and undated. {#15.156}
(3 boxes). [Description] [Holdings]
For related records dating after 1984, please see the Records
of the Department of Corrections (RG-58).
- Calendars Summarizing Each Case to be Considered, 1893, 1894, 1898, 1901,
1932, 1943-1969. (11 cartons) {#15.16} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Clemency File, 1874-1900, 1906-1907, 1948-1962. (3 boxes, 70 cartons) {#15.17}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Commutation and Parole Books, 1907-1932. (3 volumes) {#15.18} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Commutation Lists of Prisoners, 1955-1965. (1 folder, 1 volume) {#15.19}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Commutations, 1967. (3 folders) {#15.20} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Death Warrants File, 1874-1899, 1912-1952. (1 volume, 21 boxes) {#15.21}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Discharge Books, 1871-1923. (11 volumes) {#15.22} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Letter Press Books, 1874-1883. (5 volumes) {#15.23} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Minute Books, 1874-1875, 1898-1901, 1932-1935, 1939-1970. (1 carton) {#15.24}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Pardon Books, 1874-1934. (23 volumes) {#15.25} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Pardons, 1967. (1 folder) {#15.26} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Parole and Respite Books, 1910-1942. (2 volumes) {#15.27} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Record Books of Capital Cases, 1894-1969. (2 volumes) {#15.28} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Record of Respites and Execution Warrants, 1948-1956. (5 folders) {#15.29}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Special Investigation Files, 1936-1937. (1 box) {#15.165} [Description]
[Holdings]
For related records dating after 1981, please see the Records
of the Office of the Attorney General (RG-70).
- Prison Construction Records
- Annual Report of the Commissioners for the Erection of a State Penitentiary,
1828. (1 volume) {#15.31} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for the Erection of a State Penitentiary,
Including Rough Copies, 1821-1833. (3 boxes) {#15.32} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Records Relating to the Construction of the Eastern State Penitentiary,
1821-1839, 1845. (1 box, 7 volumes, 3 folders) {#15.33} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Prison Administration Records
- Annual and Special Reports, 1829-1908, 1920-1943. (46 volumes) {#15.34}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Bill Book, 1853-1857. (1 volume) {#15.35} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Board of Inspectors Remission of Cost Reports, 1842. (1 folder) {#15.36}
[Description] [Holdings]
- County Accounts, 1831-1867, 1869-1870, 1885-1892. (9 folders, 1 volume)
{#15.37} [Description] [Holdings]
- Financial and Statistical Statements and Report Books to the Board of
Public Charities, 1882-1904. (2 volumes) {#15.38} [Description]
[Holdings]
- General Correspondence, 1878-1901. (12 folders) {#15.39} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Guard Log Books, 1900-1910, 1923-1924. (2 volumes) {#15.40} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Index to the Acts of Assembly Relating to the Eastern State Penitentiary,
undated. (1 volume). {#15.41} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Journal Relating to the Third Block, 1855-1869. (1 volume) {#15.42}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Letter Press Books, 1907-1908, 1917-1919. (10 volumes) {#15.43}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Minute Books of the Board of Inspectors and Board of Trustees of the
Eastern State Penitentiary, 1829-1953. (16 volumes) {#15.44} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Miscellaneous Papers and Photographs, 1831-1966. (1 box) {#15.150}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Receipt Books, 1830-1863. (4 volumes) {#15.45} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Registers of Visitors, 1829-1854. (3 volumes) {#15.46} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Report of the Board of Trustees on the New Eastern State Penitentiary,
Graterford, [ca. 1928]. (1 volume) {#15.47} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Testimony Taken During Legislative Investigation Of State Penitentiaries,
1897. (2 boxes) {#15.48} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Unidentified Index, 1919-1922. (1 volume) {#15.49} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Warden's Daily Journals, 1829-1961. (23 volumes) {#15.50} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Prison Population Records
- Admission and Discharge Books, 1844-1888. (3 volumes) {#15.51}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Bertillon Hand Books, 1895-1937. (12 volumes) {#15.52} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Commitment Papers, 1841, 1861-1904. (7 boxes) {#15.53} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Commutation Books, 1865-1918. (13 volumes) {#15.54} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Convict Affidavit Books, 1835-1870. (3 volumes, 1 folder) {#15.55}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Convict Reception Registers, 1842-1929. (93 volumes) {#15.56}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Descriptive Registers, 1829-1903. (5 volumes) {#15.57} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Discharge Books, 1830-1858. (2 volumes) {#15.59} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Discharge Descriptive Dockets, 1873-1934. (4 volumes) {#15.58}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Letters To and From Prisoners, 1845 (1 folder) {15.171} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Medical Cases of Prisoners, 1841. (1 folder) {#15.163}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Medical Statistics Books, 1883-1900. (3 volumes) {#15.60} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Miscellaneous Descriptive Books, 1829-1842. (3 volumes) {#15.62}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Parole Prisoners' Date of Discharge Books, [ca. 1910-1957]. (2 volumes)
{#15.63} [Description] [Holdings]
- Population Indexes, [ca. 1900]. (3 volumes) {#15.64} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Reception Descriptive Book, 1879-1884. (1 volume) {#15.65} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Scrapbooks, 1884-1893, 1908-1917, 1925-1926. (3 volumes). {#15.66}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Statistical Books, 1835-1852, 1871-1909, 1911-1913, 1915. (7 volumes)
{#15.67} [Description] [Holdings]
- Time Books, 1889-1950. (4 volumes) {#15.68} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Prison Construction Records
- Account Books and Statements, 1879-1888. (3 folders) {#15.69}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Bond Papers, 1879. (1 folder) {#15.70} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Cash Book, 1878-1888. (1 volume) {#15.71} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Construction Release Papers, 1881, 1888. (1 folder) {#15.72}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Construction Work Proposals and Related Records, 1879-1887. (7 folder)
{#15.73} [Description] [Holdings]
- General Correspondence, 1878-1886. (12 folders) {#15.74} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Land Acquisition Papers, 1878. (1 folder) {#15.75} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Minute Book of the Board of Commissioners for the Erection of the Middle
Penitentiary, 1878-1888. (1 volume) {#15.76} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Reports, 1878-1886. (4 folders) {#15.77} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Prison Administration Records
- Accounts, 1888-1909, 1918-1920. (8 boxes, 8 folders) {#15.78}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Administrative General Correspondence, 1891-1893, 1906-1917, 1924-1946.
(5 folders) {#15.79} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Appointments File, 1888-1919. (3 boxes, 6 folders) {#15.80} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Attorney General's Opinions, 1892-1893, 1896-1898. (1 folder) {#15.81}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Cash Books, 1905-1906, 1910-1911. (2 volumes) {#15.82} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Glass Plate Negatives of Prison Scenes and Inmates, 1930-1931 and undated.
(1 box) {#15.158} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Journals of the General Superintendent, 1891-1922. (3 volumes) {#15.84}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Letter Press Books, 1879-1880, 1884-1895. (7 volumes) {#15.85}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Minute Books of the Board of Managers and the Board of Trustees, 1888-1955.
(12 volumes) {#15.86} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Miscellaneous Photographs and Reports, 1889-1928, 1956, 1963. (1 box)
{#15.151} [Description] [Holdings]
- Poster, Tenth Parents' Day, June 30, 1940. (2 items) {#15.159}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Reports, 1889-1950. (11 boxes) {#15.87} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Reports And Testimony Relating To Investigations Made By a Subcommittee
of the State Board of Charities and the Board of Trustees, 1890-1896,
1935. (1 box.) {#15.88} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Scrapbook, 1889-1929. (1 volume) {#15.89} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Prison Population Records
- Biographical and Descriptive Registers, 1889-1932. (12 volumes) {#15.90}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Conduct Ledgers, 1889-1898, 1903-1905, 1916-1918. (5 volumes) {#15.91}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Physicians' Record of Prisoners, 1889-1910. (10 volumes) {#15.92}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Prisoners' Record, 1889-1929. (4 volumes) {#15.93} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Record of Maximum Sentences, 1915 -1918. (1 volume) {#15.94}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Record of Men Paroled, 1890-1894, 1909-1913. (2 volumes) {#15.95}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Record of Special Punishments, 1889-1925, 1931. (12 volumes) {#15.96}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Reformatory Record (Weekly Prison Publication), 1890-1936. (46 volumes)
{#15.97} [Description] [Holdings]
- Register of Prisoners, 1889-1899, 1901-1925. (2 volumes) {#15.98}
[Description] [Holdings]
- School Attendance Record, 1935-1936. (1 volume) {#15.99} [Description]
[Holdings]
- School Examination Question Book, 1892-1897. (1 volume) {#15.100}
[Description] [Holdings]
- School Offense and Punishment Book, 1936. (1 volume) {#15.101}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Prison Administration and Construction Records
- Appraisal Books, 1908, 1914. (3 volumes) {#15.105} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Contract Book, 1837-1856. (1 volume) {#15.106} [Description]
[Holdings]
- General Correspondence, 1926-1946. (2 folders) {#15.107} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Journal Containing Minutes and Reports of the Board of Commissioners
to Erect the Western State Penitentiary, 1818-1835. (1 volume) {#15.108}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Letter Book, 1837-1859. (1 volume) {#15.109} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Minute Books of the Board of Inspectors and Board of Trustees, 1826-1931.
(13 volumes) {#15.110} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Minute Books of the Board of Inspectors and Trustees Acting as a Parole
Board, 1910-1930. (2 volumes) {#15.111} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Minutes of the Prison's Institutional Board, 1915-1922. (1 box) {#15.112}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Miscellaneous Publications and Reports, 1952-1955, 1958, 1982, and undated.
(1 box) {#15.164} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Wanted Poster, 1951. (1 box) {#15.152} [Description]
[Holdings]
- [APPOINTMENT REQUIRED] Motion Picture
Films (16mm), [circa 1930s]. (2 reels) {#15.157} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Photographs, 1861-1928, 1937. (9 folders) {#15.113}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Record of Testimony Taken During Investigations Conducted By the Board
of Inspectors and a Subcommittee Of The State Board Of Charities, 1889,
1908. (4 volumes) {#15.114} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Report Books, 1837-1952. (31 volumes) {#15.115} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Rockview Land Acquisition File, 1911-1921. (18 folders) {#15.116}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Scrapbooks, 1911-1936. (4 volumes) {#15.117} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Visitors' Register, 1848-1860. (1 volume) {#15.118} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Warden's Daily Journals, 1869-1875. (3 volumes) {#15.119} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Prison Population Records
- Admission and Discharge Books, 1872-1900. (3 volumes). {#15.120}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Bertillon Registration Books, [ca. 1888-1895]. (3 volumes) {#15.121}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Commutation Books, 1917-1958. (4 volumes) {#15.122} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Convict Description and Receiving Dockets, 1872-1957. (7 volumes) {#15.123}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Convict Docket, 1826-1859. (1 volume) {#15.124} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Daily Population Statistical Reports, 1924, 1928-1929, 1940, 1960. (8
volumes) {#15.125} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Deputy Warden's Reports and Journals, 1924-1926, 1933-1934, 1936-1937,
1939-1951, (12 volumes) {#15.126} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Descriptive Books, 1826-1873. (4 volumes) {#15.127} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Descriptive Lists, 1876-1956. (46 volumes) {#15.128} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Descriptive Register, 1826-1876. (1 volume) {#15.129} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Discharge Description Dockets, 1873-1957. (9 volumes) {#15.130}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Employee Applicant Fingerprint Cards, 1942-1957. (1 carton) {#15.140}
[Description]
[Holdings]
- Hospital Record Book, 1895-1902. (1 volume) {#15.131} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Index of Prisoners, [ca. mid-1930s - early 1950s]. (1 volume) {#15.142}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Inmate Cards of Escaped Convicts from Other State Prisons, [ca. 1911-1957].
(1 carton) {#15.145} [Description]
[Holdings]
- [RESTRICTED]
Inmate Files (Jackets), [ca. 1932-1972]. (5 cartons, 1 box) {#15.138}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Inmate Transfer Register (Discharge Ledger), 1954-1957. (1 volume) {#15.144}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1931-1954 (4 volumes) {#15.141}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Paroled Prisoner Statistical Book, 1910-1931. (1 volume) {#15.132}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Population Indexes, [ca. 1826-1960]. (5 volumes) {#15.133} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Prisoner Fingerprint Identification Cards, [ca. 1907-1965]. (23 cartons)
{#15.139} [Description] [Holdings]
- Prisoner Record Cards, 1888-1898. (1 box) {#15.147} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Prisoner Registers, 1910-1970. (2 volumes) {#15.143} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Prisoners Paroled and Discharged Book, 1887-1918. (1 volume) {#15.134}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Record of County and Federal Prisoners, 1857-1870, (1 volume) {#15.135}
[Description] [Holdings]
- Record of Parole Violators, 1942-1954. (1 volume) {#15.136} [Description]
[Holdings]
- Time Ledger for Length of Sentences, 1917-1967. (1 volume) {#15.137}
[Description] [Holdings]
Last processing update: 7/18/2011, acc. #5561