Seen here is an Eastern State Penitentiary convict schedule from June 30, 1886 produced by the Pennsylvania Board of Public Charities. Formed in 1869 to inspect all public and private institutions for the poor, the Pennsylvania Board of Public Charities produced reports detailing the conditions found at these institutions and submitted them to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Among other institutions, the Pennsylvania Board of Public Charities inspected the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia and the Western State Penitentiary in Pittsburgh and produced quarterly reports on their findings. The National Archives at Philadelphia holds these quarterly reports for the years 1885-1886, and they have been fully digitized and will soon be completely available in the catalog.

The reports provide a wealth of information on the statistics of both prisons in the 19th century, including “Discharge Statements” listing the names of prisoners, their crimes, and their occupations. These statements also include information on a prisoner’s physical and mental health upon discharge, their “weight when received” and their “weight when discharged”, and their intended residence. “Convict Schedules” are also included in the reports and list the names of prisoners, their crimes, their occupations, and their sentences, as well as addressing interesting fields such as “parental relations,” “education,” and “habits.”  Instances of illness are also included in the reports, as well as general information such as age and gender.

Want to learn more about these records? You’ll soon be able to review all of them in our online catalog here: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/566740. Interested in learning more about Pennsylvania State Penitentiaries? Records relating to Eastern and Western State Penitentiaries are held by many institutions across the state, including Eastern State Penitentiary, Pennsylvania State Archives, American Philosophical Society, and more.

Welcome To Eastern State Penitentiary (Part 5)

In this section of the prison we will visit the Hospital wing. Back in the days when this prison was operational the doctors were brought here to perform surgery rather than transporting dangerous prisoners to local hospitals.

This is the entry door to the surgical suite and it was so deteriorated with the peeling paint I had to take a photo of it.

This is the operating room light and above…

Welcome To Eastern State Penitentiary (Part Four)

This is the main guard tower and all areas of the prison are visible from this area.

There are also auxiliary guard towers in each corner of the prison with spotlights.

Some cells accessible from the exterior of the cell blocks. All of the cells in this penitentiary are solitary confinement and this is what’s known as “The Pennsylvania System” and it originated here. The “Auburn System”…

Welcome To Eastern State Penitentiary (Part Three)

In this post we will continue to a multi level cell block number 7.

The above photo shows the lower level of cell block 7 which is still being restored.

Some of the lucky inmates on lower levels of the prison (depending on the cell block) had a small skylight which provided them with a bit of daylight while they were in there cells.

This is a view from the upper portion of cell block 7.

As…

Welcome to Eastern State Penitentiary (Part Two)

With this post I will show you some of the unrestored portions of this eerie facility.

Some of the original and bed frames still exist as shown in the above photo. The plaster in this cell is actually in fairly good shape compared to some portions of this facility.

An original old cabinet sits on the wall of the corridor of cell block 1 and was probably used for washrags or towels for the…