Scope and Contents The Charles Spear Collection (1840-1851, one box) contains the personal correspondence, journal, and passport of Charles Spear. The collection concerns Spear’s work to abolish the death penalty in the United States and his support of prison reform. Along with documents regarding Spear’s travels to England in pursuit of support to eliminate the death penalty in the United States, the collection also includes a subscription book carried by Charles Spear and his brother that contains signatures...

Scope and Contents

The Don Reid Capital Punishment Collection (1959-1973; three boxes) contains materials which belonged to Don Reid, Jr. concerning his work with capital punishment in Texas. It consists of notes, letters to Mr.Reid, article rough drafts with editor’s notes, capital punishment publications, photos, magazine articles, clippings, and newspapers.

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The collection was purchased for SHSU Special Collections in June 2019. Each flyer was signed in Huntsville, Texas by Searcy Baker, Superintendent of the Texas State Penitentiaries during the earlyb1900s. There are a total of 35 flyers, one being a duplicate.

Scope and Contents The materials that make up this collection represent the life and work of James Van Benschoten Bennett. More specifically, the materials portray his role as the second Director of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and as a prolific prison reformer. The most popular theme represented in the collection is prison policy and reform – which is often discussed in articles and speeches composed by Bennett. The collection also contains numerous correspondence and case histories of prison inmates. Pictorial...

Scope and Contents The Sanford Bates Papers (1906-1972; fifty two boxes) documents the life of one of the country’s most influential criminologists and prison administrators. These materials depict Sanford Bates’ personal lifeand career as a practicing lawyer in Boston, member of the Massachusetts Legislature and Senate, first Massachusetts Department of Corrections Commissioner, and first Director of the Federal Bureau ofPrisons. Sanford Bates also served as the Executive Director of the Boys Clubs of...

Scope and Contents

This collection contains editions of “The Welfare Reporter”, a periodical which focuses on mental health in prisons, as well as administrative issues. This periodical is circulated by the New Jersey Department of Institutions and Agencies.