Name/Title
Booklet, Corrections, Wisconsin State Prison, Souvenir, A Square Deal for AllDescription
Souvenir Booklet from the Wisconsin State Prison. Not dated, but Oscar Lee is Warden. Women are mentioned working at the prison, so the booklet must be prior to 1932.
Just a Little Souvenir
OF THE
Wisconsin State Prison
Our Motto
"A Square Deal For All"
OSCAR LEE, WARDEN
WAUPUN, WIS.
THE STATE PRISON
Some Points of Interest regarding the Institution.
Its History, Capacity and Industries.
Twine, Shoes, Hosiery, Auto License Plates, Highway Markers, "Thru Traffic—Stop" Signs, and Booster Plates, are among the things made here.
Farm Products help to make the Prison largely self supporting.
Opportunities afforded to Inmate for Self-Improvement.
Recreation and Entertainment.
The Parole System.
LOCATED IN 1851
The Wisconsin State Prison was located at Waupun in July, 1851. A commission consisting of the Messrs. John Bullen, John Taylor and A. W. Worth determined the location under a law enacted that year. The construction of a temporary prison was begun at once. In 1853 a contract was let for the mason work upon the south wing of the prison. This wing provided room for all inmates for about 25 years, when the north wing was completed and occupied. The northwest and southwest wings have been added in recent years, and are of modern construction. The old antiquated north wing has just been remodeled and is also of the most modern construction. It is intended to modernize the south wing also when funds are available.
The first record of prison population is April 1, 1852, when there were 15 inmates. Since that time a little more than 18,000 have been received. The population on January 1, 1929, was 998, which is 231 more than the total ten years ago, the number on January 1, 1919, being 767.
The Prison buildings and grounds occupy 23 acres of land.
All the inmates work, except a very few who are physically unfit on account of age or infirmities. About one-third are employed in making hosiery for a company which pays the state for the labor, and also gives the inmates a chance to make something for themselves by exceeding a fixed "task" and nearly all of those engaged in this work make a little money for themselves in this way. The other inmates are engaged in state work, making binder twine, shoes, automobile license plates, clothing - all clothing worn by the inmates is made here - carrying on the farms, and doing the work necessary to the operation of the institution, as in the kitchen, laundry, care of
the cell houses, etc. The women do sewing and fine laundry work.
About 80 inmates are employed on the farms, which comprise a little more than a thousand acres, connected with the prison. Three of these farms are located about one mile east and southeast of the institution, while one is seven miles west. All are under the supervision of a farm superintendent, with a keeper at each. These farms supply the prison with vegetables, fruit, milk, and most of the meat used. A small cannery and a dairy are connected with the kitchen, and here
many vegetables are converted into canned goods, and milk into butter and cheese, not only supplying the prison with these goods, but a considerable amount being furnished other institutions.
Prison Camps
During the past three years we have maintained a crew of from ten to twenty-five men at Camp Linger Longer, These men have rendered valuable assistance to the Tomahawk Lake Camp, in the construction of buildings, clearing of land, building of roads and many other activities.
In April 1928, we established a camp of forty-five men at Pine Lake, six miles north of Rhinelander, where we have leased for a period of five years, a tract of 800 acres of land. Here we are producing principally beef cattle and potatoes. Our production of potatoes the first year was between twelve and fifteen thousand bushels.
Early in April 1929 we sent a crew of men to the site of the new Industrial School for Girls near Oregon, Wisconsin. These men will carry on the farm activities until such time as the buildings are completed and ready for occupancy by the Girls.
Prison Industries
The making of binder twine is the largest industry operated by the state, the output being about 6,000,000 lbs. annually, and employing about 80 inmates. The shoe factory supplies this and other state and county institutions with foot-wear. All of the state automobile, truck and motorcycle license plates are made here, as well as highway markers and arterial stopsigns.
Chance For Self-Improvement
A chance for self-improvement through education is given the inmates by a school, held part time during eight months in the year, and having an average enrollment of 125. This school is under the supervision of the superintendent of the city schools, with some of the better educated inmates as teachers. Further educational opportunity is afforded through the University of Wisconsin Extension Division, a representative of which visits the institution each month, and in which more than twenty different courses are being taken by about 140 of the inmates, by correspondence.
A library is maintained for the inmates, which furnishes them with most of the leading magazines, as well as books with a wide range of subjects.
Recreation
Recreation is afforded through the summer season by freedom in the yard each Saturday afternoon, with baseball games between nines organized among the inmates, and occasional
games with teams from the outside, as the main feature. Selected moving pictures are shown weekly. A band and orchestra made up of inmates, with a citizen director, furnish good music while the men are marching to and from work during the summer, as well as during Saturday afternoon outings, and the orchestra playing in the dining room during meals. The admission fee of 25c which you pay goes to the support of these recreations and amusements and to the payment of subscriptions to magazines.
The Parole System.
The parole system, established in 1907, has proved a success in Wisconsin, with less than 7 per cent. of violations, or about 100 of the 1500 paroled during that time. It gives the convicted man a chance to re-establish himself as a citizen, and shortens his term of imprisonment.
While passing through the institution do not point out, communicate with, attempt to converse with stare at, or pass anything to an inmate.
Smoking is not allowed while passing through the institution.
Visitors are not permitted to carry kodaks, packages, wraps, etc. through the institution.
OFFICIALS
Walter J. Kohler, Governor
Wisconsin State Board of Control:
John J. Hannan, President
Harriett E. Grim, Vice-President
George B. Harris
A. W. Bayley, Secretary
Officers of the State Prison:
Oscar Lee, Warden
Guy S. Taft, Deputy Warden
Frank Bernart, Assistant Deputy
M. J. Burke, Assistant Deputy
L. Neil Larsen, Chief Accountant
Carl Zarter, Record ClerkAcquisition
Accession
2010.0001Source or Donor
James and Harriet LairdAcquisition Method
Gift
