Prison Postcards collection

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Special Collections and Archives

Prison Postcards collection

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The Special Collections & Archives reading room is closed, and all in-person (physical, face-to-face) services are suspended at this time. We are here to help! Please contact us to discuss how we can best serve you during this time.

Special Collections and Archives

Prison Postcards collection

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Prison Postcards collection

Finding Aid

Prepared by Dyani Scheuerman, April 14, 2003; Revised September 2005; Last Updated: July 2020

Origination: Borowitz, Albert, 1930- , and Borowitz, Helen Osterman, 1929 -
Inclusive Dates: 1900-1980s
Extent: .33 cubic feet (1 postcard box)
Physical Location: 11th floor

Scope and Content: This collection consists of postcards from prisons around the world. Most of the postcards are printed in color and are undated.

Arrangement: Cards are arranged alphabetically by state, and then country.

Acquisition Information: This material was donated to Kent State University by Albert and Helen Borowitz.

Related Material: See also the Crime-related Postcards collection.

Box 1
Folder -- contents

  1. Alabama: Kilby Prison, Montgomery, undated
  2. Alabama: Kilby Prison, Montgomery, undated
  3. Arizona: Old Territorial Prison, Yuma
  4. California: Alcatraz, San Francisco Bay, 1936
  5. California: Alcatraz, San Francisco Bay, 1988
  6. California: Folsom State Prison, Folsom, undated
  7. California: State Prison, San Quentin, undated
  8. California: State Prison, San Quentin, undated
  9. California: State Prison, San Quentin, undated
  10. Colorado: Huerfano County Court House and Jail, Walsenburg, undated
  11. Colorado: State Penitentiary, Canon City, 1929
  12. Colorado: State Penitentiary, Canon City, 1950s
  13. Connecticut: Newgate Prison, East Granby, undated
  14. Connecticut: Newgate Prison, East Granby, undated
  15. Connecticut: State Prison, Wetherfield, 1906
  16. Delaware: Kent County Jail, Dover, undated
  17. Florida: Old Jail, St. Augustine, undated
  18. Georgia: Federal Prison, Atlanta, 1935
  19. Georgia: Federal Prison, Atlanta, undated
  20. Idaho: State Penitentiary, Boise, undated
  21. Illinois: Joliet State Penitentiary, Stateville, 1905
  22. Illinois: Joliet State Penitentiary, Stateville, 1952
    Scope and Contents: Contains two copies. 
  23. Illinois: Joliet State Penitentiary, Stateville, undated
  24. Illinois: Joliet State Penitentiary, Stateville, undated
  25. Illinois: Old Jail, Carthage, undated
  26. Illinois: Old Jail, Carthage, undated
  27. Illinois: State Reformatory, Pontiac, 1908
  28. Illinois: Williamson County Jail, Marion, undated
  29. Indiana: Brown County Log Jail, Nashville, 1930
  30. Indiana: County Jail, Marion, 1909
  31. Indiana: Howard County Jail, Kokomo, undated
  32. Indiana: Indiana Prison, Michigan City, 1911
  33. Indiana: Indiana Reformatory, Jeffersonville, undated
  34. Indiana: La Porte County Jail, La Porte, undated
  35. Indiana: Marshall County Jail and Court House, Plymouth, undated
  36. Indiana: Sheriff's Residence and County Jail, Columbia City, 1950
  37. Indiana: United States Penitentiary, Terre Haute, undated
  38. Iowa: County Jail, Muscatine, undated
  39. Iowa: Lee County Court House, Jail, and Sheriff's Resience, Fort Madison, 1906
  40. Iowa: State Penitentiary, Fort Madison, 1905
  41. Iowa: State Penitentiary Exterior, Fort Madison, undated
    Acquisition Note: Donated by Mary Widmer, 2005
  42. Iowa: State Penitentiary Interior, Fort Madison, undated
  43. Kansas: Federal Prison, Leavenworth, 1912
  44. Kansas: Federal Prison, Leavenworth, 1916
  45. Kansas: State Prison, Lansing, 1909
  46. Kansas: State Prison, Lansing, 1912
  47. Kansas: State Prison, Lansing, undated
  48. Kansas: State Prison, Lansing, undated
  49. Kansas: State Reformatory, Hutchinson, undated
  50. Kentucky: City Work Home, Louisville
  51. Kentucky: Federal Correctional Institute, Ashland
  52. Kentucky: State Prison, Frankfort
  53. Louisiana: Cabildo, New Orleans
  54. Maine: Knox County Court House and Jail, Rockland
  55. Maine: Old Jail, York
  56. Maine: Penobscot County Court House and Jail, Bangor
  57. Maine: State Prison, Thomaston
  58. Maryland: City Jail, Baltimore
  59. Massachusetts: Berkshire County Jail, Pittsfield
  60. Massachusetts: Berkshire County Jail, Pittsfield
  61. Massachusetts: County Jail, Fitchburg
  62. Massachusetts: House of Correction, New Bedford
  63. Massachusetts: Lawrence Jail, Lawrence
  64. Massachusetts: Lowell Jail, Lowell
  65. Massachusetts: Police Headquarters, Charles River
  66. Massachusetts: Town Hall, Boston
  67. Michigan: County Jail and Sheriff's Residence, Jackson
  68. Michigan: Court House and Jail, Hastings
  69. Michigan: Court House and Jail, Traverse City
  70. Michigan: Jackson County Jail, Jackson
  71. Michigan: Jail, Big Rapids
  72. Michigan: Marquette Prison, Marquette
  73. Michigan: State Prison, Jackson
  74. Michigan: State Prison, Jackson
  75. Michigan: State Prison, Jackson
  76. Michigan: State Prison, Jackson
  77. Michigan: State Reformatory, Ionia
  78. Michigan: State Reformatory, Ionia
  79. Minnesota: St. Cloud State Reformatory, St. Cloud
  80. Minnesota: State Prison, Stillwater
  81. Minnesota: State Prison, Stillwater
  82. Minnesota: State Prison, Stillwater
  83. Minnesota: State Prison, Stillwater
  84. Minnesota: State Prison, Stillwater
  85. Missouri: Old Jail, St. Louis
  86. Missouri: State Penitentiary, Jefferson City
  87. Montanta: Montana State Prison, Deer Lodge
  88. Nebraska: State Penitentiary, Lincoln
  89. Nevada: State Prison, Carson City
    Scope and Content: This is a panoramic view of the exterior of the prison on a double postcard. 
  90. New Hampshire: Jail, Keene
  91. New Hampshire: Piscataque River and Naval Prison, Portsmouth
  92. New Hampshire: State Prison, Concord
  93. New Jersey: Burlington County Prison, Mount Holly
  94. New Jersey: State Prison, Rahway
  95. New Jersey: State Prison, Trenton
  96. New Mexico: Territory Penitentiary, Santa Fe
  97. New York: Auburn State Prison, Auburn
  98. New York: Auburn State Prison, Auburn
  99. New York: Auburn State Prison, Auburn
  100. New York: Auburn State Prison, Auburn
  101. New York: Auburn State Prison, Auburn
  102. New York: Auburn State Prison, Auburn
  103. New York: Auburn State Prison, Auburn
  104. New York: Auburn State Prison, Auburn
  105. New York: Auburn State Prison, Auburn
  106. New York: Auburn State Prison, Auburn
  107. New York: "Waiting," Auburn State Prison
  108. New York: Buffalo Jail, Buffalo
  109. New York: Cattaraugus County Jail and Sheriff's Residence, Little Valley
  110. New York: City Prison (the Tombs), New York City
  111. New York: Clinton Prison, Dannemora
  112. New York: Clinton Prison, Dannemora
  113. New York: Fulton County Jail, Johnston
  114. New York: Herkimer County Jail, Herkimer
  115. New York: Niagara County Jail, Lockport
  116. New York: Onondaga County Penitentiary, Syracuse
  117. New York: Ontario County Jail, Canandaigua
  118. New York: Rebel Prison, Elmira
  119. New York: Sheriff's Residence and Jail, Mayville
  120. New York: Sing Sing Prison, Ossining
  121. New York: Sing Sing Prison, Ossining
  122. New York: Sing Sing Prison, Ossining
  123. New York: Sing Sing Prison, Ossining
  124. New York: Electric Chair, Sing Sing
  125. New York: State Reformatory, Elmira
  126. New York: State Reformatory, Elmira
  127. New York: State Reformatory, Napanoch
  128. North Carolina: State Penitentiary, Raleigh
  129. North Dakota: State Penitentiary, Bismarck
  130. North Dakota: State Reform School, Mandan
  131. Ohio: Ashtabula County Jail and Sheriff's Residence, Jefferson
  132. Ohio: Belmont County Jail, St. Clairsville
  133. Ohio: City Hall and Jail, Lorain
  134. Ohio: County Jail, Akron
  135. Ohio: County Jail, Toledo
  136. Ohio: County Jail, West Union
  137. Ohio: Court House and County Jail, Dayton
  138. Ohio: Court House and Jail, Ravenna
  139. Ohio: Hardin County Jail, Kenton
  140. Ohio: Jail, Newark
  141. Ohio: Lorain County Jail, Elyria
  142. Ohio: Mercer County Jail, Celina
  143. Ohio: Police Station, Akron
  144. Ohio: Reformatory for Women, Marysville
  145. Ohio: Reformatory for Women, Marysville
  146. Ohio: Reformatory for Women, Marysville
  147. Ohio: Reformatory for Women, Marysville
  148. Ohio: Sandusky County Jail, Fremont
  149. Ohio: Stark County Work House, Canton
  150. Ohio: Stark County Work House, Canton
  151. Ohio: State Penitentiary, Columbus
  152. Ohio: State Penitentiary, Columbus
  153. Ohio: State Penitentiary, Columbus
  154. Ohio: State Penitentiary, Columbus
  155. Ohio: State Penitentiary, Columbus
  156. Ohio: State Penitentiary, Columbus
  157. Ohio: State Penitentiary, Columbus
  158. Ohio: State Penitentiary, Columbus
  159. Ohio: State Penitentiary, Columbus
  160. Ohio: State Penitentiary, Columbus
  161. Ohio: State Penitentiary, Columbus
  162. Ohio: State Reformatory, Mansfield
  163. Ohio: State Reformatory, Mansfield
  164. Ohio: State Reformatory, Mansfield
  165. Ohio: State Reformatory, Mansfield
  166. Ohio: State Reformatory, Mansfield
  167. Ohio: State Reformatory, Mansfield
  168. Ohio: Warrensville Farm Interior Court, Cleveland
  169. Ohio: Wood County Jail, Bowling Green
  170. Ohio: Wyandot County Jail, Upper Sandusky
  171. Oklahoma: County Court House and Jail, Oklahoma City
  172. Oklahoma: Court House and Jail, Ardmore
  173. Oklahoma: State Penitentiary, McAlester
  174. Oregon: State Penitentiary, Salem
  175. Pennsylvania: Allegheny County Jail and Court House, Pittsburgh
  176. Pennsylvania: Bedford County Jail, Bedford
  177. Pennsylvania: Berks County Jail, Reading
  178. Pennsylvania: Berks County Prison, Reading
  179. Pennsylvania: Berks County Prison, Reading
  180. Pennsylvania: Blair County Jail, Hollidaysburg
  181. Pennsylvania: Cambria County Jail, Ebensburg
  182. Pennsylvania: Carlisle Jail, Carlisle
  183. Pennsylvania: Clearfield County Jail, Clearfield
  184. Pennsylvania: County Jail, Towanda
  185. Pennsylvania: Delaware County Jail, Media
  186. Pennsylvania: Fayette County Jail, Uniontown
  187. Pennsylvania: Huntington County Jail, Huntington
  188. Pennsylvania: Jail, Norristown
  189. Pennsylvania: Lackawanna County Jail, Scranton
  190. Pennsylvania: Lancaster County Prison, Lancaster
  191. Pennsylvania: Lehigh County Jail, Allentown
  192. Pennsylvania: Luzerne County Prison, Wilkes Barre
  193. Pennsylvania: Northumberland County Jail, Sunbury
  194. Pennsylvania: Rockview Penitentiary, Rockview
  195. Pennsylvania: Susquehanna County Jail, Montrose
  196. Rhode Island: State Prison and County Jail, Howard
  197. South Carolina: Jail, Chesterfield
  198. South Dakota: State Penitentiary, Sioux Falls
  199. South Dakota: State Penitentiary, Sioux Falls
  200. Tennessee: State Penitentiary, Nashville
  201. Texas: Court House and Jail, Waco
  202. Texas: Federal Prison, La Tuna
  203. Texas: Federal Prison, La Tuna
  204. Texas: State Prison, Huntsville
  205. Utah: State Prison, Salt Lake City
  206. Utah: State Prison, Salt Lake City
  207. Vermont: New Caledonia County Jail, St. Johnsbury
  208. Vermont: State Prison, Windsor
  209. Virginia: Jail, Princess Anne County
  210. Virginia: Libby Prison, Richmond
  211. Virginia: Libby Prison, Richmond
  212. Virginia: Libby Prison, Richmond
  213. Virginia: Libby Prison, Richmond
  214. Virginia: Libby Prison, Richmond
  215. Virginia: Libby Prison, Richmond
  216. Virginia: Libby Prison, Richmond
  217. Virginia: Libby Prison, Richmond
  218. Virginia: Marine Corps Prison, Quantico
  219. Virginia: Old Debtor's Prison, Gloucester
  220. Virginia: Public Gaol, Williamsburg
  221. Virginia: Public Gaol, Williamsburg
  222. Virginia: State Penitentiary, Richmond
  223. Washington: State Penitentiary, Walla Walla
  224. West Virginia: Jail, Charleston
  225. West Virginia: Jail, Charleston
  226. West Virginia: State Penitentiary, Moundsville
  227. West Virginia: State Penitentiary, Moundsville
  228. West Virginia: State Penitentiary, Moundsville
  229. Wisconsin: Armory, Police Station, and County Jail, Milwaukee
  230. Wisconsin: State Prison, Waupun
  231. Wisconsin: State Prison, Waupun
  232. Wisconsin: State Prison, Waupun
  233. Wisconsin: State Reformatory, Green Bay
  234. Wyoming: State Penitentiary, Rawlins
  235. Canada: Dominion Penitentiary, Kingston, Ontario
  236. China: Death cages
  237. France: Tour des Prisonniers, Autun
  238. France: "Le Masque de Fer"
  239. Germany: Carcer, Heidelberg
  240. Iran: Ispahan, prison of Shah Abbasse, Teheran
  241. Mexico: Jail, Ciudad Juarez
  242. Mexico: Jail, Ciudad Juarez
  243. Mexico: San Juan de Ulua, Veracruz
  244. United Kingdom: Convict ship Success
  245. United Kingdom: Dartmoor Prison, Princetown, Devonshire
  246. United Kingdom: Dartmoor Prison, Princetown, Devonshire
  247. United Kingdom: Dartmoor Prison, Princetown, Devonshire
  248. United Kingdom: door, Newgate Prison, London
  249. United Kingdom: Old House of Confinement, Alfreton, Derbyshire
  250. United Kingdom: Old Prison, Bodmin, Wales
  251. United Kingdom: Old Prison, Bodmin, Wales
  252. United Kingdom: Old Village Lock-up, Shrewton
  253. United Kingdom: Prison, Portland
  254. United Kingdom: Prison, Wakefield
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