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