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Archival description
Only top-level descriptions Prisoners--British Columbia
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Records of the Assistant Deputy Minister, Corrections Branch

  • GR-3670
  • Series
  • 1979-1997

The series consists of memoranda, reports, meeting minutes, discussion papers and correspondence created and received by the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Corrections Branch of the Ministry of Attorney General. The records were created between 1979 and 1997, and document the functions of the Branch. In particular, the records provide evidence of the administration of the Corrections system and the experiences of inmates. The series includes letters of complaint from inmates housed in correctional facilities across BC as well as correspondence and reports on various incidents, such as cases of self-harm, attacks by other prisoners, and the Oakalla prison riot. The series also provides evidence of programs administered by the Corrections branch, including probation, supervision and monitoring, recreational activities for inmates, and meal planning at correctional facilities.

The majority of the records were arranged by a coding system used by the Corrections branch, although this was later replaced by the ARCS/ORCS system in use today. Larger accessions were arranged in several batches based on the date that records were sent off-site. In most cases, the archivist did not physically rearrange the records, but intellectually arranged the file list so that all related records are collocated as they most likely would have been in the office of origin. Records arranged by ARCS/ORCS number have been placed towards the end, along with chronological correspondence files and uncoded subject files.

British Columbia. Corrections Branch

Corrections Branch executive records

  • GR-4092
  • Series
  • 1926-1993

The series consists of records created by the executive office of the Corrections Branch between 1951 and 1988. The records document the functions of the Branch and provide evidence of the administration of the Corrections system and the experiences of staff and inmates.

The records include general office files, correspondence, memos and policy files as well as investigations, issues and inmate files and correctional centre and community camp files. In addition there are a small amount of earlier files, 1926-1950, mostly from the office of the Warden of Oakalla as well as Marpole shift logs or hearings files from 1988 to 1993.

The executive personnel from 1951 to 1988 was as follows:
E.G.B Stevens, Provincial Probation Office and Inspector of Gaols 1951-1962
Selwyn Rocksborough Smith, Director of Correction 1962-1973
Edgar W. Epp, Associate Deputy Minister 1973-1975
John W. Ekstedt, Deputy Minister 1975-1978
Bernard G. Robinson, Commissioner of Corrections 1978-1988

British Columbia. Corrections Branch

Lower Mainland Regional Correctional Centre inmate case files

  • GR-3035
  • Series
  • 1978-1982

This series consists of a sample of Lower Mainland Regional Correctional Centre inmate case files. These are progress files, records relating to daily contacts with inmates including monitoring changes in behaviour or attitude and any progress towards rehabilitation and warrant files, records relating to the admission, transfer and release of inmates.

British Columbia. Corrections Branch

Commission of Inquiry Regarding Daniel Leroy Sanger (1951)

  • GR-0924
  • Series
  • 1951-1952

This series consists of records of the Commission of Inquiry Regarding Daniel Leroy Sanger, 1951-1952. Commission records include Provincial Secretary file P-5 which contains correspondence, vouchers, copy of Letters Patent appointing the commissioner, etc. Also included is the commissioner's ten page typewritten report (2 copies) in which he concluded that Sanger received adequate medical attention and that there was no evidence of wrongdoing.

British Columbia. Commission of Inquiry Regarding Daniel Leroy Sanger (1951)

Quesnel prisoner's description book

  • GR-0042
  • Series
  • 1915-1919

The series consists of a prisoner's description book from Quesnel police gaol, created between July 1915 and May 1919.

British Columbia. Provincial Police Force (Quesnel)

Warrants of commitment and other material

  • GR-2883
  • Series
  • 1913-1917

Warrants of commitment and other forms documenting admissions to Victoria Gaol and Nanaimo Gaol, 1913-1914 and the Saanich Prison Farm, 1914-1917.

Saanich Prison Farm

Provincial Gaol punishment book

  • GR-0349
  • Series
  • 1914-1917

Punishment book showing "punishments awarded for breaches of prison discipline in Provincial Gaol". The volume indicates the date, prisoner's name, nature of the offence, by whom reported, sentence, date of sentence and the signature of the warden, J. Munro.

Saanich Prison Farm

Saanich Prison Farm records

  • GR-0306
  • Series
  • 1914-1917

This series consists of records documenting the admission and discharge of prisoners, their daily activities and medical needs; account books for the running of the gaol; time books for the guards and gaolers; and a letterpress book of correspondence outward from the warden, J. Munro. Volumes 1-5 are statements showing the Employment of Prisoners in Saanich Prison Farm. This is a daily record which shows the date, number and name of prisoner, all are male, all do hard labour, most are under sentence and a few are under capital sentence.

Saanich Prison Farm

New Westminster Gaol records

  • GR-0309
  • Series
  • 1875-1917

This series consists of records of the New Westminster Goal, including prisoner description books, monthly lists of prisoners, and prisoners' effects books, 1875-1917.

Description books are a record and description list of all prisoners received into New Westminster Gaol, showing date, name, occupation, age, height, hair, eyes, complexion, religion, nationality, proportions, weight, peculiar marks, read and write, married or single, temperate or intemperate, offence, sentence number of convictions and remarks.

Return of Prisoners confined in New Westminster Gaol are lists arranged by month showing prisoner number and name, offence or charge, date of trial, when received in gaol, where and by whom tried, sentence, religion, nationality, whether can read or write, date of discharge, conduct, occupation in gaol, and remarks.

Prisoners' effects books show date, name, property, officer, remarks, charge and sentence.

Records are arranged chronologically by type of record.

New Westminster Gaol

Victoria Gaol employment registers

  • GR-0305
  • Series
  • 1861-1914

This series contains employment registers from the Victoria Gaol, 1861-1914. These volumes contain daily reports showing the prisoner's name, with or without labour, how/where employed and sometimes "remarks". The following Volumes are missing : 1 May 1900 - 16 Sep 1901 and 1 Feb 1903 - 14 Jun 1904. The final volume contains a notes that prisoners were transferred to Saanich Prison Farm on 12 Sep 1914.

Victoria Gaol

Victoria Gaol records

  • GR-0308
  • Series
  • 1859-1914

This series consists of the records of the Victoria Gaol, 1859-1914. The 107 volumes include lists of prisoners, descriptions of prisoners, sentence books, work records, charge books, employment registers, registers of clothing issued, reports of prisoners' conduct, punishment books, gaolers' reports, duty rosters and daily diaries, ration books, food account books, stores and provisions account books, financial records, doctors' record books, medical order books, receipts and 1875 correspondence from the Superintendent of Police.

Records have been grouped by subject matter, then arranged chronologically when possible. The groupings are as follows: Volumes 1 to 6, Lists of prisoners in Victoria gaol; Volumes 7 to 13, Description lists; Volumes 14 to 17, Sentence books; Volumes 18 to 22, Work records; Volumes 23 to 35, Charge books; Volumes 36 to 40, Prisoners conduct records; Volumes 41 to 107, Gaolers' records.

Victoria Gaol

Victoria Gaol charge and sentence book

  • GR-0662
  • Series
  • 1904-1914

This series consists of a charge and sentence book from Victoria Gaol, 1904-1914. Information recorded includes date entered, name, date of sentence, charge, admitting officer, time and date prisoner received, sentence, by whom sentenced, property received, cash received, and receipt for propensity on discharge.

Victoria Gaol

Nanaimo Gaol records

  • GR-0310
  • Series
  • 1893-1914

This series consists of records of the Provincial Gaol at Nanaimo mostly between 1911 and 1914. Volumes include a list of prisoners, 1893-1911, charge and sentence book, 1911-1914, prisoners' sentence book, prisoners' description book, prisoners' employment book, prisoners' effects book, list of provisions and stores, Gaoler's testimonials at Nanaimo Gaol, 1911-1914 and at the Saanich Prison Farm 1914-1917, punishment book, prisoners' keep account book, gaoler's diary 1911, food account books, an indexed letterpress book of correspondence outward from the Warden J. Munro and a daily minute book of admissions, discharges, calls, visitors, church services, etc.

Nanaimo Gaol

Correspondence with regard to provincial gaols

  • GR-2954
  • Series
  • 1910-1912

The series consists of correspondence created by the Superintendent of Police from 1910 to 1912. The letters, both inward and outward, are about Provincial gaols (jails) at Kamloops, Nanaimo, Nelson, New Westminster, Burnaby (Oakalla) and Victoria. The subjects covered include personnel and staffing matters, rules for convicts, transfer of prisoners, tenders for services and supplies, uniforms, accounts and other matters. During these years F.S. Hussey and Colin S. Campbell held the position of Superintendent of the Provincial Police, which included the responsibility of the Inspector of Gaols.

British Columbia. Superintendent of Police

Provincial prison reports

  • GR-3434
  • Series
  • 1905, 1911

The series consists of ten reports sent to Frederick Hussey in 1905 and 1911, in his capacity as Superintendent of Provincial Police and Inspector of Gaols. The wardens at each of the Provincial Gaols at Victoria, New Westminster, Nanaimo, Nelson and Kamloops returned an annual summary of the activity of the gaol with attached monthly reports and annual returns of the prisoners received. The reports include: lists of staff and salaries; financial expenditures, prisoner work statistics and number of prisoners in custody including the name, age, country of origin, profession, crime, sentence and conduct of each.

British Columbia. Superintendent of Police

Register

  • GR-2955
  • Series
  • 1908-1911

Register showing employment of prisoners, August and September 1908 and January 1909. For 1909-1911 the volume is used as a more general record book (showing date of admission, name, charge and sentence, employment while in custody, number of meals provided and any other costs incurred). Partial index.

Port Essington Gaol

Warden's diaries

  • GR-0002
  • Series
  • 1893-1899

The series consists of three volumes of Victoria Gaol Warden's diaries dated 1893, 1896 and 1899.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Attorney-General

Gaoler's memorandum book

  • GR-2953
  • Series
  • 1865-1868

Gaoler's memorandum book recording rules, punishments, medical treatment, and noting other changes in the daily routine.

Victoria Gaol

Jean B. Wilton oral history collection

  • PR-2357
  • Collection
  • [196-]-[197-]

The collection consists of sound recordings compiled by Jean B. Wilton while researching her book "May I Talk to John Howard?: The Story of J.D. Hobden, a Friend to Prisoners" (1973).

Wilton, Jean Birch, 1906-