Reference
CRT152/27
Title
Extracts concerning the photographing of prisoners at Bedford Gaol from 1859.
Date free text
1859-1861
Production date
From: 1859 To: 1861
Creator
old accession number 8644
Scope and Content
Article from Beds Mercury 4th July 1859 - use of the new science of photography by the governor. 'Whenever the Governor has in his custody a man whom he believes to be an old offender, by the means of a little instrument he has in the prison, he takes a likeness of the prisoner. He then sends it round to the governors of prisons and to the heads of police in the neighbourhood ... One or two cases have been detected where the prisoners have been old offenders and against whom previous convictions were recorded.' This system was abandoned in 1893 when outside photographers were used.
Extract from QGR1/43 - concerns the application of photography in discovering the antecedants of criminals, 'especially tramps and strangers'.
Extract from QSM41, Easter 1861 - concerns the financing of photography carried out at the gaol
Language
English
Reference
Level of description
item