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Series number: |
2021 |
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Title: |
Photographic Description Books [Berrima Gaol] |
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Start date: |
by 14 Jul 1883 |
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End date: |
c. 24 Sep 1907 |
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Contents start date: |
14 Jul 1883 |
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Contents end date: |
24 Sep 1907 |
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Descriptive note: |
The series was created in accordance with the 'Gaol Regulations' proclaimed in the Supplement to the NSW Government Gazette of 19 February 1867. A 'Description Book' was required to be created and maintained by the Gaoler of each prison. The Description Book was to be kept in the same order as the Entrance Books and was to contain the following details: personal description, religion, and all other prescribed information of all prisoners received. An index to the Description Books also had to be maintained (1). Some prisons maintained description books prior to this regulation.
Photographing prisoners for inclusion in the description books commenced late in the Nineteenth century although it was not regulated until the mid Twentieth Century with the passage of the Prisons Act, 1952 (Act No. 9, 1952) which stated ‘Every prisoner shall be liable to be photographed, to have the impression of his fingers and palms taken, and to have such details of his personal description as may be prescribed recorded’ (2).
This series contains a photograph of each prisoner and the following information: number, prisoners’ name, aliases, date when portrait was taken, native place, year of birth, details of arrival in the colony - ship and year of arrival, trade or occupation, religion, degree of education, height, weight (on committal, on discharge), colour of hair, colour of eyes, marks or special features, number of previous portrait, where and when tried, offence, sentence, remarks, and details of previous convictions (where and when, offence and sentence).
There appears to have been one face-on photograph per individual until about 1894 when there was both a face-on and a side-on photograph per individual.
End Notes:
(1) Supplement to the New South Wales Government Gazette 19 February 1867, 5.
(2) Prisons Act, 1952 s.19
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Home location: |
This series is held at Western Sydney Records Centre |
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Format: |
Loose Papers |
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Images: |
None
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Arrangement: |
Chronological |
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Bridging aids: |
This series is amongst those indexed in Index to the Gaol Photographs. |
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Copies: |
Microfilm copy SR Reel 5093 - available in both reading rooms. |
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Item control status: |
Item lists are available electronically |
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Creating agency: |
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Current agency responsible: |
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Preceding series: |
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Succeeding series: |
None
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Related series: |
None
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Controlling series: |
None
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Controlled series: |
None
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Activities documented by this series: |
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Persons creating this series: |
None
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Record items in this series: |
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A Division of the Department of Services, Technology & Administration