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CDCR History

CDCR California prison history explores the stories of the people, places and programs that shaped the current state penal system. Within the CDCR History category, there are two sub-categories. The Unlocking History series uses extensive research culled from historical records while CDCR Time Capsule republishes historical documents as originally written.

Torn document with missing information led to the story of Grace Bernice Day, who was sent to San Quentin after splashing acid in the face of her husband. In the background is an early photo of San Quentin, courtesy of the Anne T. Kent California Room of the Marin Public Library.

Echoes from the Past: Restoring history’s missing pages

While researching stories for the Unlocking History series, we often find damaged documents, missing photos, or incomplete information. One example...

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Counterfeiters Emile Bruder and Clement Duchesne were sent to San Quentin in 1903 to serve a five-year federal prison sentence.

Family seeks information on 1903 counterfeiter

A recent question came across the Inside CDCR desk regarding a counterfeiter who was incarcerated at San Quentin in 1903....

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Cemetery Tales, with Folsom prison cemetery and Folsom Dam in the background overlaid with a mugshot of Harry Stewart, 15561.

Cemetery Tales: Harry Stewart, Fresno embezzler

In our final Cemetery Tales of the season, we look more closely at Harry Stewart, early 1900s embezzler, thief, and...

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JE McKim mugshot from 1907 and 1926 overlaying the Folsom State Prison.

Cemetery Tales: Meet JE McKim, thieving drifter

In our third installment of this month’s Cemetery Tales, we look at a drifter with a long criminal record dating...

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Cemetery Tales with image of Folsom Prison's cemetery and two mugshots of Raymond Blade and Henry Hunt.

Cemetery Tales: Raymond Blade and Henry Hunt

The second installment of this month’s Cemetery Tales looks at two incarcerated people at different stages in their lives when...

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John Beebe at the left and Joseph "Jose" Balado overlaying the San Quentin prison cemetery.

Cemetery Tales: John Beebe and Joseph Balado

The first Cemetery Tales story for 2025 looks at the lives of career criminal John Beebe and Joseph “Jose” Balado,...

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Exploring history of ships, such as the Waban, used by the state prison system up through the early part of the 20th century.

Ships shaped early California prison system

After California became a state in September 1850, the Legislature passed a law establishing all county jails would serve as...

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At the 1990 Medal of Valor, Gov. Deukmejian speaks at a lectern.

1990 Medal of Valor ceremony honors 27 staff

The 1990 Medal of Valor ceremony was held May 25 at the State Capitol, paying tribute to 27 staff members....

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1989 Medal of Valor at the State Capitol with the governor and award honorees.

1989 Medal of Valor ceremony honors 20

During the Medal of Valor ceremony held May 15, 1989, at the State Capitol, state and corrections officials gathered to...

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1988 ceremony Medal of Valor with governor, YACA Secretary and a lieutenant.

1988: Governor, corrections honor heroes

California state officials gathered at the State Capitol May 16, 1988, to honor 18 corrections employees and one community volunteer...

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