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The Unlocking History series uses extensive research culled from historical records while CDCR Time Capsule republishes historical documents as originally written.
A 1928 report on the education, library, religious activities and women's department highlights the successes of early efforts to rehabilitate...
A Gold Rush-era doctor became the first prison physician at San Quentin when offenders were still kept on ships. It...
Read More About Meet Alfred Taliaferro, first San Quentin doctor
An 1874 report by the state prison investigative committee details rehabilitation efforts, lists a typical mess hall menu and describes...
Captain of the Yard Archibald McAllister earned the respect of the incarcerated at San Quentin then went on to serve...
Take a closer look at the unsolved murder of Ah Yee, a popular merchant in the late 1800s. More than...
Read More About An unsolved 1890s murder and a likely suspect
While the state created the prison matron position in 1885, job roles didn't expand until the suffrage movement.
Read More About Women’s prison jobs expanded during suffrage
Jean "Bessie" Barclay, daughter of a prominent attorney, found life for women in the early 1900s limiting and stifling. Bucking...
Read More About Bessie Barclay, seeking ‘boy’s life,’ lands in San Quentin
A woman sent to San Quentin in 1905 managed to turn her life around, later finding herself in a position...
In 1914, the effort to reform the two state prisons and further inmate rehabilitation. One of the first priorities was...
Read More About Women’s ward matron focused on mental health
In 1855, rumors regarding mismanagement of the state prison at Point San Quentin caused alarm with state lawmakers. California was...
Read More About 1855: San Quentin probe recommends hiring warden, dressing inmates alike