Society for the Prevention of Crime records, 1878-1973

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Collection context

Creator:
Society for the Prevention of Crime (New York, N.Y.)
Extent:
71 boxes (66 manuscript boxes, 2 oversize boxes (597 and 598), 3 tall phonograph boxes (67-69))
Language:
English .
Scope and content:

Papers of the Society, including correspondence among the officers and directors of the Society, memoranda, reports, legal papers, minutes, financial records, radio scripts, clippings, scrapbooks, comic books, and a subject file of pamphlets and clippings on all aspects of crime prevention. Also, an extensive history of the Society.

Some officers of the Society who appear in the correspondence:

Frank Moss [Counsel 1887-1908; President 1908-1909]

Charles Henry Parkhurst [President 1891-1908]

Samuel Marcus [Counsel 1908-1936]

Charles E. Bruce [President 1909-1921]

S. Edward Young [President 1921-1927]

Howard Clark Barber [Superintendent -1932; Director 1925-1932, 1936-1939]

William Jay Schieffelin [President 1927-1933]

Albert E. Roraback [Vice-President 1926-]

Howard M. Bassett

George P. Hammond [Superintendent 1932-1935]

George Drew Egbert [President 1933-1940]

Henry N. Pringle [Investigator; Superintendent]

Harry Sussman [Investigator]

Lionel J. Freeman [Superintendent 1935-1937]

J. Edward Lumbard [Counsel 1937-]

Benjamin M. Day [President 1940-1942]

Paul Blanshard [Ex Secretary 1941/1942]

George H. Sibley President 1942-1948]

Edwin Jay Lukas [Ex Secretary 1943-1950; Ex Director 1950]

Clarence O. Dimmock [Counsel 1943-]

Bernhard K. Schaefer [President 1948-]

K. Brent Woodruff [Ex Director, 1950/1951]

Biographical / historical:

The Society for the Prevention of Crime was founded in 1877 in New York City. It has worked, successively, for the promotion of temperance, for judicial and legislative reform, and for public and legal education. During its most active periods, the Society brought about the formation of of the Lexow Committee to investigate the New York City Police in 1894, contributed to the Albany Crime Commission during the 1930s, and broadcast popular radio programs on criminal behavior, 1946-1948. In 1948 the Society absorbed the Vocational Foundation Bureau, a job placement agency for parolees. Since 1956, the Society's only activity has been its annual grant to Columbia Law School for research in penology.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Boxes 1 (cataloged correspondence), 67-69 (phonograph disc boxes), and 597-598 (flat boxes) are onsite. The remainder of this collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Society for the Prevention of Crime records; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
Before you visit:
Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
Contact:
rbml@library.columbia.edu