I don't know how many people will be interested in this, but I'll pass along the information for those of you who are - maybe the genealogists among you.
The Utah State Archives and Records Service has announced that digital images of thousand of applications from Utah prisoners to the Utah Board of Pardons have been posted online. The Board of Pardons Prisoner Application Case Files, 1892-1949, is the newest addition to the archives digital collection. The series include 8,772 case files and 54,000 digital images.
Case files include a formal application for pardon, letters to the governor, petitions and letters of support from the public and public officials connected to the case. During the first 40 years, court transcripts, biographical sketches, prison evaluations, and a wide variety of related documentation such as personal data about the prisoner, criminal activity, family background and evaluation of the prisoner's adjustment to incarceration may be included.
Since these records have long been indexed by name, they often provided a starting point for research into historical crimes or criminals by including important details such as dates and places. By making them available online, this information will reach more people interested in researching such materials. Among the case files is an application for the pardon of Joe Hill (aka Joseph Hillstrom), who was convicted of murder and executed by firing squad at the State Prison on November 19,1915. The lengthy case file includes 62 pages of documents. Researchers may access the prisoners applications at http://historyresearch.utah.gov/digital/328.htm
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