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Series VPRS
516
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Central Register of Female Prisoners [Use microform copy: VPRS 516/P1]
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| Date Range: |
Series |
1857 - 1948 |
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Series in Custody |
1857 - 1991 |
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Contents |
1857 - 1948 |
| Public Access: |
Part Open |
| Location: |
North Melbourne |
| Format of Records: |
Physical |
  | Agency which created this SeriesAgency which created this Series |
| Agency currently responsible for this SeriesAgency currently responsible for this Series |
| Description of this SeriesDescription of this Series |
- How to use the Records
The original register is not currently (as at 2006) available for issue to researchers. The older volumes require significant conservation work and the more recent volumes are closed to public inspection under Section 9 of the Public Records Act because these contain information of a personal or private nature.
Researchers, however, may use VPRS 516/P1 for the microfiche copy of those registers that are not closed under Section 9. This is located in the PROV Reading Rooms and there is no need to pre-order.
VPRS 516 is arranged in registration number order. To obtain the registration number for a particular female prisoner, consult VPRS 10879/P1 Alphabetical Index to the Central Register of Female Prisoners which is also located in the Reading Rooms. The index is arranged alphabetically by surname and provides the registration number.
Or, alternatively, refer to VPRS 12798 Index to Female Prisoners 1855-1918, Compiled by Marion Button (also known as Victorian Prisoners Index (Females)). This index is arranged in strict alphabetical order by surname and also provides the registration number and is also available in the PROV Reading Rooms.
After obtaining the registration number from VPRS 10879 or VPRS 12798, consult the headers of the microfiche copy which records the range of registration numbers contained on it. Then locate the history on that fiche.
Female Prisoner Records Prior to 1855
There are no central government records relating to female prisoners prior to 1855. The earlier records of female prisoners may be found in the records of the penal institutions, hulks and other prisons, in existence at the time.
- Function / Content
This series comprises registers created by the Penal and Gaols Branch to record the registration number, name and personal details of female prisoners in custody in Victorian gaols.
There is a one page entry for each prisoner. At the top of each page is recorded the prisoners registration number and full name.
There are fields to record the following information which provides a personal description of the prisoner: height, weight, complexion, hair, eyes, nose, mouth, chin, eyebrows, visage, forehead, date of birth, native place, trade, religion, read or write.
There are also spaces in which to record details of the prisoners offence and sentence: sentence, date of conviction, offence, where tried and before whom. There are several fields for this information, so that subsequent convictions can be recorded on the same page, using the prisoners original registration number.
There are fields for Particular Marks (eg, scars, birthmarks, etc) and Previous History (this generally records information such as how and when the prisoner came to the colony/State).
On the bottom half of the page there are fields titled: At what station (ie to which gaol the prisoner was admitted), When received, Offences, sentences &c (here the prisoners discharge date is often recorded, eg [date] Freedom by time or Freedom by remission). There are also columns where extensions of the prisoners sentence (either by a Visiting Justice or the Superintendent) are recorded, in months and days.
In the bottom left hand corner there is a space for the Half Yearly Report. This has the following fields: Date, Superintendents, Favourable, Unfavourable, Days absent &c, Attendance at school as monitor. This Report does not appear to have been filled out for the majority of the prisoners in this series.
P1 Consignment
In the interests of preservation, the original register of female prisoners was microfilmed by Nova Micrographic Services in 1991 at the behest of the Public Record Office Victoria. The microfiche were made at this time. Many of the volumes in the series are in an extremely fragile condition due to water damage and the effects of severe mould. Image-enhancement techniques were used when the records were filmed to produce the best images possible. Because the pages are damaged (parts broken away), discoloured and the written text often faded, the originals are also illegible in part.
Date range of 'Series in Custody'
This date range extends to 1991 as that was the year that the a microfilm copy of the register was made (refer to P1 consignment). The date range of the intellectual content of register was 1857-1948.
- Recordkeeping System
The records in this series are arranged in registration number order, which is also roughly chronological by the prisoners date of admission to prison, as numbers were allocated to prisoners by the Penal and Gaols Branch soon after admission.
To facilitate access to the register, the Branch created an index to this series, VPRS 10879 Index to Female Prisoner Register. The index is arranged alphabetical order by surname. Details include the prisoners first name, registration number, register number and folio number.
Microfiche
The fiche are arranged in numerical order. Otherwise, the intellectual content of is identical to that of the hard-copy register. The fiche were previously registered as VPRS 8222.
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