3. Case Files, ca. 1857-1992 (bulk 1924-1980)

This series consists of information on prisoners from throughout the United States, with the exception of Alaska. The most common offense for which the prisoners were sentenced is murder, but other crimes are represented, notably rape.

Cases for which there is only a small amount of information have been grouped alphabetically into general folders under each state. Cases in which multiple persons were involved are filed under the name of the person whose name comes first alphabetically.

This series consists mainly of newspaper clippings; however, there are also pamphlets, flyers, informational cards and correspondence from the American League to Abolish Capital Punishment and the Massachusetts Council for the Abolition of the Death Penalty. Correspondence between Sara R. Ehrmann and various prisoners can be found in this series and in the Norfolk Lifers Group folders filed under Massachusetts in Series 1 (box 2, folder 71 and box 3, folders 1-2), and in Series 5. Researchers should also be aware that some material pertaining to individual cases may be found in Series 2, Subseries C; these are mainly Massachusetts cases from the 1970s and 1980s.

Documentation of the Sacco and Vanzetti case is found in Series 2 (box 14, folders 8-35 and box 15, folders 1-12). There are also two audiocassettes and one videotape concerning the Sacco and Vanzetti case in Series 6.