Former Guards at the Old Penitentiary Oral History Project

This oral history collection is comprised of interviews with fifteen former Old Idaho Penitentiary (Old Pen) guards between April and July of 1992. Idaho State Historical Society staff member Kathy Hodges conducted the interviews, the majority on site. She asked questions regarding the purpose of the prison, and whether the former guards believed that the Old Pen rehabilitated inmates. Topics include first memories of the job, how the guards ended up working there, escapes, daily routines, riots, contraband, memorable instances, physical layout of the site, wardens, and prison industry. Several of the former guards toured the grounds and discovered hidden memories of their time at the Old Pen.

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