Call Number:

13

Repository:

Philadelphia History Museum

Extent:

4.4 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

circa 1895-1911

Creator:

Philadelphia (Pa.). Bureau of Police. Detective Service

Abstract:

In 1841, a police department directed by the Mayor was created in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, replacing the daily and nightly patrol that had been in place since December of 1830. One of the major factors driving the Consolidation Act of 1854 unifying the various municipalities within Philadelphia County into the City of Philadelphia was the need for a unified police force, which was established around that time. The Detective Division, later known as the Detective Service, was established in 1859. The Philadelphia Bureau of Police, Detective Service mugshot books, circa 1895-1911, consist of 12 volumes of identification photographs, also called rogues' galleries, of criminals and suspected criminals in Philadelphia. In addition to the individual's name, there is often other personal information listed with the photographs.

Before 1830, there was no formal police system in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Instead, the city was patrolled by nightly watchmen who were managed by the constables of each ward. In December of 1830, an ordinance was passed establishing a patrol that would be on duty during the daytime as well as the nighttime.

"...in 1841, a full-scale Police Department was created under the direction of the Mayor. The Marshal Bill (Act of May 3, 1850) established a Philadelphia Police District, which embraced the City and the adjoining Districts of Spring Garden, Kensington, the Northern Liberties, Richmond, Penn, Southwark and Moyamensing. A forerunner of the City-County consolidation of 1854, this new organization solved problems that had arisen through the demarcation of police powers at City and District boundaries. With the Consolidation, a County-wide Department of Police was established...After 1857, the Department of Police was headed by a Chief appointed by the Mayor; in 1859 a Detective Division was formed within the Department and in the following year a River and Harbor Police [unit] was added to it. In 1864, the office of Fire Marshal was created within the Department, where it remained until 1937. In pursuance of the Bullitt Bill, the Department was transferred in 1887 to the then-established Department of Public Safety as the Bureau of Police. With the adoption of the City Charter of 1951 and the abolishment of the Department of Public Safety, the present Police Department was organized." (City of Philadelphia Department of Records)

Bibliography:

Quoted text from: City of Philadelphia Department of Records. "Police Department." 2000. Accessed October 10, 2014. http://www.phila.gov/phils/docs/inventor/graphics/agencies/A079.htm.

This collection consists of 12 mugshot books, also called rogues' galleries, containing black and white identification photographs of criminals and suspected criminals in Philadelphia. In addition to the person's name, the photographs often have notations about the person's age, height, weight, hair and eye color, and some note known aliases and crimes committed. At least one volume has an alphabetical listing of the criminals. A maquette for the statue "The Policeman's Friend" is also part of this collection.

A rough inventory of the collection is provided below. Additional information is available on-site: "The Policeman's Friend" - 00.28.1- Maquette for the statue, a policeman and female child approx. 3 ' tall. Brass colored painted fiberglass. Model for statue in front of Police Headquarters in Philadelphia "Mug shot, Philadelphia Police" - 00.28.2 - Log book (mug book) with arrest record and photographs of criminals and notations of their aliases and crimes. Number 8 on front. "RG9", Alphabetical listing of criminals in front, 3075-3906, no dates. "Detective Service/ Automobile Thieves/ Bureau of Police" - 00.28.3 - Philadelphia Police. Mug shots, no dates, mixed numbers between 8647-39166, at some point labeled "RG 2." [Album] "7" - 00.28.4 - Philadelphia Bureau of Police, Detective Service. Mug shots, no dates, numbers between 2428-3071, labeled "RG 5" at some point, album number on spine. "Album No. 11" - 00.28.5 - Philadelphia Bureau of Police, Detective Service. Mug shots, 1899-1902, no numbers, labeled "RG 7" at some point, title on cover. "Pickpockets/ Detective Bureau" - 00.28.6 - Philadelphia Bureau of Police, Detective Service. Mug shots, 1897-1911 mixed, no numbers, labeled "RG 10" at some point, title on cover. "Detective Service, Album 10" - 00.28.7 - Philadelphia Bureau of Police. Mug shots, 1900-1901, numbered 4747-5470, labeled "RG 12" at some point, title on cover. [Arrest record] - 00.28.8 - Philadelphia Bureau of Police, Detective Service. Mug shots, 1902-1904, numbered 6299-7120, labeled "RG 4" at some point, no title. [Arrest record] - 00.28.9 - Philadelphia Bureau of Police, Detective Service. Mug shots, April-December 1902, numbered 5806-6253, labeled "RG 11" at some point, no cover, no title. [Arrest record] - 00.28.10 - Philadelphia Bureau of Police, Detective Service. Mug shots, 1906-1907, numbered 7945-8768, labeled "RG 8" at some point, no title. "(Servant Thieves)/ Detective Bureau" - 00.28.11 - Philadelphia Bureau of Police, Detective Service, mug shots, 1908, numbered 9538-10287, labeled "RG 3" at some point, no title. "(Burglars)" - 00.28.12 - Philadelphia Bureau of Police, Detective Service, mug shots, 1907-1911, numbered 8769-9537, labeled "RG 6" at some point, no title. [Arrest record] - 00.28.13 - Philadelphia Bureau of Police, Detective Service, no dates, arrest numbers mixed between 82-1300's, labeled "RG 13" at some point, no title.

Another mugshot book from 1890 (accession 99.98.971) is also available on-site.