Call Number:

MSS.020

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library

Extent:

1 linear_foot

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of item], in the Probation and Penal records, Manuscripts, PU-L.MSS.020, Biddle Law Library, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia, PA.

Date:

circa 1930's (inclusive)

Abstract:

This collection contains a series of files concerning criminal law statutes and codes in the United States in the early 20th century. Contains a collection of prospective penal code articles and revisions, transcripts from various commissions for criminal code reform and revision, several academic studies on criminal law and youth crime, several copies of proposed or actual laws, personal handwritten notes on criminal law reform, newspaper clippings, and a few pieces of personal correspondence.

The contents of this collection concern various studies, commissions, and reforms of American penal, probation, and criminal code. A large portion of the collection contains personal notes written on these topics which are not attributed to a specific legal scholar or attorney, but bear some resemblance to the work and writings of William Mikell in his respective collection. The connection between these two connections is unconfirmed, but there are still similarities in content and subject matter and both collections together provide a wealth of information about criminal code reforms in the early 20th century.

"Penal Code Articles" contains drafts of various articles in a project for reform on the penal code.

"Public Hearing on Revision of Code of Criminal Procedure transcript" contains a typed transcript of the proposed tentative drafts of the special committee of the commission on the administration of justice on the revision of the code of criminal procedure, dated January 27, 1938.

"Parole Committee transcript" contains an untitled, undated transcript of a meeting of a Governor-appointed committee for reform of the parole system, state or area unknown.

"Youth in the Toils Study article" contains a completed report on youth crime "made under the auspices of the Delinquincy Committee of the Boys Bureau" by Leonard Harrison and Pryor Grant, undated.

"Choice of Law Problems Involving Individual Liability of Shareholders Memorandum of Authorities article" contains a typed, completed article with footnotes and citations, undated, no author listed.

"Multiply-Incorporated Associations article" contains another completed, typed article with footnotes and citations, undated, no author listed.

"Acts & Bills" contains a short series of bound bills and laws concerning parole and criminal law reform, undated and no authors listed.

"Personal Notes" contains a volume of unorganized, untitled, handwritten notes seemingly concerning the criminal/parole code reforms and edits contained in the rest of the collection. The notes have no listed authors and are somewhat illegible. Very fragile.

"Media" contains a selection of newspaper clippings concerning criminal law reform or politics. Unorganized.

"Miscellaneous Correspondence" contains several letters to William Mikell of Penn Law concerning criminal law reform.