Series 328
Board of Pardons Prisoners' pardon application case files
Dates: 1892-1949.
26.50 cubic feet and 53 microfilm reels
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Scope and Content
Case files consist of letters to the Governor, a formal application for a pardon, petitions and letters of support from the public and officials connected to the case and during the first 40 years, case files often contained court transcripts, biographical sketches, prison evaluations and a wide variety of related documentation. Cases illustrate the process of review by the board of cases of prisoners incarcerated in the Utah prison system to determine if they should be released before their regular sentence ended. Documents contain personal data about the prisoner, criminal activity, family background and evaluation of the prisoner's adjustment to incarceration.
In Utah, the release of a convicted felon from the prison system began with an application made by the prisoner. During the territorial period applications were made directly to the Governor, usually in the form of a letter asking for a pardon or release from prison. With the creation of the Board of Pardons by the stateconstitution in 1896, the process of obtaining some form of release from prison became more formalized. The filing of an application with the Board initiated the process of scheduling a hearing, evaluating the individual prisoner, and either approving or denying the application for release.
Gaps in Series
A few individual cases were removed before processing was completed and were not located. Cases were recorded up to #8099 and don't resume again until #9000. This does not reflect a break in the series, but rather a clerical error.
Research Note
Variations occur in the way case numbers were assigned at different times, affecting the way in which the series might be searched. Identical case numbers were sometimes assigned to several different prisoners, particularly during the earlier period. These are sometimes identified as cases 231A, 231B, 231C, etc., and this does not indicate any close relationship between any of the cases. One particular individual might have several cases in the series; while others--again mostly in the early part of the files--may have only one case in which was placed several applications arising out of the same offense, or applications
arising out of different offenses committed by the person. Some prisoners used an alias on some applications and a real name on others.?The numerical files begin with case #28, then jump to #31. The assignment of case numbers to applications for release, date from the time the Board of Pardons was created in 1896. Cases numbered 1-27 and 29-30 might be part of those cases organized alphabetically; they may also not have survived. The files organized alphabetically generally contain cases before 1896, but some unnumbered cases from later years were also placed in these boxes.
Research Note
Variations occur in the way case numbers were assigned at different times, affecting the way in which the series might be searched. Identical case numbers were sometimes assigned to several different prisoners, particularly during the earlier period. These are sometimes identified as cases 231A, 231B, 231C, etc., and this does not indicate any close relationship between any of the cases. One particular individual might have several cases in the series; while others--again mostly in the early part of the files--may have only one case in which was placed several applications arising out of the same offense, or applications
arising out of different offenses committed by the person. Some prisoners used an alias on some applications and a real name on others.?The numerical files begin with case #28, then jump to #31. The assignment of case numbers to applications for release, date from the time the Board of Pardons was created in 1896. Cases numbered 1-27 and 29-30 might be part of those cases organized alphabetically; they may also not have survived. The files organized alphabetically generally contain cases before 1896, but some unnumbered cases from later years were also placed in these boxes.
Images Available
This series is available online as part of the Utah State Archives Digital Archives.
Access Restrictions
This series is designated as Public.
Reproduction and Use
These records are available for reproduction and use.
Finding Aids
Indexes: Appendix A is an extensive name index that is sorted alphabetically by last name of the prisoner. Partial, handwritten index volumes are located in box 26. View index.
Related Records
Territorial executive papers from the Territorial Secretary, Series 241, consist of letters requesting pardon and accompanying documentation before 1892.
Pardons granted record books from the Secretary of State, Series 329, contain pardons that were actually granted between 189 and 1915.
Schedule of proceedings from the Board of Pardons, Series 330, has further background data on prisoners listed in the schedule.
Minutes from the Board of Pardons and Parole, Series 332, has further background data on many of the prisoners whose cases are reviewed in this series.
Criminal history case files from the Board of Pardons and Parole, Series 80134, consist of letters requesting pardon and accompanying documentation after 1948.
Correspondence from the Board of Pardons and Parole, Series 80460, has further background data about many of these same prisoners.
Indexing Terms
Pardon--Utah.
Remission (Civil law)--Utah.
Executive power--Utah.
Crime--Utah.
| REEL | BOX | DESCRIPTION |
| 1 | 1 | A - Haworth |
| 2 | 1 | Hayes - K |
| 2 | 2 | K - McPherson |
| 3 | 2 | Mecca - Williams |
| 4 | 2 | Wilson - Z |
| 4 | 3 | 28-67 |
| 53 | 27 | 68-108 |
| 5 | 3 | 109-177 |
| 6 | 3 | 178-206 |
| 6 | 4 | 207-255 |
| 7 | 4 | 256-325 |
| 8 | 4 | 326-349 |
| 9 | 5 | 350-409 |
| 10 | 5 | 409-479 |
| 11 | 6 | 480-551 |
| 12 | 6 | 552-615 |
| 13 | 7 | 616-710 |
| 14 | 7 | 711-795 |
| 15 | 8 | 796-904 |
| 16 | 8 | 905-967 |
| 17 | 9 | 968-1105 |
| 18 | 9 | 1106-1208 |
| 18 | 10 | 1209-1277 |
| 19 | 10 | 1278-1433 |
| 20 | 10 | 1434-1459 |
| 20 | 11 | 1460-1612 |
| 21 | 11 | 1613-1772 |
| 22 | 12 | 1774-2000 |
| 23 | 12 | 2001-2092 |
| 23 | 13 | 2093-2250 |
| 24 | 13 | 2251-2428 |
| 25 | 14 | 2429-2647 |
| 26 | 14 | 2648-2736 |
| 26 | 15 | 2737-2915 |
| 27 | 15 | 2916-3143 |
| 27 | 16 | 3144-3200 |
| 28 | 16 | 3201-3430 |
| 29 | 16 | 3431-3447 |
| 29 | 17 | 3448-3559 |
| 30 | 17 | 3560-3671 |
| 30 | 18 | 3672-3729 |
| 31 | 18 | 3730-3871 |
| 32 | 18 | 3868-3948 |
| 32 | 19 | 3949-4006 |
| 33 | 19 | 4007-4173 |
| 34 | 19 | 4174-4247 |
| 34 | 20 | 4248-4439 |
| 35 | 20 | 4440-4675 |
| 36 | 20 | 4676-4881 |
| 37 | 20 | 4882-4899 |
| 37 | 21 | 4890-5089 |
| 38 | 21 | 5086-5256 |
| 39 | 21 | 5257-5406 |
| 40 | 21 | 5407-5466 |
| 40 | 22 | 5467-5599 |
| 41 | 22 | 5600-5799 |
| 42 | 22 | 5800-6008 |
| 43 | 22 | 6009-6112 |
| 43 | 23 | 6113-6218 |
| 44 | 23 | 6218-6476 |
| 45 | 23 | 6477-6741 |
| 46 | 23 | 6742-6898 |
| 47 | 24 | 6899-7146 |
| 48 | 24 | 7147-7423 |
| 49 | 24 | 7424-7667 |
| 50 | 25 | 7668-7928 |
| 51 | 25 | 7929-9131 |
| 52 | 25 | 9132-9423 |
| 52 | 26 | Handwritten Name Index |