February “Archives treasures” — first contender
Last month we kicked off our first “Archives treasures” blog series of the year. Now, with the help of our friends from the State Archives, we’re heading into our February round with the Penitentiary Inmate Files of 1881-1902. Construction of the State Penitentiary in Walla Walla began in 1886, three years before Washington reached statehood. The earliest cells were made of iron and lit using candles until 1902, when electric lights were installed. Originally, both men and women were registered there,…