![handle is hein.journals/prsjrnl42 and id is 1 raw text is:
CITIZEN CONCERN AND ACTION
OVER 175 YEARS
NEGLEYN K. Ttii TERs
Should the plan take place dourig my life, of establishing a
pIermnanent charity tinder some such title as that at Philadelphia,
viz: A Society for alleviating the miseries of Public Prisons, and
annuitics be etigrafted thereupon, for the above nientionti purpose,
I would most readily stand at the bottoni of a page for five hundred
PIiiolus; or if such society shall be instituted within three years
ller mlly death, this stim shall he paid out of my estate.
S )wROTE the distinguished philanthropist, reformer and prison
Xisitor, John Howard, on hearing of the organization of the prison
'ociety in Philadelphin ini 1787. ' Hlowards writings and activities were
ellknown, to Phittladelphia prison reformers, especially through cor-
eCsponldence with their counterparts in England. We know, for
ntance that D)r. Benjamin Rush, who might well be designated god-
lathetr of tle Philadelphia reform society, had an exchange of letters
ith Dr. John Coakley Lettsom regarding Howard's visit to prisons in
I urkey ind other Mediterranean countries. 2 There can be no doubt
tht i)spiration to organize a prison reform society derived from John
oWard and his work.
I'li bldelph ia in Nlay 1787 was an extremely exciting place. It was
ItliS vcry time that delegates were assembling to hammer out the
>nstitut ion of the new nation. The city was a thriving metropolis of
ar) forty thousand persons, well stipplied with stores, markets,
15spapers, hospitals and colleges-with all the necessities that cn-
liuilte to the development of a sophisticated, progressive community.
In this thriving city At this time a group of gentlemen assembled
Nlay 8, in the home of Isaac Parrish, hatter, in Mulberry Court 3
agreed to associate themselves in a society to be entituled [sie]
lohiladelphia society for all ialing the miseries of public prisons'.
Sllitdred(j years the reform society maintained its quaint title but
I at its centennial, the name was changed to the Pennsylvania
n N'oriely by whic it is known today--at this, its 175th anniver-
Tha from that May day of 1787 down to the present, the organi-
has been steadily and actively interested and engaged in the
otIVx. Notires of fir Orig(ial and Succsswiv Efforts to Improve the
I liC of /le Prisonl at Philadelphia, and to reformi the criminal code of
0-anIia;- with a few obserationls onl the Penlitentiary' Sylstem, I'hli iciph ia,
il ftie Society, October 8, 1787
St wtest sidc of Sixth Street between High (Market) and Mulberry (Arch)
5
Digitized from Best Copy Available](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.journals/prsjrnl42&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)
What Is HeinOnline?
Contact us for annual subscription options:
Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?
profiles profiles most
Contact us for annual subscription options:
Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?
profiles profiles most
Contact us for annual subscription options:
Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?
profiles profiles most