Thank you for sharing this story. One of the pleasures of working with archives is unexpected finds, stories, and leads. Having the time to pursue them is another matter.
This is a splendid post. It is moving, in some ways so recognizable, and in others so foreign.
Really interesting to see that process were still followed even when these may not make much sense. Bertillion measurements for adults seem more logical as one would expect greater consistency bar any significant changes in weight/age, but measrue a teen seems like it would invite misindentification (in the future).
This case also reveals interesting parts of their worldview. The kind of physical punishment used -- assumed that deterrance is effective at preventing criminals from reoffending. It also betrays a belief in negative reinforcement. Perhaps more interestingly, it suggests an belief, whether articulated or not, that young children commit crimes because they choose to, that they can weigh outcomes and possible consquences, and make such decisions.
I have written about the troubled teen industry before. I can sense conncetions with reformatotries. All these kinds of institutions also remind me of the kind of high modernism that James Scott discusses and betray a deep seated ideas about the role of the state, and the power to change people through environmental interventions. This is especially confusing/intriguing in light of strong waves of biological determinism that coincide with many such interventions.
Hi Christian, thanks for your positive message and for your kind restack – much appreciated! Like you, I really enjoy having opportunities to uncover the hidden histories in the archives and there are so many more to research. I felt a real connection with Arthur, I guess because of his young age. It's an excellent point about the use of the Bertillon measurements for growing children, and I suppose that it might have been effective if they reoffended regularly before they reached adulthood – I can imagine the officers were simply following the procedure and didn't give it too much thought! I agree that the use of corporal punishment for young offenders is very interesting, and probably reflects the views of childhood and the management of children in the wider society – in England, the use of corporal punishment in schools was only fully banned in 1998! I'd like to study the impact of reformatories more, as I've come across many cases in which it was used either as a preventive strategy, or as a judicial sentence. Thanks again, Angela
HI Angela,
Thank you for sharing this story. One of the pleasures of working with archives is unexpected finds, stories, and leads. Having the time to pursue them is another matter.
This is a splendid post. It is moving, in some ways so recognizable, and in others so foreign.
Really interesting to see that process were still followed even when these may not make much sense. Bertillion measurements for adults seem more logical as one would expect greater consistency bar any significant changes in weight/age, but measrue a teen seems like it would invite misindentification (in the future).
This case also reveals interesting parts of their worldview. The kind of physical punishment used -- assumed that deterrance is effective at preventing criminals from reoffending. It also betrays a belief in negative reinforcement. Perhaps more interestingly, it suggests an belief, whether articulated or not, that young children commit crimes because they choose to, that they can weigh outcomes and possible consquences, and make such decisions.
I have written about the troubled teen industry before. I can sense conncetions with reformatotries. All these kinds of institutions also remind me of the kind of high modernism that James Scott discusses and betray a deep seated ideas about the role of the state, and the power to change people through environmental interventions. This is especially confusing/intriguing in light of strong waves of biological determinism that coincide with many such interventions.
Best,
C
Hi Christian, thanks for your positive message and for your kind restack – much appreciated! Like you, I really enjoy having opportunities to uncover the hidden histories in the archives and there are so many more to research. I felt a real connection with Arthur, I guess because of his young age. It's an excellent point about the use of the Bertillon measurements for growing children, and I suppose that it might have been effective if they reoffended regularly before they reached adulthood – I can imagine the officers were simply following the procedure and didn't give it too much thought! I agree that the use of corporal punishment for young offenders is very interesting, and probably reflects the views of childhood and the management of children in the wider society – in England, the use of corporal punishment in schools was only fully banned in 1998! I'd like to study the impact of reformatories more, as I've come across many cases in which it was used either as a preventive strategy, or as a judicial sentence. Thanks again, Angela