Photographs of inmates, staff, and buildings

              State Archives Series 1679 AV
Ohio Reformatory for Women
Photographs of Inmates, Staff and Buildings
Page 1
OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
State Archives Record Series
SA Series 1679 AV
OHIO REFORMATORY FOR WOMEN
Photographs of Inmates, Staff and Buildings
OVERVIEW OF THE SERIES
Series Number: SA Series 1679 AV
Creating Agency: Ohio Reformatory for Women
Series Title: Photographs of Inmates, Staff and Buildings
Dates of Series: 1935-1965
Media: Black & White Photographs; Color Photographs
Quantity: 0.5 Cubic Feet
Location: Ohio Historical Society
AGENCY BACKGROUND
Mrs. Judson Harman, whose husband served as governor of Ohio from 1909-1913,
worked diligently for the legislative action to create a separate penal system for women
in Ohio. The Ohio Reformatory for Women was opened on Septmeber1, 1916 with a
population of 34 inmates. Initially the Reformatory was built without bars or walls. Bars
were installed on the windows shortly after the facility opened.
Significant in the history of the Ohio Reformatory for Women is Marguerite Reilley who
was appointed superintendent of the Reformatory in 1935 by Governor Martin Davey.
She succeeded Louise Mittendorf. Marguerite Reilley was a nationally known social and
penal reformer. Her background included working as a volunteer at the famed Hull
House under Jane Adams in Chicago. Around 1910 she moved back to Cleveland,
Ohio, held several jobs, got married and raised a family. She graduated from the
Cleveland Law School in 1928 and was appointed to the Cleveland Law Department in
1932. It was while Mrs. Reilley was in private practice that Gov. Davey appointed her
superintendent of the Reformatory.
When Mrs. Reilley first entered Marysville, she found dirty, unkempt inmates full of fear,
suspicion, and hatred. It was against the rules to wear makeup or get a haircut. No one
spoke above a whisper. Everything was done in silence and the women were rarely
allowed to speak. The women were not allowed any reading material unless it was
religious in nature. Smoking was prohibited. Punishment for small infractions was
readily handed out which made it very easy for the inmates to end up in the “dungeon”.