Hist 298: Historical Buildings

Eastern State Penitentiary, located on 22^nd & Fairmount Ave, is a historical monument, which provided the blueprint for prison construction and ideas around the world. During the century following Eastern State Penitentiary’s opening in 1829, more than 300 prisons in South America, Europe, Russia, China, Japan, and across the British Empire were based on its plan. The structure, designed by John Haviland, was based upon “Quaker-inspired system of isolation from other prisoners, with labor.” (http://www.easternstate.org/history/sixpage.php) It was a place of isolation, where prisoners would think of their crime and have true penitence.

With a building and values set in place, criticism from both spectrums emerged. “Debate grew about the effectiveness and compassion of solitary confinement. Was it cruel to hold these men and women without outside visitors, without books or letters from home, without contact with the outside world?” (http://www.easternstate.org/history/sixpage.php) When people are left alone without any distractions, some may go insane and try to kill themselves to get themselves out of the situation while others will contemplate how and why they are in the particular situation. With appropriate supervision and guidance, penitence can occur within prisoners.

An article published in Time Magazine on November 15, 1943 (Eastern State Penitentiary was closed in 1971) reported prisoners donating their skins to burn victims. The donators included murderers and thieves who donated their skin without any compensation except for the gratitude of helping others. Does this act reflect their progress; have they truly penitent? Because of their donation, it shows that they care about others rather than only themselves. Are felons truly bad people? Why did they murder? Why did they steal? There is a differentiation between insanity and desperation. Some of the murderers may have been victims of abuse. The inflictor’s ways finally pushed them to the edge of sanity resulting in death. This situation is famously represented in movies, such as Prison Song, Monster, and Provoked just to name a few. In all these situations, the victim was sentenced to do time in jail, but that is not the help they need. Obviously, they needed psychological help because the person they murdered abused them in a way that pushed them to their limits.

Even the rest of the people need psychological help. For someone to have so much hatred or a desire to kill has some serious mental issues that need professional help. Issues as large as this are not something that can be resolved on their own. Some convicts’ stories are similar: drug dealers selling money to support their family, they steal to obtain food or make some money, and some have low self-esteem and allowed people to influence their decisions (e.g. prostitution or other crimes people were swayed to commit). Some cannot find an employer who will give a chance to an ex-convict, so he/she returns to his/her old illegal habits in order to survive. Illegal activity is not justifiable in any circumstance but their reasons for committing crimes may have been preventable.

Today, the Eastern State Penitentiary is protected by a non-profit corporation, Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc., and functions as a historical building, providing guided tours year-long and holds a special event on Halloween.

“Skinning Convicts”. Time 15 Nov. 1943

Eastern State Penitentiary Official Website: http://www.easternstate.org/