Established 2023

The following short blog posts, written by students working with this archive, are intended to help orient you to the materials in our digital collection. They tell some of the stories of the people who worked on these prison newspapers, as well different topics represented in the newspapers themselves.

  • Frieda Trost - A Life of Loss, Scandal, and Redemption

    This article re-examines the case of Frieda Trost, questioning her murder conviction and exploring her potential innocence.

  • Jewish Life at Eastern State Penitentiary

    Although decidedly a minority, Jewish inmates in Eastern State Penitentiary left their marks in the pages of The Umpire and the cultural life behind bars.

  • Women in Prison

    The representation of women in the prison, as depicted in "The Umpire," highlights their roles and contributions within the Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP). Although women were not directly involved in the print shop or the production of "The Umpire," they played significant roles in the prison's social and domestic spheres.

  • From Death Row to Free Man

    This essay explores William Weber's story, as uncovered in historical archives, highlighting one man's resilience, personal growth, and the impact of the prison community that supported him.

  • The People Behind the Products.

    This article is about an ad section in _The Umpire_. It highlights incarcerated persons and their contributions to their crafts and the greater meaning behind these products.

  • The Rev. Joseph Welch, Moral Instructor

    ESP's "Moral Instructor" and chaplain, the Rev. Joseph Welch, represents the mission of the prison at the time.

  • Pressing Boundaries- How Technology and Technique Shaped the Eastern Echo

    My Blog is about the magazine’s blend of art, technology, and craftsmanship.

  • Academic Scholarship and Exchange in The Eastern Echo

    This blog is about how the Eastern Echo functioned as an unexpected academic forum that facilitated a unique exchange of knowledge between prisoners and scholars

  • Photos Through the Lens of Isolation

    Exploring how confinement drives creative expression within the grips of the US prison system.

  • Expressions of Identity: David O. Hume's Life and Legacy at Eastern State Penitentiary

    This essay explores the complex life of David O. Hume during his time at Eastern State Penitentiary. Through his involvement in the prison band as a cornet player and conductor, his role in the E.S.P. Baseball League, and his work as an artist selling watercolor portraits and holiday cards, Hume found ways to define his identity beyond his sentence.

  • Life of "Yeap", Life of George Washington Yeaple

    Who is "Yeap" in *The Umpire*? What can we learn about him through the prints and more importantly, about his life outside of the Eastern State Penitentiary?

  • B-6594's Moral Essays

    My Blog about B-6594's moral essays in The Umpire.

  • The Umpire Advertisement Column

    The significance of advertisements; analysis of article 4002's ad column in The Umpire.

  • Disability Services in Eastern State Penitentary

    Multiple Mentions of disability services in Eastern Echo are analyzed in context of disability in mid-late 20th century prisons.

  • My (Great-)Uncle Walter

    My blog post about Walter Gala, who was incarcerated at Eastern State Penitentiary.

  • Believers in God - How Eastern State Inmates Pursued their Christian Beliefs and Served God During the Time of War

    How Eastern State Penitentiary Inmates Pursued their Christian Beliefs and Served God During the Time of War

  • Christmas Behind Bars- How Inmates Celebrated the Holidays at Eastern State Penitentiary

    My Blog about Christmas.

  • Canaries at Eastern State

    An exploration of the relationship between canary birds and the incarcerated men at the Eastern State Penitentiary as seen through The Umpire. An in depth look at the different publications and mentions of the birds written by the men of the prison.

  • Lover to Prisons

    The poem My Penknife by Frank H. Gilson, exploring themes of redemption, love, and the complex symbolism of a penknife gifted to an imprisoned man by his wife despite his criminal past.

  • ESP's Miniature Carousel

    John Metzler and his working miniature carousel model

  • American Expansionism at Eastern State Penitentiary

    Reprinting in prisons and its effects on worldviews.

  • Baseball at Eastern State Penitentiary in 1913

    An article discussing baseball at Eastern State Penitentiary and prominent individuals in the Eastern State Penitentiary League

  • Howard Housel, A Respectful Poet Who Loved Baseball

    The blog post describes the life of B-6861 and a deep analysis into his writings in The Umpire.

  • Duality of Prison System

    Duality of Incarcerated people and the justice systems.

  • How Mlle. Petite Elba paved her way into The Umpire

    History of Petite Elba

  • Barbershop Talks Behind Bars

    Illustrating how barbers defied dehumanizing standards at Eastern State Penitentiary.

  • Music as Defiance in Isolation

    Music, as we know it, is often used for entertainment. However, for incarcerated individuals at Eastern Statement Penitentiary, music was a lifeline for social interaction and a mode for finding community in isolation.

  • Growing Up Behind Walls Childhood at Eastern State Penitentiary

    Youth in the jail???

  • A Tale of a Walled Town

    Explores the life of incarcerated person Clarence Alexander Rea through his poem a Tale of a Walled Town.

  • Harry Haspel; A Glimpse into Family and Faith

    Harry Haspel's Jewish legacy at Eastern State Penitentiary

  • A Society Within a Society - The Life of Robert Heinemann

    A deep dive into the life of Robert Heinemann, covering his time before and within the Eastern State Penitentiary.

  • Socrates Cantoral, A Jack of All Trades

    Artist Socrates Cantoral is a model of self-reclamation and morality at Eastern State Penitentiary.