Archives behind the scenes - gaol photos
In this episode of Archives Behind the Scenes we show you the very popular Gaol Photo Description Books.
The photos (or mugshots) of prisoners are from gaols right across NSW and date from 1870-1930.
They include criminals from all walks of life. From those who were perhaps murderers down to someone who literally was in prison for five minutes for making a false registration on a birth certificate.
More Mugshots content
Underworld
Behind the scenes: How to read a ‘special’
Around the world, police forces followed established conventions when taking mugshots. But Sydney police in the 1920s did things differently.
Captured: Portraits of Crime, Arthur Astill
Arthur Astill, a 16 year old labourer from Orange in central west NSW, was photographed at Dubbo Gaol on 24 January 1893 while awaiting trial for murder
WW1
Sensational car chase
John Talbot Wright was arrested on 11 September 1920 after a sensational car chase through city streets