Prison outreach

[LadyBenson]

I would love to hear about any programs your museum has done with prisoner outreach, both adult and juvenile.

Thanks

[SparksBird]

I know that the Ohio Historical Society has worked with the Marysville Women's Correctional Facility to do some contract sewing. Apparently the prison started a program for inmates that wanted to work, where they do sewing. During the state Bicenntennial they sewed state flags as well as American flags. They were then approached by OHS and it was discussed about making period clothing. They were provided the period patterns, the fabric and were given a sewing class to discuss how they shirts and dresses were put together. Apparently this went well as they have been used several times. That's the only one that I know of.

Rick Musselman
Carriage Hill Farm
M.O.M.C.C.

[eremosen]

Hello All,
When I worked for Conner Prairie Museum I helped set up program with the Indiana prison systems to have the inmates make period clothing for both interpretive uses and for sale in the gift shop. The state of Indiana has a program called Prison Enterprises Network (Yep, it is indeed called PEN Products- Their motto is "Quality Product Made With Conviction", I kid you not. http://www.in.gov/idoc/penproducts/ ) whose mission is to employ as many inmates that are able to work regular jobs. They make all the tables, benches, chairs for the DNR, office furniture for state agencies, all mattresses and clothing needed for the Indiana prison system as well as city and county jails. They also will work for non-profit agencies. So, I ended up spending about 1 day a week, at the 2 prisons we used, teaching the women to make period clothing. The maximun security prison did all machine sewn items, corded petticoats, 1880's aprons, giftshop clothing etc. The other minimun security prison did all the hand sewing projects: 1830's men's shirts, ladies daycaps, aprons, kerchiefs, waistcoats etc.
I will say it was a worthwhile project but also the hardest thing I have ever done for a museum. While the inmates who work for PEN Products are the best behaved and most successful in the prison system, they are still in prison. All of the women came with some mighty big baggage, some of it could be worked around, some not so much... It ended up taking far more of my time than orginally planned but it was indeed worthwhile. The ladies that did the machine sewing loved that they were sewing on brightly colored calicoes instead of khaki or orange, and the handsewers learned heirloom sewing skills that they could possibly put to use in the outside world (baptism gowns etc.). Conner Prairie benefitted in that it got lots of period correct clothing at a greatly reduced price. Prison workers make between 35 cents and $3.65 an hour depending on whether the project is for internal or commercial use. Out of that they pay taxes and towards the victims restitution fund. Anything left after that goes in an account for when they are released or towards items bought from the commisary. I don't know if this is what you meant by outreach or not, but it is the only prison-museum connection that I know of other than the program Rick mentioned.
All the Best,
Ericka Mason Osen

[Museumgirl]

This is a really interesting topic. I never thought of using prisoners to help with museum projects - very creative!

I wonder if anyone has had experience taking educational programs to prisons. I'm sure this would most likely be at minimum security facilities due to the risks associated with others. If I'm wrong - please correct me

I've worked at museums that have had visits from juevenile half-way houses (the kids go here to hopefully deter them from getting into additional troubling and having to go to a full-fledged detention center). In one experience with this, the kids were with a new leader and they were all allowed to go to the restroom at the same time. They ended up escaping through the bathroom window. Funny enough - I passed them walking down the highway on my way home so I called them in! I know this story doesn't really fall under the category of "outreach" but it is a lesson of what to be aware of when dealing with individuals from these types of institutions.

[LadyBenson]

Thanks for sharing your stories! I am interested in outreach as in educational opportunities for prisoners but I find what the historical societies mentioned are doing fascinating. Sewing is a wonderful skill to have. It is good that they can contribute to something worthwhile and pick up something they can use when they are release to earn a living.