Friends of Framingham Reformatory.

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The Friends of Framingham, Inc. (FOF) was formed in 1948 in support of Miriam Van Waters and the progressive methods she had implemented as Superintendent of the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Framingham, with emphasis on rehabilitation of women prisoners rather than on punishment.

Van Waters had served with distinction and to the satisfaction of six Commissioners of Corrections from 1932 to 1948. Eliot McDowell became Commissioner in February 1948; Van Waters was summarily fired in January 1949. McDowell's deputy, Frank A. Dwyer, was permitted to make an "investigation." Governor Paul Dever then appointed an impartial commission composed of Erwin Griswold, Dean of Harvard Law School, Mrs. Roger Lowell Putnam of Springfield, and Robert G. Clark, Jr., Assistant District Attorney of Norfolk County. The Commission completely vindicated Van Waters of the 27 charges against her and she was restored to her position in March 1949. McDowell and Dwyer remained in office, however; their efforts to harass and discredit Van Waters continued.

The small group of citizens that rallied behind Van Waters in the summer of 1948 grew into an organization called "Friends of Framingham, Inc." Its purposes included the development of modern and scientific methods of treatment and rehabilitation of individuals committed to correctional institutions in Massachusetts; the promotion of public education in the techniques, purposes and potentialities of modern penology; helping to improve practices in the work of government agencies concerned with those accused or convicted of crimes.

The original focus of the organization was modified over the years. In 1964, the group established a Friends of Framingham Half-Way House for former Framingham prisoners. Barbara Johnson is currently secretary of "The Friendly Visitors," an outgrowth of FOF. The population at the Reformatory now includes women and men.

From the guide to the Additional records, 1938-1973, (Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Papers, 1915-1965 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Ehrmann, Sara R., 1895-1993. Sara R. Ehrmann papers, 1845-1993 1924-1988. Northeastern University, Snell Library
referencedIn Van Waters, Miriam, 1887-1974. Papers, 1861-1971 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Friends of Framingham, Inc. Additional records, 1938-1973 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Additional records, 1938-1973 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Baldwin, Amelia Muir, 1876-1960. Papers, 1821-1961 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Records, 1948-1957 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Rowse, Ethel Hobart. Papers, 1945-1949 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Friends of Framingham, Inc. Records, 1938-1973 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, 1821-1961 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Records, 1948-1957 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Friends of Framingham, Inc. Records, 1938-1973 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Gladding, Anna Spicer, 1906-1992. Papers of Anna Spicer Gladding and Miriam Van Waters, 1855-1992 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Van Waters, Miriam, 1887-1974. Papers, 1861-1971 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, 1855-1992 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Friends of Framingham, Inc. Additional records, 1938-1973 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Baldwin, Amelia Muir, 1876-1960. person
associatedWith Brown, Dorothy Kirchwey, 1888-1981 person
associatedWith Brown, Herman LaRue, 1883-1969. person
associatedWith Cross, Claude B., 1893-1969. person
associatedWith Davis, Saville R. (Saville Rogers), 1909-1991 person
associatedWith Dever, Paul Andrew, 1903-1958. person
associatedWith Ehrmann, Sara R., 1895-1993. person
associatedWith Gladding, Anna Spicer, 1906-1992. person
associatedWith Griswold, Erwin N. 1904-1994. person
associatedWith League of Women Voters corporateBody
associatedWith League of Women Voters of Massachusetts. corporateBody
associatedWith Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Framingham, Mass. (1955-) corporateBody
associatedWith Massachusetts Reformatory for Women (Sherborn, Mass.) corporateBody
correspondedWith MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY FOR SOCIAL HEALTH corporateBody
associatedWith Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962. person
associatedWith Rowse, Ethel Hobart. person
associatedWith Van Waters, Miriam, 1887-1974 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Framingham MA US
Subject
Correctional institution
Correctional institutions
Criminals
Criminals
Delinquent women
Female offenders
Prison administration
Prison reformers
Prisons
Reformatories
Reformatories
Women prisoners
Women prisoners
Occupation
Activity
Prison reformers

Corporate Body

Establishment 1948

Americans

English

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