The Illinois State Reformatory at Pontiac, which housed youthful offenders, was authorized in 1867. It was overseen by a seven member Board of Trustees appointed by the Governor, which appointed the superintendent. Under the Civil Administrative Code of 1917, the Reformatory was placed under the Dept. of Public Welfare, but retained its previous governing structure. In 1933, along with the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet, Southern Illinois State Penitentiary at Chester (Menard), and Illinois Asylum for Insane Criminals, Illinois State Reformatory at Pontiac was consolidated administratively into the Illinois State Penitentiary System, and individual penitentiary commissions were abolished. The Dept. of Public Safety was in charge of the Pontiac facility (1941) until the creation of the Dept. of Corrections (1970) placed that department in charge of all state penal institutions.
From the description of Master index, 1896-1954. (Illinois State Archive). WorldCat record id: 36554735
