Edwin B. Swope
Edwin B. Swope | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Warden of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary | |
| In office 1948–1955 | |
| Preceded by | James A. Johnston |
| Succeeded by | Paul J. Madigan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edwin Burnham Swope May 6, 1888 San Francisco, California |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Occupation | Politician Prison warden |
Edwin Burnham Swope (May 6, 1888 – December 26, 1955), nicknamed "Cowboy", was the second warden of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, which was situated on Alcatraz Island, California, US. He was a native of New Mexico, having been born at Santa Fe in 1888.[1] His earlier posts as warden included New Mexico State Prison, Washington State's McNeil Island Federal Penitentiary,[2] and the Federal Penitentiary at Terre Haute, Indiana.[3]
Swope served at Alcatraz from 1948 to 1955.
Warden of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary
Swope was the last political appointee to serve as Alcatraz's warden,
In his first 18 months as warden, Swope introduced painting and a prisoners' orchestra as reform measures.[9] He was a strict disciplinarian but unlike his predecessor, James A. Johnston, he was considered the most disliked warden of Alcatraz with his officers and the inmates.[10] He once said, in response to an inmate who complained to him on the recreation yard about his term of 199 years, which was really a life sentence, "My boy, we're all doing life. Every one of us is doing life."[6]
In 1950, Swope brought movies to the Alcatraz, which were viewed in the chapel every other weekend, although at some stage movies were shown in the auditorium above the dining room.[11] At the age of 66, he resigned from his post at Alcatraz on January 21, 1955, shortly before his death.[6]
References
- ^ "Who's who in the West". 1954.
- ^ National Conference of Social Work (U.S.). Session (1939). Proceedings of the National Conference of Social Work at the ... Annual Session held in ... The Conference. p. 768. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ American Correctional Association (1944). Proceedings of the annual Congress of Correction. pp. 257, 262. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8262-1396-9. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-86534-623-9. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4567-1487-1. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ^ "Warden and Mrs. Swope". Museum Management Program, Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-307-81583-5. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ "Prison Meeting is Told of Alcatraz Art Show: Convicts on the 'Rock' Encouraged to Paint as Reform Measure, Warden Says". The Milwaukee Journal. September 24, 1949. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ISBN 978-88-8029-940-0. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ^ Bruce (2012), p. 134
