The University of Toledo

Crime and Criminals

ETHERIDGE KNIGHT PAPERS, 1964-1992. [PDF]
Poet (1931-1991)
The Knight papers consist primarily of correspondence with family, fellow writers and publishers, audio-visual materials, photographs, typescripts and proofs of works, and writings by prisoners. Subjects include prison life, "toasts" (long narrative poems) and the African-American experience. The majority of the correspondence comes from Knight's second wife, Mary McAnally. Includes correspondence from Sonia Sanchez, Robert Bly, Dudley Randall, Gwendolyn Brooks, Nikki Giovanni, Donald Hall, Don Lee, Herbert W. Martin, Judith Minty, and Noel Stock. MSS-016, 4 linear feet.
See also: entries under African-Americans; and Literature.

RICHARD F. McKEY LETTERBOOK, 1906-1908. [PDF]
Toledo Police Department Detective (1874? - 1941)
This collection contains a single letter-impression volume with copies of letters pertaining to routine Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen business. Typical letters, all of them outgoing, concern membership dues and grievance cases. A few others involve political activity, such as the Feb. 14, 1908, letter to a state legislator regarding the Ohio Safety Appliance Law. The collection is a comprehensive record of B. R. T., Joppa Lodge No. 397, business for the years covered.  Some letters are on police business and were written to police departments in other cities asking for information about a particular criminal. MSS-054, 1 volume.
See also: entry under Labor

JOHN PEROTTI PAPERS, 1970's-1990's. [PDF]
Incarcerated Prisoner, Jailhouse lawyer, and advocate
Papers consist of legal materials, correspondence (both personal and legal), notes, and photographs. These papers also include information relating to his experiences in prison as well as those of his fellow inmates. MSS-132, 24 linear feet.

JAN WAGGONER SUTER PAPERS, 1954-1985. [PDF]
Radical libertarian, mathematics instructor, University of Toledo (1938-1986)
Collection consists primarily of newsletters, memoranda, circulars, and flyers issued by the many pacifist, anti-war, anti-draft, and personal rights organizations with which Suter was involved. Suter was also active in prisoner visitation and support, as his correspondence with several federal prisoners in the early 1970s documents. MSS-059, 6 linear feet.
See also: entry under Religion

TOLEDO CHIEF OF POLICE MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS, 1924-1947. [PDF]
Toledo Chief of Police
Collection contains Toledo Police Department Records at the Central Station, including suspect lists; fines; and arrest and conviction records. MSS-162, .25 linear feet.
See also: entry under Municipal Government

TOLEDO POLICE DEPARTMENT MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS, 1899-1937. [PDF]
"Miscellaneous Reports" (1908-1913) list all reports of crime made to the police during the period. Matron's records document all women and juveniles jailed between 1903 and 1905. Subjects include petty crime, prostitution, automobile theft, personnel issues, and other daily events of police officers performing patrol duties. MSS-053, 23 volumes.
See also: entry under Municipal Government