A recently announced book project by two Chowan professors proves that when cooperation occurs, opportunities and resources abound. The cumulative efforts of three Chowan University departments and three state agencies will result in a book on the history of the North Carolina State Penitentiary.

The book, co-authored by Dr. William G. Hinkle of the Chowan University Criminal Justice Department and Dr. Gregory Taylor of the Chowan University History Department, and is currently under contract for publication in the popular “Images of America” series by Arcadia Press. The series is focused on topics of regional interest, although some titles – such as the prison history books – generate popular interest among a much larger audience.

Hinkle and Taylor both eagerly credit the collaborative nature of this project, calling it “a University-wide effort.” Student involvement has been particularly critical to the process, with criminal justice students working hands-on for the better part of one year to help locate, summarize, and edit government documents for use in the book.

The authors are also indebted to the access and assistance provided by Communications Officer Keith Acree representing the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Kim Andersen representing the State Archives of North Carolina, and Katherine Beery representing the North Carolina Museum of History. According to Dr. Taylor, “These agencies have been very generous with their time and resources especially in connection with the use of prison photographs.”

Indeed, every Arcadia book requires no less than 200 high resolution scans from original photographs for their publications. Chowan University’s Graphic Communications Department has been conducting the very important task of converting the historic pictures obtained for the book into images that meet Arcadia’s standards.

Hinkle and Taylor wish to invite the public – who may have long forgotten photographs from Raleigh’s Old Central Prison in their basements or attics – to become involved in the project as well. “We will have the photographs scanned by the Graphic Communications Department, returned to the owner, and credit the contributor in the book as the source of the photograph,” state Hinkle.

This is the second Arcadia publication to come out of Chowan University. The first, on the History of the Elmira Reformatory, in Elmira NY, was released in April of 2014.