Top of page

Photo, Print, Drawing Implements of torture, and their dangerous effects. Illustrated / By James Akin, no. 18 Prune Street, Philadelphia.

More Resources

[ b&w film copy neg. ]

About this Item

Title

  • Implements of torture, and their dangerous effects. Illustrated / By James Akin, no. 18 Prune Street, Philadelphia.

Summary

  • An impassioned attack on cruelty in Pennsylvania's Eastern Penitentiary. Akin presents a life-size, detailed rendering of an iron gag, "Locked upon Mathias Maccumsey, a Convict from Lancaster County, sentenced to the Cells for Manslaughter; who Died with it in his mouth..." Maccumsey's death, attributed to the iron gag, figured prominently in the report of the joint committee of the Pennsylvania Legislature investigating alleged abuses and atrocities by warden Samuel R. Wood and prison personnel. This report was delivered in March 1835. Akin's print was copyrighted on July 20, 1835. Judging from the plural used in the title it may have been intended as part of a series. The numeral "8" on the lock of the gag refers to the item number assigned this device in a description of various forms of punitive discipline used in the penitentiary, published in Thomas B. McElwee's "A Concise History of the Eastern Penitentiary of Pennsylvania, together with a Detailed Statement of the Proceedings of the Committee..." whose introduction is dated June 8, 1835. Akin quotes from "McElWee's detailed Statements" (presumably referring to testimony, as this exact quote does not appear in the aforementioned source): "In Open Defiance of all the known maxims of Law, and Contrary to Legislative enactments, a convict was compelled to endure the appalling tortures of this infernal contrivance, for merely speaking to a fellow prisoner. In a Land too, where Tyranny and Oppression, is held in utter abhorrence, and Liberty, Equality, and just enjoyment of rights, are the constant boasting of the people!!! The Spanish inquisitions, cannot exhibit a more fearful and barbarous mode, beyond all human endurance! It ought to be forever abolished!!!"

Names

  • Akin, James, approximately 1773-1846, artist

Created / Published

  • c1835.

Headings

  • -  Eastern Penitentiary of Pennsylvania
  • -  Maccumsey, Mathias
  • -  McElwee, Thomas B
  • -  Pennsylvania
  • -  Prison and jails
  • -  Religion

Format Headings

  • Lithographs--1830-1840.

Genre

  • Lithographs--1830-1840

Notes

  • -  Title appears as it is written on the print.
  • -  Quimby, no. 35
  • -  Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1835-4.

Medium

  • 1 print on wove paper : lithograph ; image 22.3 x 15 cm.

Call Number/Physical Location

  • PGA - Akin--Implements (A size) [P&P]

Repository

  • Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

Digital Id

  • pga 05111 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pga.05111
  • cph 3b27498 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b27498

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2002708978

Reproduction Number

  • LC-USZ62-80540 (b&w film copy neg.) LC-DIG-pga-05111 (digital file from original item)

Rights Advisory

  • No known restrictions on publication.

Online Format

  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress does not own rights to material in its collections. Therefore, it does not license or charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material.

Ultimately, it is the researcher's obligation to assess copyright or other use restrictions and obtain permission from third parties when necessary before publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the Library's collections.

For information about reproducing, publishing, and citing material from this collection, as well as access to the original items, see: American Cartoon Print Filing Series - Rights and Restrictions Information

  • Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
  • Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-80540 (b&w film copy neg.) LC-DIG-pga-05111 (digital file from original item)
  • Call Number: PGA - Akin--Implements (A size) [P&P]
  • Access Advisory: ---

Obtaining Copies

If an image is displaying, you can download it yourself. (Some images display only as thumbnails outside the Library of Congress because of rights considerations, but you have access to larger size images on site.)

Alternatively, you can purchase copies of various types through Library of Congress Duplication Services.

  1. If a digital image is displaying: The qualities of the digital image partially depend on whether it was made from the original or an intermediate such as a copy negative or transparency. If the Reproduction Number field above includes a reproduction number that starts with LC-DIG..., then there is a digital image that was made directly from the original and is of sufficient resolution for most publication purposes.
  2. If there is information listed in the Reproduction Number field above: You can use the reproduction number to purchase a copy from Duplication Services. It will be made from the source listed in the parentheses after the number.

    If only black-and-white ("b&w") sources are listed and you desire a copy showing color or tint (assuming the original has any), you can generally purchase a quality copy of the original in color by citing the Call Number listed above and including the catalog record ("About This Item") with your request.

  3. If there is no information listed in the Reproduction Number field above: You can generally purchase a quality copy through Duplication Services. Cite the Call Number listed above and include the catalog record ("About This Item") with your request.

Price lists, contact information, and order forms are available on the Duplication Services Web site.

Access to Originals

Please use the following steps to determine whether you need to fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room to view the original item(s). In some cases, a surrogate (substitute image) is available, often in the form of a digital image, a copy print, or microfilm.

  1. Is the item digitized? (A thumbnail (small) image will be visible on the left.)

    • Yes, the item is digitized. Please use the digital image in preference to requesting the original. All images can be viewed at a large size when you are in any reading room at the Library of Congress. In some cases, only thumbnail (small) images are available when you are outside the Library of Congress because the item is rights restricted or has not been evaluated for rights restrictions.
      As a preservation measure, we generally do not serve an original item when a digital image is available. If you have a compelling reason to see the original, consult with a reference librarian. (Sometimes, the original is simply too fragile to serve. For example, glass and film photographic negatives are particularly subject to damage. They are also easier to see online where they are presented as positive images.)
    • No, the item is not digitized. Please go to #2.
  2. Do the Access Advisory or Call Number fields above indicate that a non-digital surrogate exists, such as microfilm or copy prints?

    • Yes, another surrogate exists. Reference staff can direct you to this surrogate.
    • No, another surrogate does not exist. Please go to #3.
  3. If you do not see a thumbnail image or a reference to another surrogate, please fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room. In many cases, the originals can be served in a few minutes. Other materials require appointments for later the same day or in the future. Reference staff can advise you in both how to fill out a call slip and when the item can be served.

To contact Reference staff in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room, please use our Ask A Librarian service or call the reading room between 8:30 and 5:00 at 202-707-6394, and Press 3.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Akin, James, Approximately , Artist. Implements of torture, and their dangerous effects. Illustrated / By James Akin, no. 18 Prune Street, Philadelphia. , ca. 1835. Photograph. https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2002708978/.

APA citation style:

Akin, J. (ca. 1835) Implements of torture, and their dangerous effects. Illustrated / By James Akin, no. 18 Prune Street, Philadelphia. , ca. 1835. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2002708978/.

MLA citation style:

Akin, James, Approximately , Artist. Implements of torture, and their dangerous effects. Illustrated / By James Akin, no. 18 Prune Street, Philadelphia. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <aj.sunback.homes/item/2002708978/>.