Contributed by Maine Historical Society
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Description
Starting in the 1930s, the Maine State Prison expanded its woodworking program to include arts and crafts. In 1957, it opened a showroom to sell items made by prisoners. Wall pockets were popular decor in the early 1900s when Wabanaki artists crafted ash and sweetgrass baskets for the growing tourist market.
The elegant woven ash fancy basket on this wall pocket, marked on the back with a Maine State Prison sticker, suggests that a Wabanaki artist created it while incarcerated. Women typically made fancy baskets, and the prison housed female inmates in Thomaston until 1935.
Unjust policies have led to Indigenous people being overrepresented in the criminal justice system at a rate five times that of White people. Prison labor programs have controversial histories, and some U.S. prisons today do not pay prisoners for their work. Maine’s unique showroom and Industry Programs set aside a portion of showroom sales to help prisoners reintegrate after their release.
About This Item
- Title: Wabanaki basket made at Maine State Prison, Thomaston, ca. 1930
- Creation Date: circa 1930
- Subject Date: circa 1930
- Location: Thomaston, Knox County, ME
- Media: Wood; ash; fabric
- Local Code: 2017.016.004
- Object Type: Physical Object
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For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
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Use of this Item is not restricted by copyright and/or related rights, but the holding organization is contractually obligated to limit use. For more information, please contact the contributing organization. However, watermarked Maine Memory Network images may be used for educational purposes.
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