Chapter One, "The Early Years, 1804-1836," describes the construction of the penitentiary's original buildings with dungeon-like cells and its struggle to support itself by prison labor in the pre-industrial age. Chapter Two, "The Investigation of 1837," describes how the existence of the young institution was threatened by political conflict both outside and inside its walls, and Chapter Three, "New Ways in Penology," covers the next half century, during which time the penitentiary experimented with innovative practices derived from other prisons or fresh theories and ideas from prison reformers. Chapter Four, "The Rise and Fall of Warden John F. Weyler, 1888-1920," describes the prison's evolution into a modern penitentiary with steel cellblocks but with a harshly efficient administration that had to give way to more progressive penal methods. Chapter Five, "Reform Methods on Trial, 1920-1960," explains how these methods were tempered and followed by a long and stable administration. Chapter Six, "The Years of Political Turmoil, 1960-1980," documents the impact on the penitentiary of the civil rights movement, anti-Vietnam War sentiment, and accompanying drug culture. The concluding chapter, "Keeping the Lid On, 1981-1995," is about the efforts of prison officials to deal with overcrowding, as the public called for tougher sentencing laws and tighter parole policies. Appended lists of wardens and executions, as well as discussions of the development of the psychology department and penitentiary slang, a 132-item bibliography and a subject index