Description: Up for auction "San Quentin Warden" James B. Holohan Hand Signed 3X5 Index Card. This item is certified authentic by Todd Mueller and comes with their Certificate of Authenticity. ES-761 Holohan served as San Quentin’s warden from 1927 to 1936 but he was also an elected state senator, a U.S. marshal and a sheriff.He was elected to the state Senate in 1908 and a few years later, introduced a bill to name the “bear” flag as the official flag of the state. “The State at present has no emblem apart from the national flag, and Holohan believes that the old-time flag of the California republic with the bear and the star should be adopted,” reported the Mariposa Gazette, Jan. 21, 1911. The governor signed the bill a few weeks later.He started his law enforcement career as a U.S. marshal for the northern California district in 1914. He was reappointed to the position in 1918 and served until 1924.He became sheriff of Santa Cruz County from 1925 to 1927, then he was appointed San Quentin’s warden.Under his leadership, SQ extended the walls as well as constructed new guard towers, a visitors’ room and a fire department building. He also instituted “equal rights” for female prisoners, creating an outdoor recreational area for them. While he was a stern lawman, he was keenly aware of the need for rehabilitation through job training.“California’s next important penal reform should be a prison farm for San Quentin,” reported the Healdsburg Tribune, March 27, 1930. “Such is the belief of Warden James B. Holohan, who says the problem of providing adequate employment for the thousands of convicts at the prison could partly be solved by a state-owned farm.”He also fostered educational opportunities for inmates.“Great advancement has been made at San Quentin prison in the education of prisoners,” reported the Madera Tribune, Oct. 5, 1931. “By sponsoring education, the institution has led in the rehabilitation of men and women. No prison in the world has a lower percentage of men sent back, or can show so many discharged inmates who ‘go straight’. … The teaching is done by inmate instructors.”“The prison also has the first building within the walls ever to be used solely for educational purposes,” the paper reported. “This new structure contains eight classrooms.”According to the paper, 4,000 of the prison’s 4,500 inmates were enrolled in studies. “Recently, C.F. Adams, secretary of the navy, advised Warden Holohan that the navy had placed the San Quentin school upon its accredited list. It is the first prison school ever to achieve that honor and enables the institution to borrow considerable valuable equipment for educational purposes.”In 1935, Warden Holohan was attacked during an escape attempt.“Near death – Warden James B. Holohan of San Quentin penitentiary, reported dying after four desperadoes had beaten him unmercifully as they broke jail. Struck by a revolver butt, he suffered a skull fracture,” reported the Madera Tribune, Jan. 28, 1935.“In the break, the San Quentin convicts kidnapped three members of the state board of prison terms and paroles, and Mark Noon, secretary; stole money or clothing from them and stole a state-owned automobile operated by Warden Holohan, whom they slugged,” according to the Healdsburg Tribune, Feb. 5, 1935.After almost a decade as warden, Holohan retired.
Price: 299.99 USD
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
End Time: 2024-11-07T11:31:43.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
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Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money back or replacement (buyer's choice)
Industry: Historical
Signed: Yes
