This exhibit highlights one instance of a connection between the institutions of college and prison in the United States. Over the course of the Spring 2024 semester, we have collected items from the Ursinus Archives to aid in our exploration of the former relationship between Ursinus College and Graterford Prison, which took the form of a prison literacy program. This project covers how Ursinus students viewed a potential relationship between Ursinus and Graterford before it materialized, prison reform in the 70s and 80s, Ursinus College’s participation in the literacy project during the 90s, and ends with a piece about the legacy left behind by the reform.
The Graterford Literacy Project reflects a social effort to shift the language on and treatment of prisoners. Cultural narratives regarding the imprisoned aided in human ostracization. To combat such portrayals, reform practices attempted to alter bigoted public perception and helped the imprisoned receive abilities they likely lacked the privilege to obtain. The involvement of Ursinus College in SCIG's prison literacy program—as an educational institution composed largely of white, middle-class students—clashed directly with the majority consciousness concerning prisoners at the time. Unfortunately, such rehabilitative practices and the institution's involvement flew under the radar, and the program dissipated silently from the College with a rough record of its existence dating from 1992 to 1996. The program likely perished due to the unwavering ruling narrative girding the imprisoned and the perseverant war on crime. The following exhibit traces the remnants of a necessary program and reflects the resounding social issues that eventually led to Graterford's demise.
Credits
Developed by Raniya Burkett, Hailey Clark, Cody House, Kyra Norman, and Sean Spinosa. Special thanks to Carolyn Weigel, the Ursinus Archives and Special Collections librarian, who aided in our data collection and provided us with the original PLP outline documentation.