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1933
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Attorney General Homer Cummings decides to look into the possible use of Alcatraz Island as a location for the super prison he has designed.
The Secretary of War gives the Federal Bureau of Prisons permission to use Alcatraz for five years.
San Francisco citizens protest the use of Alcatraz as a federal Prison.
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1934
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James A. Johnson chosen as warden of Alcatraz after being a bank official.
Thirty-two army prisoners stay on the Island.
The first civilians get there from McNeil Island Prison, Washington.
Al Capone and Thomas Wareagle arrive from Atlanta.
Two private boats are forced to land on Alcatraz and passengers are questioned for many hours before being assisted to mainland.
A mat shop opens, recycling tires into naval mats.
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1935
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FBI warns Island staff of breakout attempts by underworld "Big-shots"
Joe Bowers tries to kill himself.
Vigil Rapp tells Washington State press that Alcatraz is driving the inmates mad.
Henri Young arrives at Alcatraz and begins to gather a huge misconduct record.
Weyerhaeuser kidnapper Harmon Waley arrives from McNeil Island.
Smuggled letters to San Francisco Newspaper names prisoners driven to insanity by Alcatraz authorities.
Correspondence courses through University of California Extension begin. Eighty-one prisoners enrol.
Installation of clothing factory begins.
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1936
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Released counterfeiter Al Loomis tells press about Alcatraz's Dungeons.
First General Strike starts in Laundry due to bad living conditions and the apparent death of an inmate due to appendicitis. Warden locks strikers in cells and dungeons.
Last strikers go on hungerstrike and are fed by tube feeding.
Joseph Bowers is shot while climbing up outside incinerator fence.
Alvin Karpis arrives.
Henry Larry publishes inside account of his life at Alcatraz.
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1937
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Assistant Warden C.J. Shuttleworth transfers to Leavenworth. E .J. Miller promoted to replacement.
San Francisco News publishes A.W. Davis 's account of life at Alcatraz.
Bernard Paul Coy arrives on Alcatraz.
One hundred men strike.
Burton Phillips attacks Warden Johnson in mess.
Edward Wutke commits suicide.
Ted Cole and Ralph Roe escape but are presumed drowned in San Francisco Bay.
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1938
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Warden Johnson receives another warning about potential breakout of Arthur Barker.
Bryan Conway's "20 months in Alcatraz" is published in the Saturday Evening Post.
Tool proof window bars along seaward side of Model Industries Building installed.
U.S. Supreme court rules that prisoners in federal felony trials are entitled to a court appointed lawyer if they cannot afford one.
Whitney Franklin leads an escape attempt over the roof of the Model Industry building. Officer Cline and convict Limmerick are killed in attempt.
Al Capone develops paresis of the brain due to untreated syphilis.
Sam Shockley arrives.
P. W. Reed's "Murder on Alcatraz" is published
Al Capone is sent to Terminal Island to finish the last year of his sentence.
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1939
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Arthur Barker shot while trying to escape from Alcatraz.
Coroner expresses concern at lax security.
Joe Varsalona and Bernard Paul Coy get into fight in kitchen and Coy is stabbed.
Attorney General Francis Murphy calls Alcatraz "Horror Spot " and promises that it will be closed.
Warden James Johnson defends Alcatraz as humane institution.
Al Capone's roommate in hospital, Carl Janaway is transferred to Medical Centre for Federal Prisoners.
Former Attorney General Homer Cumming's "Why Alcatraz is a Success " appears in Colliers
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1940
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Fire in Mat shop
Hungerstrike
Joseph Vigorous attacks John McGlone for no apparent reason
Joseph Paul Cretzer and Arnold Kyle arrive on Alcatraz after attempting to escape McNeil Island.
Henry Young stabs Rufus McCain
General Strike
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1941
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New Industry Good Time Regulation take effect
The Chronicle runs front-page story claiming Cole and Role have been living in South America.
Part of Alcatraz's harbor used by army for prewar campaign.
John Bayless almost drowns in escape attempt.
Henri Young attempts suicide
Anti-aircraft units put on cell house roof
"Birdman" Robert Stroud is transferred from Leavenworth.
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1943
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Fred Hunter and Floyd Hamilton lead escape attempt over Model Industries. Officer Boarman dies and Hamilton was believed to have drowned until he was later found in a cave.
Cecil Wright is discharged from Alcatraz
Robert Stroud files petition of Habeas Corpus on grounds of bad treatment and unjust solitary confinement.
William Martin sent to Springfield Mental hospital
Faulty Christmas tree lights cause fire in res.
Carbon tetrachloride distilling unit explodes in dry cleaning plant.
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1944
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Prisoners not allowed having seconds at meals as wartime waste reduction.
Fire in net shop stops wartime production briefly
Cecil Wright recommitted
Anti-aircraft units removed from Alcatraz
Alcatraz Argus first edition published
Storm destroys part of dock.
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1945
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Cigarette causes fire in laundry
Rufus Franklin stabs Henri Young and is placed in solitary confinement
Work stoppage in remembrance of Roosevelt's death
Clarence Carnes arrives and is youngest prisoner at 18
President Truman commutes Thomas Robinson's death sentence.
Claude Branch beaten to death by Ralph Greene
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1946
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Dr. Romney retires as Chief Med. Officer and Dr. Robinson replaces him
James Grove murders Ben McMiller
Marines intercept in bloody last attempt to break out by Bernard Paul Coy, Marvin Hubbard and Joseph Cretzer. Two guards and the three are killed.
Alcatraz provided with weaponry from Benecia Arsenal.
Food rationed for hungry European children
Shockley, Carnes and Thompson found guilty of mutiny; Shockley and Thompson receive death penalty.
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1947
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Warden is forced to return Benecia Arsenal weaponry due to automatic capabilities
Byron Eshelman becomes new Protestant chaplain
Riot prevention features added to Cell House
Blankets catch fire in laundry
Dr. Robinson transferred to Springfield and replaced by Dr. Richard S. Yokum.
Deputy Warden Miller transferred to Leavenworth and Paul Madigan replaces him.
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1948
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Cecil Wright released
Warden Johnson retires at 72
Henri Young transferred to Springfield
Shockley and Thompson executed in San Quentin
James Bennett recommends replacing Alcatraz.
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