Trial Bay Gaol Photo Description Book
1892-1901
The series NRS 2549 consists of individual loose-leaf sheets each including a photo or photographs (mugshots) of a prisoner, accompanied by the following details: name, aliases, date when portrait was taken, native place, year of birth, arrived in colony - ship and year, trade or occupation, religion, degree of education, height, weight (on committal, on discharge), colour of hair, colour of eyes, marks or special features, where and when tried, offence, sentence, remarks, previous convictions - where and when, offence, sentence.
Photos from other gaols may be found in the Gaol Photos Index
A 'Description Book' was required to be created and maintained by the Gaoler of each prison. Photographing prisoners for inclusion in the Description Books commenced late in the nineteenth century.
