Collection of 48 Police Magistrate Court Forms of Madams, Sex Workers, and their Johns
Scranton, PA: City of Scranton, 1929. Very Good. Item #50254
Scranton, PA: City of Scranton, 1929. Collection of 48 police magistrate court forms documenting the legal troubles of sex workers and their clients in the Winter and Spring of 1929. 48 printed forms (approx. 16x29cm) accomplished in manuscript listing the arresting officers and details of the alleged offenders including charge, name, address, age, color, sex, place of birth, marital status, nationality, whether they can read or write, and occupation.
The majority are listed as "Sporting Women" while three of their clients' are listed as "Show Men," all from the same date, perhaps from a traveling show coming through town. Only three of the sex workers are listed as being married: Black Madam Ethel Garret; white Madam Mary Davis; and white sex worker Catherine Kelly. A couple of the bootleggers were also married. Verso of each form also printed and filled out with different people and alleged crimes, though none of them related to sex work. Light toning and occasional chipping; "First Precinct" and deposit stamps to each; overall Very Good.
Charges of the sex workers are listed as being "Inmate of a Dis or Bawdy House." The Madams were charged $100, sex workers $25, and clients $15, a stark disparity. Notably two of the Madams and seven of the sex workers are Black. A remarkable record of the lives and struggles of a group of Pennsylvania sex workers from the final days of the Roaring 20s and Prohibition.
Price: $1,800.00
Status: On Hold