Andrew Mercer Ontario Reformatory for Females
@amreformatory.bsky.social
Criminalized Women and Girls’ Ancestral Research: Supporting Descendants of Those Incarcerated or Born at the Institution and Adopted.
#PrisonAdoptees #PrisonBorn #PunishedInUtero #Genealogy
https://andrewmercerreformatory.org/
#PrisonAdoptees #PrisonBorn #PunishedInUtero #Genealogy
https://andrewmercerreformatory.org/
In Ont., Mercer Reformatory records were denied under the YCJA—but teens 16–17 weren’t considered “youth offenders” then. We appealed—and won. Orders PO-4749, PO-4750 & PO-4751 force a new access decision.
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#FOI #SecretCanada #HiddenHistory
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#FOI #SecretCanada #HiddenHistory
October 26, 2025 at 8:25 PM
In Ont., Mercer Reformatory records were denied under the YCJA—but teens 16–17 weren’t considered “youth offenders” then. We appealed—and won. Orders PO-4749, PO-4750 & PO-4751 force a new access decision.
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#FOI #SecretCanada #HiddenHistory
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#FOI #SecretCanada #HiddenHistory
In 1905 in Ontario, a little girl was placed out for the first time. J.J. Kelso’s vision was to rescue children from unworthy families and give them “safe homes.”
But that vision fell short — she was shuffled through home after home, only breaking free by marrying.
But that vision fell short — she was shuffled through home after home, only breaking free by marrying.
October 7, 2025 at 12:48 AM
In 1905 in Ontario, a little girl was placed out for the first time. J.J. Kelso’s vision was to rescue children from unworthy families and give them “safe homes.”
But that vision fell short — she was shuffled through home after home, only breaking free by marrying.
But that vision fell short — she was shuffled through home after home, only breaking free by marrying.
🧵The Andrew Mercer Reformatory was one of many carceral institutions in Ontario that imprisoned over 20,000 women and girls.
To read the text beneath the photos on the heritage plaque, please visit: andrewmercerreformatory.org/heritage-pla...
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To read the text beneath the photos on the heritage plaque, please visit: andrewmercerreformatory.org/heritage-pla...
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October 3, 2025 at 8:30 PM
🧵The Andrew Mercer Reformatory was one of many carceral institutions in Ontario that imprisoned over 20,000 women and girls.
To read the text beneath the photos on the heritage plaque, please visit: andrewmercerreformatory.org/heritage-pla...
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To read the text beneath the photos on the heritage plaque, please visit: andrewmercerreformatory.org/heritage-pla...
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We’ve seen Children’s Aid Society (CAS) and Mercer records of a mom jailed in 1911 with five kids—all “placed out.” One son, indentured, was denied his earnings by Fort William CAS when he turned 18 in 1922. He hired a lawyer. How much did CAS steal from those who had no power?
We’ve seen Children’s Aid Society (CAS) and Mercer records of a mom jailed in 1911 with five kids—all “placed out.” One son, indentured, was denied his earnings by Fort William CAS when he turned 18 in 1922. He hired a lawyer. How much did CAS steal from those who had no power?
September 26, 2025 at 6:45 PM
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We’ve seen Children’s Aid Society (CAS) and Mercer records of a mom jailed in 1911 with five kids—all “placed out.” One son, indentured, was denied his earnings by Fort William CAS when he turned 18 in 1922. He hired a lawyer. How much did CAS steal from those who had no power?
We’ve seen Children’s Aid Society (CAS) and Mercer records of a mom jailed in 1911 with five kids—all “placed out.” One son, indentured, was denied his earnings by Fort William CAS when he turned 18 in 1922. He hired a lawyer. How much did CAS steal from those who had no power?
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This is an extremely tragic story that begins in the 1930s. It’s unbelievable what happened to this family — the children, the foster care system, the adoptions that followed and Ontario Training School. Make maters worse, discovering your grandmother was at Mercer there during the 1948 riot.
This is an extremely tragic story that begins in the 1930s. It’s unbelievable what happened to this family — the children, the foster care system, the adoptions that followed and Ontario Training School. Make maters worse, discovering your grandmother was at Mercer there during the 1948 riot.
September 20, 2025 at 10:44 PM
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This is an extremely tragic story that begins in the 1930s. It’s unbelievable what happened to this family — the children, the foster care system, the adoptions that followed and Ontario Training School. Make maters worse, discovering your grandmother was at Mercer there during the 1948 riot.
This is an extremely tragic story that begins in the 1930s. It’s unbelievable what happened to this family — the children, the foster care system, the adoptions that followed and Ontario Training School. Make maters worse, discovering your grandmother was at Mercer there during the 1948 riot.
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A Mercer descendant exploring femininity, class, morality, and resistance.
This fabric will be joined with printed newspaper clippings from the June 1948 Mercer prison riot — the second month my 17-year-old grandma arrived there.
🎥 Watch the reel:
A Mercer descendant exploring femininity, class, morality, and resistance.
This fabric will be joined with printed newspaper clippings from the June 1948 Mercer prison riot — the second month my 17-year-old grandma arrived there.
🎥 Watch the reel:
September 20, 2025 at 10:44 PM
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A Mercer descendant exploring femininity, class, morality, and resistance.
This fabric will be joined with printed newspaper clippings from the June 1948 Mercer prison riot — the second month my 17-year-old grandma arrived there.
🎥 Watch the reel:
A Mercer descendant exploring femininity, class, morality, and resistance.
This fabric will be joined with printed newspaper clippings from the June 1948 Mercer prison riot — the second month my 17-year-old grandma arrived there.
🎥 Watch the reel:
Thank you for letting me know! It’s likely set to private then for only FB friends. Sorry about that. It was a video of an array of fabric plus newspapers images of the riot.
September 20, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Thank you for letting me know! It’s likely set to private then for only FB friends. Sorry about that. It was a video of an array of fabric plus newspapers images of the riot.
Mercer descendant, playing with ideas of femininity, class, morality, and resistance
States: this fabric will be joined with printed newspaper clippings from the June 1948 Mercer prison riot — the second month my 17-year-old grandma arrived there
🎥 Watch the reel: www.facebook.com/reel/1428738...
States: this fabric will be joined with printed newspaper clippings from the June 1948 Mercer prison riot — the second month my 17-year-old grandma arrived there
🎥 Watch the reel: www.facebook.com/reel/1428738...
September 20, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Mercer descendant, playing with ideas of femininity, class, morality, and resistance
States: this fabric will be joined with printed newspaper clippings from the June 1948 Mercer prison riot — the second month my 17-year-old grandma arrived there
🎥 Watch the reel: www.facebook.com/reel/1428738...
States: this fabric will be joined with printed newspaper clippings from the June 1948 Mercer prison riot — the second month my 17-year-old grandma arrived there
🎥 Watch the reel: www.facebook.com/reel/1428738...
Monica's Story: The Hidden Lives of Kids with Imprisoned Moms and Dads
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7N_...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7N_...
September 18, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Monica's Story: The Hidden Lives of Kids with Imprisoned Moms and Dads
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7N_...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7N_...
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Obscured behind adoptees’ records and adoption stats are likely many girls labeled as "delinquents" or wards of the CAS — committed to Ontario Training Schools (OTS) or placed on probation until age 21 (later reduced to 18).
The image below shows the scale of girls under OTS wardship only.
Obscured behind adoptees’ records and adoption stats are likely many girls labeled as "delinquents" or wards of the CAS — committed to Ontario Training Schools (OTS) or placed on probation until age 21 (later reduced to 18).
The image below shows the scale of girls under OTS wardship only.
September 13, 2025 at 10:03 PM
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Obscured behind adoptees’ records and adoption stats are likely many girls labeled as "delinquents" or wards of the CAS — committed to Ontario Training Schools (OTS) or placed on probation until age 21 (later reduced to 18).
The image below shows the scale of girls under OTS wardship only.
Obscured behind adoptees’ records and adoption stats are likely many girls labeled as "delinquents" or wards of the CAS — committed to Ontario Training Schools (OTS) or placed on probation until age 21 (later reduced to 18).
The image below shows the scale of girls under OTS wardship only.
Wards of the CAS were almost never named in the press — but 13-year-old Lillie was.
Little is known about her, but we do know she arrived at the Industrial Refuge in the west wing of the Mercer Reformatory.
Her charge? “Immoral conduct.”
Like so many others, Lillie’s voice was lost in the records.
Little is known about her, but we do know she arrived at the Industrial Refuge in the west wing of the Mercer Reformatory.
Her charge? “Immoral conduct.”
Like so many others, Lillie’s voice was lost in the records.
September 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Wards of the CAS were almost never named in the press — but 13-year-old Lillie was.
Little is known about her, but we do know she arrived at the Industrial Refuge in the west wing of the Mercer Reformatory.
Her charge? “Immoral conduct.”
Like so many others, Lillie’s voice was lost in the records.
Little is known about her, but we do know she arrived at the Industrial Refuge in the west wing of the Mercer Reformatory.
Her charge? “Immoral conduct.”
Like so many others, Lillie’s voice was lost in the records.
According to Ont Agricultural College, in 1934 L. Payne, a grad, published a book: Bread and Water Diets of Prisoners Found Inadequate. In 1947, K. Sandford documented punishment in the dungeon and the bread-and-water diet at Mercer. This raises the question: when was this punitive practice ended?
September 7, 2025 at 4:52 PM
According to Ont Agricultural College, in 1934 L. Payne, a grad, published a book: Bread and Water Diets of Prisoners Found Inadequate. In 1947, K. Sandford documented punishment in the dungeon and the bread-and-water diet at Mercer. This raises the question: when was this punitive practice ended?
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Several access requests for Mercer records were denied under the YCJA. In this case (age 17, 1931), she was sentenced as an adult—yet the records are now denied as if she were a youth? Really? We sought help. 👇
#Hiddencarceralbirths
@debdundas.bsky.social @kpateonthehill.bsky.social
Several access requests for Mercer records were denied under the YCJA. In this case (age 17, 1931), she was sentenced as an adult—yet the records are now denied as if she were a youth? Really? We sought help. 👇
#Hiddencarceralbirths
@debdundas.bsky.social @kpateonthehill.bsky.social
September 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM
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Several access requests for Mercer records were denied under the YCJA. In this case (age 17, 1931), she was sentenced as an adult—yet the records are now denied as if she were a youth? Really? We sought help. 👇
#Hiddencarceralbirths
@debdundas.bsky.social @kpateonthehill.bsky.social
Several access requests for Mercer records were denied under the YCJA. In this case (age 17, 1931), she was sentenced as an adult—yet the records are now denied as if she were a youth? Really? We sought help. 👇
#Hiddencarceralbirths
@debdundas.bsky.social @kpateonthehill.bsky.social
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#AdoptionStories #CarceralBirths
A 1948 report from the Ontario Training School (OTS) for Girls reveals that 7 pregnant girls were transferred to other carceral institutions — including MATERNITY HOMES — upon admission.
@debdundas.bsky.social @kpateonthehill.bsky.social
#AdoptionStories #CarceralBirths
A 1948 report from the Ontario Training School (OTS) for Girls reveals that 7 pregnant girls were transferred to other carceral institutions — including MATERNITY HOMES — upon admission.
@debdundas.bsky.social @kpateonthehill.bsky.social
September 2, 2025 at 9:33 PM
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#AdoptionStories #CarceralBirths
A 1948 report from the Ontario Training School (OTS) for Girls reveals that 7 pregnant girls were transferred to other carceral institutions — including MATERNITY HOMES — upon admission.
@debdundas.bsky.social @kpateonthehill.bsky.social
#AdoptionStories #CarceralBirths
A 1948 report from the Ontario Training School (OTS) for Girls reveals that 7 pregnant girls were transferred to other carceral institutions — including MATERNITY HOMES — upon admission.
@debdundas.bsky.social @kpateonthehill.bsky.social
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There’s a clear pipeline of control linking childhood labels, eugenics-based schooling, training schools, and finally incarceration at Mercer. This thread unpacks that system. 🧵
There’s a clear pipeline of control linking childhood labels, eugenics-based schooling, training schools, and finally incarceration at Mercer. This thread unpacks that system. 🧵
September 1, 2025 at 8:37 PM
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There’s a clear pipeline of control linking childhood labels, eugenics-based schooling, training schools, and finally incarceration at Mercer. This thread unpacks that system. 🧵
There’s a clear pipeline of control linking childhood labels, eugenics-based schooling, training schools, and finally incarceration at Mercer. This thread unpacks that system. 🧵
On this day, Aug 28, 1880: The first two women were incarcerated at Mercer. Over the next 80 years, more than 20,000 women and girls—many of them pregnant—were held there before it closed in 1969.
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August 29, 2025 at 12:28 AM
On this day, Aug 28, 1880: The first two women were incarcerated at Mercer. Over the next 80 years, more than 20,000 women and girls—many of them pregnant—were held there before it closed in 1969.
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A 13-year-old girl, labelled a 'prostitute.' In the 1950s, she would have been incarcerated in the west wing of Mercer, designated as the Ontario Training School for Girls Toronto. Many of the girls were pregnant.
August 27, 2025 at 4:14 PM
A 13-year-old girl, labelled a 'prostitute.' In the 1950s, she would have been incarcerated in the west wing of Mercer, designated as the Ontario Training School for Girls Toronto. Many of the girls were pregnant.
𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐨 holds a brutal history of confinement. Institutions here and surrounding area imprisoned people from across Ontario—criminalized women and men, those labeled ‘insane,’ and youth.
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#CarceralHistory #TorontoHistory
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#CarceralHistory #TorontoHistory
August 2, 2025 at 6:27 PM
𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐨 holds a brutal history of confinement. Institutions here and surrounding area imprisoned people from across Ontario—criminalized women and men, those labeled ‘insane,’ and youth.
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#CarceralHistory #TorontoHistory
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#CarceralHistory #TorontoHistory
Georgina Brooks, a Black woman incarcerated at Mercer, was a victim of systemic racism and institutional neglect. She couldn’t save herself—and like many others, she died behind the walls of the Mercer Reformatory. 1/2
August 1, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Georgina Brooks, a Black woman incarcerated at Mercer, was a victim of systemic racism and institutional neglect. She couldn’t save herself—and like many others, she died behind the walls of the Mercer Reformatory. 1/2
A must read: “Sex Cells: Women’s Paths to Institutionalization in the Hospital for the Insane, Cobourg, 1902-1935” Found here: andrewmercerreformatory.org/reading-mate...
A sobering reminder: old gendered and moral laws are gone, but control persists in subtler, bureaucratic forms today.
A sobering reminder: old gendered and moral laws are gone, but control persists in subtler, bureaucratic forms today.
July 8, 2025 at 4:45 PM
A must read: “Sex Cells: Women’s Paths to Institutionalization in the Hospital for the Insane, Cobourg, 1902-1935” Found here: andrewmercerreformatory.org/reading-mate...
A sobering reminder: old gendered and moral laws are gone, but control persists in subtler, bureaucratic forms today.
A sobering reminder: old gendered and moral laws are gone, but control persists in subtler, bureaucratic forms today.
Lilly Davey (aka #PearlHart) of Lindsay, Ont., endured an abusive childhood and saw her mother brutally degraded by four men. In 1888, at 17, she was jailed at Mercer for vagrancy—1 year, 10 months, 28 days.
More images of incarcerated women and girls here: t.co/1HELbtL1xc
More images of incarcerated women and girls here: t.co/1HELbtL1xc
May 9, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Lilly Davey (aka #PearlHart) of Lindsay, Ont., endured an abusive childhood and saw her mother brutally degraded by four men. In 1888, at 17, she was jailed at Mercer for vagrancy—1 year, 10 months, 28 days.
More images of incarcerated women and girls here: t.co/1HELbtL1xc
More images of incarcerated women and girls here: t.co/1HELbtL1xc
On this day, May 9, 1888, Lillie was arrested in Hamilton, Ontario. She would later become known as a notorious female bandit of the Wild West, though there was little discussion of the severe abuse she suffered in childhood.
May 9, 2025 at 9:02 PM
On this day, May 9, 1888, Lillie was arrested in Hamilton, Ontario. She would later become known as a notorious female bandit of the Wild West, though there was little discussion of the severe abuse she suffered in childhood.
Only recently have some adoptees begun uncovering their hidden carceral birth histories, but many— including descendants—remain unaware. This article critiques 'post-adoption' and highlights the ongoing injustices.
drbarbarasumner.substack.com/p/what-do-yo...
drbarbarasumner.substack.com/p/what-do-yo...
May 8, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Only recently have some adoptees begun uncovering their hidden carceral birth histories, but many— including descendants—remain unaware. This article critiques 'post-adoption' and highlights the ongoing injustices.
drbarbarasumner.substack.com/p/what-do-yo...
drbarbarasumner.substack.com/p/what-do-yo...
"In short, our penal machinery seems to recruit its victims from among those that are fighting an unequal fight in the struggle for existence."
Since its publication in 1890, has anything truly changed for these victims worldwide?
Image from p. 149:
archive.org/details/live...
Since its publication in 1890, has anything truly changed for these victims worldwide?
Image from p. 149:
archive.org/details/live...
May 4, 2025 at 2:05 PM
"In short, our penal machinery seems to recruit its victims from among those that are fighting an unequal fight in the struggle for existence."
Since its publication in 1890, has anything truly changed for these victims worldwide?
Image from p. 149:
archive.org/details/live...
Since its publication in 1890, has anything truly changed for these victims worldwide?
Image from p. 149:
archive.org/details/live...
Newly uncovered yesterday: the deaths of Irene Antone and Victoria Conlis at Mercer. Thanks to @lauren___mullen
—always one step ahead—we also now know about Mary Barnes, who died at the Concord Jail Farm. These cases expose long-overlooked histories of women in custody.
—always one step ahead—we also now know about Mary Barnes, who died at the Concord Jail Farm. These cases expose long-overlooked histories of women in custody.
May 3, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Newly uncovered yesterday: the deaths of Irene Antone and Victoria Conlis at Mercer. Thanks to @lauren___mullen
—always one step ahead—we also now know about Mary Barnes, who died at the Concord Jail Farm. These cases expose long-overlooked histories of women in custody.
—always one step ahead—we also now know about Mary Barnes, who died at the Concord Jail Farm. These cases expose long-overlooked histories of women in custody.