Albert E. Ellis Boston police records

Collection

Identifier: BC-2026-009

Scope and Contents

Nine twentieth-century Boston police logbooks and related ephemera created by Albert E. Ellis, a police officer with the Boston Police Department. While on patrol, Ellis noted in the logbooks the intersection at which he was posted (most often Boylston Street and Exeter Street), six-digit reference numbers (presumably license plates numbers of cars he observed), and name of the officer who relieved him. He recorded detailed field notes when there were incidents in his vicinity, such as car accidents, civilian complaints, fights, open manholes, pocketbook theft, and more. Ellis also recorded his days off work, sick and vacation days, and breaks during his workday.

The ephemera includes three complete arrest cards, photographic negatives, a Registrar of Motor Vehicles form recording a driving infraction, an official report addressed to Captain Perley S. Skillings of Division 16, and a postcard sent to Ellis from a friend named "Strip".

Dates

Creation: 1925 - 1935

Creator

Ellis, Albert E., 1898-1986 (Person)

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

These materials are made available for use in research, teaching and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The original authors may retain copyright to the materials.

Biographical note: Albert E. Ellis

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Albert E. Ellis was born in Massachusetts in December 1898, to Samuel and Mary (Graham) Ellis. Ellis served in the United States Army during World War I. He married Irene A. Kelley on May 17, 1923, and they lived in Boston, Massachusetts with their two children, Albert K. and Jeanne. Ellis worked as a traffic patrol police officer in downtown Boston for the Boston Police Department in the 1920s through the 1930s. His badge number was T229. Ellis died in 1986.

Sources:

"Massachusetts, State Vital Records, 1638-1927". FamilySearch, Entry for Albert E Ellis and Irene A Kelley, 17 May 1923, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28K-SD2H : Fri Jul 25 01:44:04 UTC 2025.

"United States, Census, 1900". FamilySearch, Entry for Samuel Ellis and Mary J Ellis, 1900, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9YZ-NFR : Sat Oct 18 18:15:23 UTC 2025.

"United States Federal Census". Ancestry, Entry for Albert E Ellis, 1930, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/6224/records/15954440.

"United States Federal Census". Ancestry, Entry for Albert E Ellis, 1950, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/62308/records/158057916.

Full Extent

2.27 Linear Feet (3 containers)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Logbooks and ephemera of twentieth-century Boston police officer Albert E. Ellis documenting his daily patrols of downtown Boston. Records include logbooks, arrest cards, photographic negatives, statements, and a postcard.

Arrangement

Alphabetical.

Provenance

Purchased from Katz Fine Manuscripts, 2026.

Related Materials

Edward J. Fitzpatrick collection of Boston Police Department records, BC.2022.143, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Ellerton J. Brehaut Boston history collection, MS.2008.016, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Ellerton J. Brehaut collection of Edward Hartwell Savage papers, MS.2004.069, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Helen Thomasina Sheehan collection of James T. Sheehan, MS.2002.030, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.