beattie datronic camera

Here is a camera that was used in the jail in the 1970s to take mug shots.

Many thanks to Retired Minneapolis Police Officers John Culhane and Chuck Donaldson for explaining the camera and its use to us.

To create a mug shot, an officer would type the name of the person who was being booked onto a card, slide the card into the machine, and then take a front and a side photograph of the person.

Side view of camera with instructions attached

Along with the images, the typed information would appear on the negative.

While the negative was being processed, the officer would type up an envelope with the same information as on the photograph and then, once it was ready, place the photograph in the envelope.

The officer then filed the envelope in the Bureau of Identification drawer by its case number and also placed a copy in the line-up file for use by Minneapolis Police Detectives.

Many thanks to Retired Minneapolis Police Officers John Culhane and Chuck Donaldson for providing context for this article