ABSTRACT
Thomas Mott Osborne, businessman, philanthropist, and later warden of Sing Sing and Portsmouth Naval prison in New Hampshire, could be thought of as the father of adult prison reform. He was born in Auburn, New York, and flourished as one of the pillars of that community. The Harvard University graduate retired from business with considerable wealth and later held many important civic positions. He served as mayor of the city of Auburn, New York, from 1903 to 1905, and he was a member of the board of education for nine years. Additionally, he served as a member of the Public Service Commission of the Second Division from 1907 to 1909 and achieved further distinction by being appointed chairman of the State Commission on Prison Reform in 1913. He was known for being a disruptive force to political schemes and was a formidable foe of Tammany Hall and all of its disciples.
