Granite Noir 2023

The Curriculum of Crime
Juvenile Delinquency in Early Victorian Aberdeen

With detailed personal observations of the characters and backgrounds of young offenders, the papers of Alexander Thomson (1792-1862) held by Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire Archives shed light on the enlightened attitudes that existed in nineteenth century Aberdeen and the efforts that were made by social reformers to ensure children were not drawn into a life of crime. Aberdeen was at the forefront of efforts to steer young people away from prison through alternatives such as industrial schools. Using copies of original records, this exhibition will take a closer look at the children, some of whom were as young as eight when they were incarcerated, their backgrounds and the nineteenth century city of which they were a part.

Thursday 23 – Sunday 26 February

Free exhibition in the Music Hall