New York State Education Department Special Schools Bureau Correspondence and Subject Files Concerning Schools for Indians, the…

Arranged by type of school, then by reservation or name of school, then by subject or type of document.

The Special Schools Bureau was responsible for supervising Indian schools on reservations, schools for the blind and deaf, schools for adults in prison, (until 1924), and (beginning in 1923) the New York State Nautical School.

Schools for the deaf were private, non-profit institutions that were heavily supported financially by the state. Two schools for the blind were state supported private institutions while the third was the New York State School for the Blind, supported and operated by the state. The New York Nautical School became a state institution in 1913 and provided education and training in navigation, seamanship, and marine transport and engineering.

The files in this series contain correspondence, memoranda, reports, copies of legislation, newspaper clippings, and samples of students' work relating to several types of special schools supervised by the state.

Files on Indian reservation schools include information on: general conditions at schools; compulsory school attendance on reservation; crime and law enforcement at schools; school budgets; physical maintenance of school facilities; hiring of teachers; conduct of teachers; lists of school supplies and books; and monthly reports giving names, ages, and attendance figures for children.

Files on schools for the blind and deaf include information on: conditions at schools; placement of children; daily schedules and activities at schools; examinations given at schools; lists of students; students' work (samples); and school publications (e.g. newsletters).

Files on schools in prisons include: lists of prisoners taking courses; discussion of problems encountered in operating prison schools; and monthly enrollment reports.

A single file (1924-1925) on the New York State Nautical School contains: correspondence concerning a controversy over internal administration at the school, and financial affairs such as applying fees and assigning charges for keep of cadets aboard ship; correspondence and memoranda on the process (much delayed) and candidates for appointment as superintendent and commanding officer; routine requests for information on the Training Ship Newport and applying to the school; varied correspondence from the board of governors to the commissioner of education; draft resolutions of the board of governors on governance of the school, advisory notices of board meetings, and some minutes of meetings of the board; schedule of inland water cruising by the Newport; copies of winter scholastic schedule (1924-1925); and news clippings of graduation exercises (listing graduates).

At the end of the series are several general files on various types of special schools; special classes in public schools; news clippings of related stories; law revisions; and reports of work in the Special Schools Bureau.

Microfilm is available for use at the New York State Archives or through interlibrary loan.

Folder and microfilm roll lists are available at the repository.

Originally part of old accession -274, old series number 409, boxes 42-44 (part), 48-49.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.