New York State Education Department Assistant Commissioner for Elementary Education Historical Sketches and Photographs of…

Organized into 2 subseries: Subseries 1, Historical Sketches, 1 cubic foot; and Subseries 2, Photographs, 3.2 cubic feet.

Alphabetical by city or village within subseries.

These histories and photographs were solicited by the Department in a letter from Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner for Elementary Education Thomas E. Finegan to city superintendents of schools in 1916. The sketches, generally written by the local superintendent, were to be published as an appendix to the Department's annual report under the title, "The History of the Development of the School Systems in the Cities and Villages Whose Population is 5,000 or over," but it never appeared.

Series consists of historical sketches of city and village school districts and photographs collected to illustrate the histories.

The sketches vary considerably in length and detail but generally provide information on the establishment and location of the first school or school district in the city or village, and development of the school system's programs, facilities, administration, and geographic area. Many sketches also include biographical information about important teachers, principals, or administrators; and descriptions of early school district boundaries. Photographs of school buildings, classrooms, facilities, students, and administrators illustrate each historical sketch. Most photographs are labelled and some are dated. A few are photographic copies of original prints. A list of illustrations is included with each historical sketch.

Microform is available at the New York State Archives through interlibrary loan.

Folder list and roll list are available.

Photograph caption index is available.

Collation date 1916-1920.

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