Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection open for research .

Use Restrictions

No physical characteristics affect use of this material.

Preferred Citation

Teacher's Registers for Virginia, Broad Run Magisterial District, Sterling School #6, 1911-1913 (SC 0056), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA..

Acquisition Information

Martha Rust Hummer, Sterling, VA.

Alternative Form Available

None.

Accruals

1992.0001

Processing Information

Elizabeth Preston, 27 August 2011

Historical Information

In the aftermath of the Civil War, the Commonwealth of Virginia passed a new constitution, popularly called the Underwood Constitution after the president of the state constitutional convention, John Curtiss Underwood (1809-1873). The new constitution mandated a "uniform system of public free schools," and encouraged its introduction in all counties of Virginia as soon as possible. Though the Underwood Constitution was reviled by many in Virginia as "carpet bag" legislation, the mandate led to significant progress in the education of the citizens of Virginia. The constitution established the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to oversee county management of schools. Part of the office's oversight included a requirement that teachers fill out and maintain a register for each school. The registers included the names of students, their attendance, a record of visitors to the schools, brief descriptions of the schools, and lists of text books used.

The new constitution did not end the segregation of schools in Virginia, though that had been one of the goals of Underwood. In Loudoun County, most schools for white children were given identifying numbers, while schools for African Americans were given letters.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of two teacher's registers from the Sterling School, located in the eastern portion of Loudoun County, on the Washington and Old Dominion Railway line. Unlike many other teacher's registers, Sterling School used a register in booklet form, as opposed to the more traditional bound volume. The first register covers the 1911-1912 school year, and includes the names and attendance record of each student. The teacher is listed as Miss Emma Fries (fl. 1910s). It also includes a list of the "Best Papers on Final Exams" noted inside the front cover. The second register covers the 1912-1913 school year, and also contains student attendance records. There is no teacher's or school name written on the booklet, but given the similarities of handwriting and the repetition of student names, one can assume that it is also for the Sterling School and was filled out by Emma Fries.

Arrangement

Folder.

Related Material

None

Adjunct Descriptive Data

Bibliography

Other Finding Aid

None

Technical Requirements

None