Series 85181

Territorial Superintendent of Public Instruction Administrative records, i 1877-1886.

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Historical Note

See history of the records' creator.

Summary of Records

These papers consist of correspondence and reports regarding the administration of schools in the various counties of Utah Territory. Most of these records were created during the administration of L. John Nuttall as territorial superintendent, 1881-1886. A few reports date to the administration of his predecessor, John Taylor.

Scope and Content

These papers consist of correspondence and reports regarding the administration of schools in the various counties of Utah Territory. Most of these records were created during the administration of L. John Nuttall as territorial superintendent, 1881-1886. A few reports date to the administration of his predecessor, John Taylor.
The correspondence includes letters from county school superintendents and government officials. There are also letters from Karl G. Maeser, principal of Brigham Young Academy (precursor to Brigham Young University) pertaining to the academy's normal, or teacher education, department.
The auditor's reports contain figures for the amount of school tax arising from assessed property in each county, along with the amount allowed to assessors and collectors, remittance, and the net amount standing to the credit of the schools.
The report forms are blank masters created by the territorial superintendent for the county superintendent, teachers, and trustees tocomplete. Completed versions of these appear later on the reels as census reports, financial reports, and statistical reports.
The biennial report of the superintendent is the most comprehensive document in the series. The Territorial Superintendent was responsible for keeping a record of the condition of district schools throughout the territory. He in turn reported to the territorial legislature. Part of his report was to include a compilation of the reports he received from each county superintendent. The report includes general impressions from his visits to schools; statistics on the numbers of districts, teachers, pupils, finances, etc.; papers outlining the desired qualifications for teachers, trustees, and superintendents; papers on the development of teacher institutes; lists of officials and districts in the territory; and descriptions of individual schools and their curricula, including the University of Deseret.
The remaining forms consist of various statisticalcompilations relating to school populations and finances. The school fund allotments show the appropriations made per district in each county. The census reports show the number of boys enrolled, number of girls enrolled, total, and increase or decrease in enrollment for each district in each county. Financial reports show the receipts from district and territorial taxes, contributions, tuition, etc. and the disbursements to buildings, furnishings, salaries, etc. The statistical reports for each county show the number of districts, number of schools, numbers of male and female teachers, numbers of school age boys and girls in the county, numbers of boys and girls enrolled, average daily attendance, amounts paid male and female teachers, number days school taught in year, and the value of school property.

Research Note

"When the State Office of Education building at 250 E. 500 S. was vacated last year to allow for renovation, state school officials found two old boxes in the basement. The boxes, which were nearly discarded, were found to contain annual reports of state school superintendents dating back to the 1870s....The records, which cover the period from 1877 to 1914, ultimately will be copied and the originals donated to a state repoistory where they can be preserved, Superintendant Scott W. Bean said." (Deseret News, July 3, 1994, p. B1)

Arrangement

By document type, thereunder chronological.

Access Restrictions

Under the terms of the donation, any requests for photocopying must be directed to the LDS Church Archives. Any researcher wanting to publish quotations from these records must obtain written permission from the LDS Church Copyrights and Permission Office, 50 E. North Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84150.

Use Restrictions

These records are available for reproduction and use.

Preferred Citation

Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.

Custody History

A copy of the microfilm was given to the State Archives in 1989 by the LDS Archives. The original papers and film are retained by the LDS Archives (call number MS 2926).

Acquisition Information

These records were acquired from the creating agency through established retention schedules.

Processing Information

Series description compiled by A.C. Cone of the State Archives, 1989.

Container List

ReelBoxFolderDescription
111Correspondence, 1881-1882
112Correspondence, 1883, A-C
113Correspondence, 1883, D-W
114Correspondence, 1884, A-B
115Correspondence, 1884, C-F
116Correspondence, 1884, G-O
117Correspondence, 1884, P-Y
118Correspondence, 1885, A-L
119Correspondence, 1885, M-1886
1110Territorial auditor's reports of funds, 1880-1886
1111Report forms
1112Biennial report of the Superintendent of District Schools, 1886
1113School fund allotments, 1878-1879
1114School fund allotments, 1880
1115School fund allotments, 1881
1116School fund allotments, 1882
1117School fund allotments, 1883
1118School fund allotments, 1884
1119School fund allotments, 1885
1120School fund allotments, 1886
121School census reports, 1882
122School census reports, 1883
123School census reports, 1884
124School census reports, 1885
125School census reports, 1886
126County financial reports, 1879-1880
127County financial reports, 1881
131Territorial financial reports, 1882-1885
132County financial reports, 1882
133County financial reports, 1883
134County financial reports, 1884
135County financial reports, 1885
136County financial reports, 1886
137Statistical reports, territorial summaries, 1877-1886
138County statistical reports, 1878
139County statistical reports, 1879
141County statistical reports, 1880
142County statistical reports, 1881
143County statistical reports, 1882
144County statistical reports, 1883
145County statistical reports, 1884
146County statistical reports, 1885
147County statistical reports, 1886