This collection contains documents from the rural school system of Lyon County, Iowa dating from 1878-1981. The records cover a majority of the rural schools’ histories, but they are not comprehensive: some records were lost before their transfer to the Center for the History of Rural Iowa Education and Culture. The collection material is arranged into four series -- “County Board of Education, 1883-1975”, “Office of the Superintendent, 1881-1981”, “Township, 1878-1960”, and “District and School, 1882-1966” -- which are sub-divided by format. Series 1. “County Board of Education, 1883-1975” contains records that were created by or utilized by the County Board of Education. Sub-Series 1: Physical Records, 1883-1965 consists of County Board of Education Meeting Minutes, County Board of Education Financial Records, Reorganization and Consolidation Records, Maps, Plat Books, and a small History of Lyon County. Sub-Series 2: Records on Microfilm, 1921-1975 contains County Board of Education Meeting Minutes and Maps of school districts. Series 2. “Office of the Superintendent, 1881-1981” contains records that were created by or utilized by the Superintendent’s Office. Sub-Series 1: Physical Records, 1881-1965 consists of Superintendents’ Secretaries’ Annual Reports, Superintendents’ File, Superintendents’ Cash Book, High School Normal Training Records, Teachers’ Examination Record, Record of Teachers’ Certificates, Teacher Contracts, School Officer and Teacher Records, Educational Directories, Superintendents’ Record of Teachers’ Service, Report of Handicapped Persons to the County Superintendent, Pupil Records, Eighth Grade Examination Records, and Seventh Grade Examination Records. Sub-Series 2: Records on Microfilm, 1881-1981 contains a Superintendents’ Record, High School Normal Training Records, Record of Teacher Attendance and Normal Institute, Teachers’ Examination Records, Record of Teacher Certificates, Teacher/Applicant Record, Teacher Contracts, Office Employee Contracts, Teacher Permanent Cumulative Records, School Officer and Teacher Record, Report of Handicapped Persons to the County Superintendent, City School Enrollment Records and Pupil Lists, Pupils’ Permanent Cumulative Reports, Eighth Grade Examination Records, Eighth Grade Recommendation for Promotion, and Seventh Grade Examination Records. Series 3. “Township, 1878-1960” contains records created by or utilized by the Township Board of Education. Sub-Series 1: Physical Records, 1878-1959 consists of Township Board of Education Meeting Minutes, Township Board of Education Secretaries’ Record, and Township Board of Education Treasurers’ Record. Sub-Series 2: Records on Microfilm, 1878-1960 contains Township Board of Education Secretaries’ Record, Township Board of Education Treasurers’ Record, and a List of Townships and Years of Census Records. Series 4. “District and School, 1882-1966” contains records pertaining to individual school and/or districts. Sub-Series 1: Physical Records, 1886-1966 consists of Teachers’ Reports to the Superintendent, District School Censuses, Library Reports, Textbook Records, Daily Attendance Registers, and a History Booklet for Grant Township, School #4. Sub-Series 2: Records on Microfilm, 1882-1966 contains District Board of Education Secretaries’ Record, Room Registers, Teachers’ Reports to the Superintendent, District School Censuses, Preliminary Classification Reports, Daily Attendance Registers, Classification Records, and a History Booklet for Grant Township, School #4.