This collection contains documents from the rural school system of Madison County, Iowa dating from 1899-1990. 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, 1901-1961”, “Office of the Superintendent, 1899-1990”, “Township, 1927-1954”, and “District and School, 1920-1959” -- which are sub-divided by format where necessary. Series 1. "County Board of Education, 1901-1961" contains records created and/or utilized by the County Board of Education. This series consists of County Board of Education Financial Records, Reorganization and Consolidation Records, and Plat Maps. Series 2. “Office of the Superintendent, 1899-1990” contains records created and/or utilized by the Office of the Superintendent. Sub-Series 1: Physical Records, 1899-1990 contains Superintendents' Secretaries' Annual Reports, Superintendents' Cash Book, Superintendents' Library Fund Account Record, Payroll Records, High School Normal Training Records, Teachers' Examination Records, Records of Teachers' Certificates, Teachers' Certificate Renewal Record, School Officer and Teacher Record, Educational Directory, Teachers' Record Cards, Enrollment Records, and Eighth Grade Examination Records. Sub-Series 2: Records on Microfilm consists of High School Normal Training Records, Teachers' Examination Records, Records of Teachers' Certificates, Teachers' Certificate Renewal Records, Teachers' Record Cards, Teachers' Cumulative Experience Records, School Officer, Teacher, and Pupil Records, Eighth Grade Examination Records, and High School Admission Certificates. Series 3. “Township, 1927-1954” contains records created and/or utilized by the Township Board of Education. This series consists solely of Township Board of Education Financial Records. Series 4. “District and School, 1920-1959” is composed of records created and/or utilized by individual districts and schools. Sub-Series 1: Physical Records, 1920-1959 contains Teachers' Reports to the Superintendent, District School Censuses, and Daily Attendance Registers. Sub-Series 2: Records on Microfilm, 1932-1954 consists solely of Teachers' Reports to the Superintendent.