This collection contains documents from the rural school system of O'Brien County, Iowa dating from 1863-1982. 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, 1875-1975”, “Office of the Superintendent, 1873-1982”, “Township, 1899-1960”, and “District and School, 1883-1959”. Series 1. “County Board of Education, 1875-1975” contains records that were created by or utilized by the County Board of Education. This series consists of County Board of Education Meeting Minutes, County Board of Education Financial Records, Reorganization and Consolidation Records, Blueprints, and Plat Maps. Series 2. “Office of the Superintendent, 1873-1982” contains records that were created by or utilized by the Superintendent’s Office. This series consists of Legal Documents, Superintendents’ Files, Teachers’ Examination Records, Record of Teachers’ Certificates, School Officer Record, School Officer and Teacher Record,Teachers’ Record Cards, Record of Teachers in Rural Schools, Pupils’ Permanent Records, Eighth Grade Examination Records. Series 3. “Township, 1899-1960” contains records created by or utilized by the Township Board of Education. This series consists of Township Board of Education Meeting Minutes, Township Board of Education Financial Records, and Township Census Records. Series 4. “District and School, 1883-1959” contains records pertaining to individual school and/or districts. This series consists of Teachers’ Reports to the Superintendent, Room Registers, Daily Attendance Registers, and Social Science Reading Exercise Booklets.