This collection contains documents from the rural school system of Plymouth County, Iowa dating from 1883-1975. 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, 1950-1974”, “Office of the Superintendent, 1888-1975”, “Township, 1898-1966”, and “District and School, 1883-1966”. Series 1. "County Board of Education, 1950-1974" is composed of microfilmed copies of records created and/or utilized by the County Board of Education. This series includes Joint County Board of Education Meeting Minutes, County Board of Education Meeting Minutes, County Board of Education Financial Records, Correspondence, and Reorganization and Consolidation Records. Series 2. “Office of the Superintendent, 1888-1975” is comprised of microfilmed copies of records created and/or utilized by the Office of the Superintendent. This series contains Superintendents' Reports on Expenses and Graduation Statistics, Annual Reports for Community Schools, Department of Public Instruction School Inspections and Certificates Received, Evaluation Guide for Continued Approval, Teachers' Examination Records, Records of Teachers' Certificates, Teachers' Certificate Renewal Records, Teacher Contracts, Teachers' Record Cards, Teachers' Professional Records, School Officer and Teacher Record, List of Nurses Employed in Plymouth County Schools, Educational Directories, Iowa Professional Employee Data Sheets (ISPEDS), Paper on Special Education, Special Education Reports, Speech Therapy Evaluations and Hearing Tests, Record of Pupils Enrolled and Teachers' Reports from Private Schools, and Eighth Grade Examination Records. Series 3. "Township, 1898-1966" is comprised of microfilmed copies of records created and/or utilized by the Township Board of Education. This series contains School Election Records and Township School Censuses. Series 4. “District and School, 1883-1966” is composed of microfilmed copies of records created and/or utilized by individual districts and schools. This series contains State Financial Statistics on Community School Districts of Iowa, District Board of Education Financial Records, District School Censuses, Teachers' Reports to the Superintendent, and Daily Attendance Registers.