This collection contains documents from the rural school system of Cass County, Iowa dating from 1858-1979. 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 three series -- Office of the Superintendent, 1858-1977”, "Township, 1889-1948", and “District and School, 1879-1973” -- which are sub-divided by format. Series 1. “Office of the Superintendent, 1858-1977” contains microfiche copies of records created by or utilized by the County Board of Education.  It includes High School Normal Training Records, Teachers’ Examination Records, Records of Teachers’ Certificates, Teachers Certifications, School Officer and Teacher Records, Pupils’ Permanent Records, and Eighth Grade Examination Records. Series 2. “Township, 1889-1948” contains microfiche copies of records created by or utilized by the Township Board of Education.  It consists solely of Township Censuses. Series 3. “District and School, 1879-1973” contains documents pertaining to individual schools and/or districts. Sub-Series 1: Records on Microfiche, 1879-1964 includes microfiche copies of District Board of Education Minutes, Room Registers, Daily Attendance Registers, and Complete Term Registers. Sub-Series 2: Records on Microfilm, 1937-1973 includes microfilmed copies of Room Registers. Sub-Series 3: Physical Records, 1884-1947 includes a Complete District Record and a Daily Attendance Register.