This collection contains documents from the rural school system of Delaware County, Iowa dating from 1899-1980. 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, 1957-1974”, “Office of the Superintendent, 1904-1980”, “Township, 1899-1907”, and “District and School, 1899-1959” -- which are sub-divided by format where necessary. Series 1. “County Board of Education, 1957-1974” contains records created by or utilized by the County Board of Education. Sub-Series 1: Physical Records, 1957-1974 includes Reorganization and Consolidation Records and Maps. Sub-Series 2: Records on Microfilm, 1966 consists solely of Reorganization and Consolidation Records. Series 2. “Office of the Superintendent, 1904-1980” contains records that are created by or utilized by the Office of the Superintendent. Sub-Series 1: Physical Records, 1904-1980 contains High School Normal Training Records, Teachers' Examination Records, Record of Teachers' Certificates, School Officer and Teachers' Record, Teachers' Record Cards, County School Censuses, and Eighth Grade Examination Records. Sub-Series 2: Records on Microfilm, 1908-1980 consists of Teachers' Examination Records and Teachers' Record Cards. Series 3. “Township, 1899-1907” contains records created and/or utilized by the Township Board of Education. This series consists solely of Township School Censuses. Series 4. “District and School, 1899-1959” is composed of records pertaining to individual school districts. Sub-Series 1: Physical Records, 1899-1959 contains District School Censuses and Daily Attendance Registers. Sub-Series 2: Records on Microfilm, 1904-1959 consists of Room Registers, District School Censuses, Daily Attendance Registers, and a Complete Term Register.