This collection contains documents from the rural school system of Des Moines County, Iowa dating from 1882-1980. 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: “State of Iowa Department of Public Instruction, 1926-1963”, “County Board of Education, 1919-1969”, “Office of the Superintendent, 1882-1980”, and “District and School, 1891-1965”. Series 1. “State of Iowa Department of Public Instruction, 1926-1963” is comprised of a near-complete run of the Iowa Educational Directory from 1926 to 1963. Series 2. “County Board of Education, 1919-1969” contains records related to the activities of the County Board of Education. This series consists of Annual Financial Reports of Des Moines, Iowa, and Reorganization and Consolidation Records. Series 3. “Office of the Superintendent, 1882-1980” contains records created and kept by the Office of the Superintendent.  This series is arranged into three sub-series:  1. “Superintendent’s Financial Records” including administrative finances and library account documents; 2. “Teacher-related Records” including teacher examination and certifications records as well as school officer and teacher directories and registers; and 3. “Pupil-related Records” including censuses, enrollment statistics, and eighth grade examination records. Series 4. “District and School, 1891-1965” contains records created by teachers at the district and school level.  These include Room Registers, Teachers’ Reports to the Superintendent, and Daily Attendance Registers.