Archives and Finding Aids

Scope and Contents

The Aletha Hutchison (Jacobs) Collection is composed of materials documenting Hutchison's experiences both as a student and as a teacher in the rural school systems of Iowa and Pennsylvania.  The collection includes official school records and Hutchison's personal papers providing insight into many facets of rural school life from 1898-1960.

Scope and Contents 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...

Scope and Contents

The Funnemark Family Collection contains educational publications and student records dating from 1912-1947. Student records include certificates, awards, and workbooks covering the following subjects: civics, arithmetic, geography, and history. Various issues of The Instructor and Children's Activities compose the educational publication collection.

Scope and Contents

This collection, dating from 1924-1929, originated from the #3 Rough Woods schoolhouse located in Hardin County, Pleasant Township. Consisting solely of teaching aids known as the "Instructor Picture Series", the Rough Woods School Collection provides insight into the teaching methods utilized in rural schools. The "Instructor Picture Series" encouraged students to think critically about works of art and develop oral and written communication skills in the process.

Scope and Contents

The William L. Sherman Collection contains a variety of records pertaining to rural schools and rural school reenactment programs including rural school photographs, reproductions schoolbooks, brochures, and programs. Mr. Sherman continues to conduct research and to add to this collection.

Scope and Contents

Consisting of a variety of publications, the William W. and Helen (Lewis) Gibson Collection will aid researchers interested in rural school teaching methods, student activities, and culture. Dating from 1883-1968, the collection contains many of the Great Men and Famous Women volumes, as well as issues of The Instructor, Child Life, and Primary Educator, among others.